Broncos' Sean Payton calls New Year's Eve 'the most overrated holiday' ahead of crucial Chargers game

Denver Broncos caput manager Sean Payton is focused connected the playoffs, truthful overmuch truthful that helium had to beryllium reminded by reporters that it was New Year’s Eve connected Wednesday. 

The longtime NFL manager was asked by reporters up of Sunday’s crippled against the Los Angeles Chargers if helium had to talk to his players astir the ringing successful the caller twelvemonth responsibly. 

Denver Broncos caput manager Sean Payton works connected the sidelines during the archetypal fractional an NFL shot crippled against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, successful Denver.  (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

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"I didn’t cognize it was New Year’s Eve," helium said earlier letting his existent feelings astir the time beryllium known. "The astir overrated holiday, honestly. Like, seriously. I didn’t cognize it was New Year’s Eve."

Payton was asked if helium ever had to punctual his players successful New Orleans to observe responsibly, to which helium said, "Not the bully teams." 

Denver Broncos backmost Bo Nix (10) celebrates aft scoring during the 3rd 4th astatine GEHA Field astatine Arrowhead Stadium connected Dec. 25, 2025. (Denny Medley/Imagn Images)

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"I bash find what’s absorbing is arsenic we get older and you’re coaching younger players, these guys are overmuch much successful tune to their bodies. Today’s procreation doesn’t portion arsenic much. They're successful tune to their sleep… They grip each this worldly tremendously."

The Broncos earned their archetypal AFC West rubric successful a decennary aft the Houston Texans defeated the Chargers connected Saturday. Because they clasp the tiebreaker implicit the New England Patriots, a triumph connected Sunday volition unafraid the apical effect successful the AFC. 

Denver Broncos caput manager Sean Payton looks connected anterior to an NFL shot crippled against the Kansas City Chiefs successful Kansas City, Missouri, connected Dec. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

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That means home-field vantage passim the AFC playoffs and a first-round bye.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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