Sean Payton's pregame jab at Patriots just came back to haunt him

"The hype all week leading up to the game surrounded backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who was stepping up to the plate for Bo Nix after Nix suffered a broken foot in the divisional round, and how the Patriots would have to adjust their game planning to face a mostly unknown player. That prompted many outlets and players in Denver to hype him up as if he were the next Patrick Mahomes, to the point that Sean Payton suggested they would easily win the game and have the luxury of two weeks off until the Super Bowl."

"Sean Payton's words come back to haunt him, as the Broncos fail to live up to the hype It's almost always a recipe for disaster when a team overlooks their opponent as blatantly as the Broncos and Payton did this week, and that's exactly the fate they'll have to deal with going home after this big-time loss. The Patriots might have had an "easy" schedule this season, but there's a reason they're in the Super Bowl and 30 other teams aren't, including the Broncos."

"That's something the Patriots didn't do this year, and they are now reaping the rewards because of it, and a lot of that has to do with the culture that Mike Vrabel has brought to the locker room after a disastrous last few years that appeared to deflate this team from top to bottom. It's an attitude that took them far, and will continue to help them win more games to end this season"

Patriots entered the AFC Championship as bettors' favorites but faced doubts due to Denver's hostile environment and stout defense. Backup Jarrett Stidham started after Bo Nix suffered a broken foot, prompting opponents to hype him and adjust game planning. Sean Payton publicly predicted an easy Broncos victory and two weeks off before the Super Bowl, a stance that proved premature. The Broncos' apparent complacency and overlooking the Patriots contributed to their loss. New England advanced to the Super Bowl, credited largely to Mike Vrabel's culture shift and disciplined preparation that rebuilt the team after recent struggles.

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