Colin Cowherd Thinks Broncos’ Difficult Schedule Is NFL’s Revenge on Sean Payton

The Denver Broncos have one of the toughest schedules in the coming season, playing at least nine of their total 17 games against teams that made the playoffs in 2025. The Fox Sports analyst and sportscaster, Colin Cowherd, recently attempted to provide an answer for the Broncos’ difficult season.

On a recent episode of The Herd, Cowherd floated an interesting theory. He claimed that the NFL intentionally back loaded and front-loaded the Broncos’ schedule as a direct punishment for Sean Payton’s history of friendly fire against league rules, coaches, and quarterbacks.

Payton, famously the first head coach to be suspended for an entire season since 1972 after he was accused of failing to stop the 2012 Bountygate scandal, has never been one to hold his tongue. According to Cowherd, the league office has finally had enough of the defiance.

I’m not a conspiracy guy, but I believe this. I think Sean Payton has a mixed relationship with the league office… Look at Denver’s schedule, they’re punishing them. That’s the toughest six-game schedule I have ever seen in my entire life, and I’m a geek on this stuff. I am a nerd on schedules. I’ve never seen anything like that.

The Broncos surely have a tough schedule to start the season, with their lone game against a non-playoff team from last season being the Kansas City Chiefs. Though the Chiefs are doubtful about Patrick Mahomes, they aren’t a foe to be written off. Additionally, Cowherd reminded that Bo Nix hasn’t been given the all-clear to return from injury.

𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚: Colin Cowherd believes the NFL is punishing Sean Payton, giving the Broncos a tough schedule.

"I think Sean Payton has a mixed relationship with the league office…NFL does not like friendly fire. Look at Denver's schedule, they're punishing them."

👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/DRZ9h8tGN5

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 15, 2026

Towards the end of the season, they have yet another slate of three playoff teams to close it out. They will face the Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, and the Los Angeles Chargers. While it’s too early to write them off defending the AFC West crown, it sounds quite like a Herculean task.

Historical coincidence and analysts’ takes split on Sean Payton and the Broncos’ chances this year

Fresh off an impressive 14-win season, Sean Payton’s squad has firmly re-established itself as an NFL powerhouse. Yet, despite their dominant run, Moe Moton of Bleacher Report remains hesitant to fully buy into the Denver Broncos‘ staying power, predicting a regression in 2026.

While Moton addresses that the addition of Jaylen Waddle to the roster could see an increase in offensive firepower, he centered an argument around certain pillars as to why he thought the Broncos would be limited to 11-6. A primary pillar of his stance is Denver’s exceptional performance in close games during the 2025 season.

He doesn’t think the Broncos could have similar success this season, and statistically, it has some value. Teams that win nearly all of their tight matchups one season often revert to a .500 baseline the next.

He also noted that duplicating a regular-season sweep of Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs is incredibly difficult if Mahomes remains healthy for both matchups. Furthermore, he anticipated a step forward from the Los Angeles Chargers, who have maintained an 11-win baseline over the past two seasons. The Chargers have invested in a new offensive coordinator, bringing Mike McDaniel from the Miami Dolphins to rejuvenate their offense.

Now, there are some factors that lean towards the Broncos being overlooked once again. The inclusion of Waddle is a big aspect, and the losses in defense were immediately patched up with new weapons. Payton’s roster could very well be the same unit as last year. Moreover, Payton’s past has a strange coincidence with his trajectory now in Mile-High City.

Payton previously took the New Orleans Saints to a title in his fourth season after three overwhelming years. With respect to the Broncos, he’s shown linear improvement, starting with a playoff miss to two consecutive playoff appearances.

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