Payton, Manning express confidence in Broncos’ Jarrett Stidham vs. Patriots

Sean Payton needs to make it clear: He’s comfy with Jarrett Stidham beginning instead of injured Bo Nix at quarterback for the Broncos in Sunday’s AFC title sport towards the Patriots.

The Broncos’ head coach not solely reiterated his religion in Stidham when he met with reporters on Friday, however he additionally challenged the remainder of his workforce to fulfill the second in Sunday’s sport.

“I say this respectfully and I informed the workforce this, I mentioned, ‘I’m not nervous about Stiddy on this sport. I’m nervous about everybody else, and the way we play.’ And that actually is the reality,” Payton told reporters.

Stidham will likely be making his first begin since he changed Russell Wilson for the Broncos on the finish of the 2023 season on Sunday. In truth, he hasn’t thrown a cross since then, as he’s solely changed Nix in rubbish time conditions since then.

However Payton has expressed confidence in Stidham from the second he surprisingly introduced Nix’s season-ending ankle damage final Saturday. He instantly mentioned, “Stiddy’s able to go,” when he met with reporters final weekend, seemingly shutting down any concept that the Broncos would take drastic measures so as to add one other quarterback for Sunday’s sport.

Whereas Payton’s assured statements in Stidham aren’t essentially a shock, he isn’t the one notable one who has religion within the veteran backup quarterback for Sunday’s AFC Championship Sport. Former Broncos quarterback and long-time Patriots rival Peyton Manning, who nonetheless has shut ties to the Denver group, additionally believes in Stidahm to win Sunday’s sport over New England.

“He’s an awesome man. Look, he’s very assured as a result of he places the work in,” Manning told 104.3 The Fan in Denver. “Clearly, he hasn’t been on the sector, and he’s not making an attempt to make you suppose he’s performed greater than he has. He’s trustworthy about how a lot he’s performed. However you hear his teammates speak about how exhausting he prepares, so I believe he’s in a position to play all season as a result of he places the time in.”

Manning additionally likes that Payton can play the underdog card for the Broncos towards the Patriots, who’re 3.5-point favorites, on Sunday as effectively.

“I believe Sean’s gonna rally the troops,” Manning mentioned. “I believe the actual fact the Broncos are underdogs, Sean’s gonna use that to the Broncos benefit and form of inform the workforce that no one thinks they will win.

“Don’t maintain something again on this sport. You’ve obtained a superb play, you’ve obtained a trick play, you’ve obtained one thing you suppose may work, go for it. As a result of it’s an extended offseason in case you don’t win this sport, so may as effectively go for it.”

The Broncos have performed effectively as underdogs this season. They’re 5-1 in video games they aren’t the favourite in. Their solely loss got here again in Week 3 towards the Chargers. Their newest upset win came visiting the Payments final weekend, once they had been 1.5-point underdogs at residence.

Outdoors of Denver, there are some individuals who think about Stidham as effectively. Former Patriots quarterback Cam Newton, who was a teammate of Stidham’s for a bit greater than a 12 months in New England, thinks that the Broncos quarterback has the soccer IQ to get the job accomplished on Sunday. Nonetheless, Newton additionally questions whether or not Stidham will be capable to play off script.

“The problem was how does [Stidham’s football IQ] translate to the sport,” Newton said on ESPN’s “First Take” on Friday. “Then, you begin to say, ‘Hey, how does Jarrett Stidham deal with the what-ifs?’ What if his first possibility just isn’t there? What if the pocket collapses? What if it’s not an ideal state of affairs for him to be good or nice? That’s my largest query mark.

“Does he have the skillset? Sure. Can he make all of the throws? Sure. However there’s one thing in regards to the what-ifs that issues me probably the most as the sport approaches.”

Sunday will mark the fifth begin for Stidham in his profession. He’s 1-3 all-time, posting two begins with the Raiders in 2022 earlier than making two begins with the Broncos in 2023.