Denver Coach Could Get A Landmark Win Against Chiefs

Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton has had plenty of milestones in his long career, and he’s hoping to add another one on Sunday when the Kansas City Chiefs come to town for what Payton hopes will be the 200th win of his career, according to a report from Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. 

He’s would be the 12th NFL coach to achieve 200 wins, and he’ll almost certainly get there this season, with the Chiefs being his first shot at the mark. 

Payton has already punched his ticket to the Hall of Fame based on his career record. He has coached 319 games, generating a record of 199-120, per Florio. He’s 189-110 in the regular season and 10-10 in the playoffs.

Other names and records are upcoming. With two more wins, Payton will catch Dan Reeves and Mike Tomlin for 10th on the all-time list. Four more wins after that will put Payton even with Marty Schottenheimer, at 205. Chuck Noll is No. 8 with 209. Paul Brown is No. 7 with 222.

Payton is 62, and Florio also used Tom Landry as a coach he could catch at No. 5, with Landry having won 270 games. 

It’s unclear how much longer Payton wants to coach, but he has a more important immediate goal in mind. He wants to be the first coach to win a Super Bowl with two different teams. Other coaches currently in position to chase that distinction include Giants coach John Harbaugh and Steelers coach Mike McCarthy.

Payton has talked a lot about the Broncos’ window to do that, and it’s clear the goal has a high level of urgency for him. He’s having a very successful second act in Denver, and he’s been the toast of the town for two years now, ever since he made the decision to jettison former Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson and his onerous contract.

The coach has rejuvenated the franchise after a mediocre stretch that culminated with the Wilson experience, and drafting quarterback Bo Nix out of Oregon has been the linchpin to the Broncos’ current run of success. 

Payton has hitched his wagon to Nix, coaching-wise, but this year hasn’t gone as planned. Nix has struggled badly, to the point where Payton took back the play-calling chores from new offensive coordinator Davis Webb. The Broncos have climbed back to 5-2 after a tough early schedule, and you’d have to think that getting No. 200 against the Chiefs would be especially sweet for Payton.