Insider says Sean Payton has Broncos believing they're better than Chiefs

It's a hot take to say the Denver Broncos could surprise the Kansas City Chiefs this season and win the AFC West. While some are predicting it could happen, one Broncos insider says Denver head coach Sean Payton has his team believing they are simply better than the Chiefs.

In a segment on Denver's 104.3 The Fan on Friday afternoon, Mike Klis, Broncos reporter and insider for Denver's 9News, said that the Broncos are extremely confident about their chances to topple the nine-time defending division champions.

"I know inside the locker room, Sean Payton has them believing they're better than the Chiefs now," Klis said in the segment at the 21:49 mark.

Klis went on to say that he believes Payton instills a "swag" in this team, and that could be one of the reasons why the Broncos improve upon their 10-7 record from last season.

Denver ended the 2024 regular season by clinching a playoff berth thanks to a home win over the Chiefs, a 38-0 romp that was partially fueled by Kansas City sitting most of their starters after clinching the AFC's top seed for the playoffs.

Denver lost in the first round of the playoffs at the Buffalo Bills, but is still using their first playoff berth since 2015 and a season-ending win over the Chiefs as momentum heading into the 2025 campaign.

"Whether we think this team is good, whether we think this team can win the AFC West, they believe it. Sean Payton's got them believing it," Klis said.

Klis went on to say he thought there was a "40 percent chance" that the Broncos could win the division, reminding the radio hosts that the Chiefs are coming off what he considered a 15-1 regular season that ended with a loss in Denver, where they played their "JV team." He added that "a lot of things have to go right" in 2025 for the Broncos to win the division.

Denver and Kansas City meet for the first time in 2025 in the Mile High City on Nov. 16, with the return match in Kansas City scheduled for Christmas night.