Sean Payton trades barbs with Kayshon Boutte before AFC title game

Sean Payton has graduated from beefing with Liam Coen to beefing with opposing players instead.

The Denver Broncos head coach Payton spoke with reporters on Thursday before Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots. During the media session, Payton said that he expected Denver’s fans to be extremely loud during the game at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo. and made a very confident remark in the process.

“They’re going to have plenty of rest after this one,” Payton said of his team’s fans. “Two weeks.”

That was an obvious reference to the Super Bowl taking place two weeks after the AFC title game, and Payton fully expecting to beat New England and earn a trip to the Super Bowl.

Payton’s comments eventually made their way to Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte. Speaking with reporters during a media session of his own on Thursday, Boutte fired back at Payton with a ruthless barb.

“They can rest in Cancun too at the end of the day,” said Boutte.

The Broncos have a built-in advantage as the higher seed playing at home in front of their own fans. But Denver’s starting quarterback Bo Nix is out for the season after suffering a fractured ankle during last week’s divisional round win over the Buffalo Bills. That may end up tipping the scales back in favor of the Patriots.

Payton has notably had his trash talk backfire on him badly in the recent past. As such, Boutte (who is in great form himself right now after making the catch-of-the-playoffs last week against the Houston Texans) is hoping to be able to serve Payton another dish of steamed crow on Sunday.