Sean Payton’s heavy emphasis on red zone efficiency bearing fruit for Bo Nix, Broncos

Adam Trautman has been around Sean Payton long enough to understand his meticulous game planning. But whenever Payton gets into the red zone period of practice, Denver’s tight end notices an added level of focus.

“That’s probably our most detailed period. We’ll spend the whole period just on routes,” Trautman, who also played under Payton in New Orleans, told The Denver Post. “If you’re not scoring touchdowns in the red zone, you’re probably giving away a lot of points, and that can be the determining factor in a lot of games.”

Last year, Payton was animated about Denver’s struggles in the red zone and goal-to-go situations. And for good reason: Denver scored a touchdown on 50.85% of their red zone trips (20th in NFL) and had a conversion rate of 53.33% on goal-to-go opportunities.

The head coach’s biggest sideline outburst of the season, when he scolded former Broncos QB Russell Wilson during a Week 15 loss in Detroit, followed a failed attempt to score a touchdown on a goal-to-go situation.

But throughout this season, Denver has steadily improved its production in the red area, which has helped put Payton’s team in the middle of the playoff race with four weeks left in the regular season.

“I think we’ve been better on third down than earlier in the year. We’ve been better in the red zone. Those are two things that stand out,” Payton said when asked about the strides the Broncos have made offensively during his second season in Denver.

In 13 games, the Broncos have scored 25 touchdowns on 44 attempts (56.8%) and are 17 for 21 (80.95%) on goal-to-go opportunities.

Denver’s red zone production in the first four games was a reflection of the inconsistencies that plagued the offense in 2023. The Broncos went 4 for 12 (33.3%) in the red zone and 2 for 4 (50%) on goal-to-go. Following Denver’s loss to the Steelers in Week 2 when the offense went 0 for 3 in the red zone, receiver Courtland Sutton expressed his displeasure with the team’s inability to maximize solid field position.

“(A field goal) is nice, and I trust that (kicker) Wil (Lutz) will get us those three points when we need them, but we need to find a way to score touchdowns,” Sutton said at the time.

In the weeks that followed, the Broncos began to find a rhythm. Between Weeks 5-8, the Broncos were 11 for 14 (78.5%) in the red zone and a perfect 9 for 9 on goal-to-go. Over the past five games, Denver has gone 10 for 18 (55.5%) in the red zone. The Broncos were also 6 for 8 (75%) on goal-to-go.

During practices, Payton is dialed in during the red zone period, making sure everyone is on the same page. He is completely hands-on in making sure the routes, timing and spacing are correct.

“We get tons and tons of reps,” starting right guard Quinn Meinerz said. “We have extra meetings just watching red zone tape.”

Denver’s improvement in the red zone goes hand-in-hand with quarterback Bo Nix’s development. In the first four weeks, Nix was 7 for 17 with 40 yards, one touchdown and an interception in the red zone, according to NFL’s Next Gen Stats. Since then, he has completed 26 of 36 pass attempts for 222 yards, 10 touchdowns and no interceptions.

“Those numbers ticked up a little bit for us and I think the maturation of Bo and what we’re doing with him,” Payton said. “We gotta keep it going.”

Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.