RM Broncos HC Sean Payton Admits How Challenging It Is to Prepare for Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes

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Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos once again demonstrated why their defense is among the NFL’s elite, holding Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense to just 19 points.

The Chiefs entered the matchup needing a win to close the gap in the AFC West race, but their offense remained inconsistent and overly conservative. Despite featuring head coach Andy Reid—one of football’s most innovative offensive minds—along with a strong offensive line, top-tier weapons, and arguably the most gifted quarterback ever, Kansas City still struggled to find rhythm.

Payton explains the difficulty of game-planning for Mahomes

After the game, Payton spoke candidly about what it takes to prepare for a quarterback like Mahomes.
“Look, I think the biggest thing is changing up the looks with Patrick,” Payton said. “He’s special. Keeping him contained in the pocket prevents those third-and-20 scrambles where he climbs up and suddenly we’re giving up a pass interference call.

“Rushing him properly while playing disciplined coverage—it’s a real challenge. Especially when their offense is healthy and they’ve got all their skill guys available.”

Mahomes’ talent is undeniable, and his résumé already puts him in the conversation for the greatest quarterback to ever play. In recent years, defenses have built their game plans specifically around stopping him, leaning heavily on cover-4 and other shells designed to neutralize Kansas City’s deep passing attack.

Chiefs’ Remaining 2025 Schedule

Week 12: vs. Indianapolis Colts – Sun., Nov. 23, Noon CT (CBS)
Week 13: at Dallas Cowboys (Thanksgiving) – Thurs., Nov. 27, 3:30 p.m. CT (NBC)
Week 14: vs. Houston Texans (SNF) – Sun., Dec. 7, 7:20 p.m. CT (ESPN)
Week 15: vs. Los Angeles Chargers – Sun., Dec. 14, Noon CT (CBS)
Week 16: at Tennessee Titans – Sun., Dec. 21, Noon CT (CBS)
Week 17: vs. Denver Broncos (Christmas Night) – Thurs., Dec. 25, 7:15 p.m. CT (Prime Video)
Week 18: vs. Las Vegas Raiders – TBD

Broncos defense executed the plan flawlessly

Payton, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, and the entire defensive staff crafted an extremely effective strategy. They restricted Mahomes’ options, pressured him consistently, and forced a critical interception in the red zone—turning a potential Kansas City scoring drive into points for Denver.

Joseph also dialed up significant interior pressure, forcing Mahomes to improvise far more than he wanted. The Broncos blitzed 14 times, and even when they didn’t blitz, they still managed a 21.2% pressure rate, according to Next Gen Stats.

Denver’s defense caused problems for the Chiefs all night, and Kansas City is expected to face a similar style of defense later this season when they take on the Houston Texans.