New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte had a blunt response after Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton appeared to guarantee his team a Super Bowl trip ahead of Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.
Payton raised eyebrows earlier this week when he told reporters that Broncos fans would get “two weeks” of rest after Sunday’s matchup – a remark widely interpreted as a prediction that Denver would advance to the Super Bowl.
“They’re going to have a lot of rest after this one,” Payton said. “Two weeks.” The comment made its way to Boutte on Thursday, and the second-year receiver didn’t hold back.
“Nah, I haven’t seen that,” Boutte said when asked about Payton’s remarks. “They can rest in Cancun, too, at the end of the day, so it is what it is.”
Payton placed all his trust in Stidham
Boutte’s response drew laughter from reporters and quickly became bulletin-board material ahead of the high-stakes matchup. The wideout is coming off a strong performance in the AFC divisional round, where he recorded 75 receiving yards and a touchdown.
While the pregame chatter has centered on words, Denver’s on-field challenge looms large. The Broncos will start backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham after rookie Bo Nix suffered a season-ending ankle injury last weekend.
Payton expressed confidence in Stidham, praising his preparation and command of the offense.
“He will be ready to go and ready for the moment,” Payton said. “One of Stiddy’s great strengths is his mental aptitude and his understanding of plays. He’s very accurate. He’s got a lot to his ball.”
It has been two years since Stidham started his last game
Stidham has not started a meaningful game for Denver since the 2023 season, when he threw for 496 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception across two starts.
Whether Payton’s prediction proves prophetic – or whether Boutte’s Cancun jab has the last laugh – will be decided Sunday with a Super Bowl berth on the line.
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