The Bronco's have $85m in dead money this year and the Chiefs and Steelers barely escaped with wins.
The only established elite player on their defense is Surtain. He is literally the only player on their defense to make the Pro Bowl or All Pro teams.
Their offense is a rookie QB and a bunch of nobodies. Literally.
Somehow that team is 7-5.
Payton has this Saints team leading the NFC South right now, no question. At the end of the day, Payton's demise was greatly exaggerated and if that Bronco's team starts to accumulate talent the way the Saints did, they're going to be a perennial Super Bowl threat.