When Payton first got the job in Denver, he hired Ben Kotwica as special teams coordinator and Mike Westhoff as assistant head coach and third-phase czar. Last season, the Broncos had a would-be game-winning chip-shot field goal blocked by the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, and Westhoff retired two days later.

Old ties die hard, and so Sean Payton took to Broncos special-teams coordinator Darren Rizzi’s staunch defense on Friday.

The Denver Broncos might’ve walked out of NRG Stadium with a 7–2 record and sole possession of first place in the AFC West, but don’t mistake this one for a victory lap. Their 18–15 win over the Houston Texans was more of an escape act.

The Texans reached the Broncos’ 20-yard line five times but failed to come away with a touchdown, thanks to a gritty performance from Denver’s defense.

Bo Nix threw two touchdown passes and Wil Litz made a 34-yard field goal as time expired and the Broncos extended their winning streak to six games.

It was yet another fourth-quarter comeback for the Denver Broncos as they extended their record to 7-2 with an 18-15 escape win over the Houston Texans. And this win might not have been possible if it weren’t for the Texans’ quarterback,

After a concussion knocked Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud out of the game, the Denver Broncos mounted another fourth-quarter comeback in an 18-15 win at NRG Stadium. Kicker Will Lutz buried the 34-yard game-winner as time expired to move Denver to 7-2.