Sean Payton blasts former Broncos HC for disastrous 2022 season

At the beginning of the interview with Bell, Payton made his expectations for this year's Broncos group clear, saying "I’m going to be pissed off if this is not a playoff team."

The youthful, playmaking talent is obviously there on Denver's offense with running back Javonte Williams, wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton and tight end Greg Dulcich. The defense is helmed by newcomer Frank Clark and All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II, and Payton and Russell Wilson give the Broncos a unique head coach-quarterback combination with past Super Bowl experience.

The stench of last season's 5-12 finish and the organization's playoff absences for seven consecutive years are still very fresh in the Mile High City though.

Wilson is coming off the worst season of his 11-year career, as he recorded career lows in completion percentage (60.5%), touchdown passes (16) and passer rating (84.4) in 15 games, while absorbing the most sacks (55) in his decade-plus in the NFL. Denver also averaged the fewest points per game (16.9).

"Man, we ran that kid through the car wash a hundred times now," Payton said of the nine-time Pro Bowler. "But that’s a storyline, though. How is this going to look? How’s it going to work? You know what? We’re fixing to find out. As Bill (Parcells) would say."

Hackett didn't last the season, as he was fired following the team's Week 16 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Christmas Day.

Among the off-field lowlights for Wilson during Hackett's brief tenure were getting called out by his former head coach, Pete Carroll, Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, Nickelodeon's Patrick Star and scores of Twitter users.

Perhaps with expectations as low as they've been in recent years, Payton and Wilson can finally help get the Broncos back in the postseason.