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.

Denver Broncos vs. Las Vegas Raiders Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 6:15 A.M. Mile High time Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado ATS Betting Lines: Denver -9.5 Moneyline Odds: Denver -560 / Las Vegas +420 Over/Under: 42.5

The Denver Broncos (6-2) are set to go on the road to face the Houston Texans (3-4) in Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Sunday, Nov. 2. A third Fairbairn field goal gives Houston a 9-7 lead over the Broncos.

Is Patrick Surtain playing for the Broncos? What about Dalton Schultz for the Texans? Here's the inactive list for Sunday's game at NRG Stadium.

Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was ruled out of Sunday's 18-15 loss to the Denver Broncos after suffering a concussion following a big hit in the second quarter. Stroud dropped back on a third-and-8 with 13:51 remaining in the first half and scanned the field before scrambling.

The Denver Broncos offense came out and immediately went three-and-out with Bo Nix not having a completion in the game up until this point. One deep shot to Troy Franklin looked like a clear defensive pass interference,

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix launches deep ball for a 30-yard touchdown to wide receiver Courtland Sutton to give the Broncos a 7-6 lead over the Houston Texans.

The Broncos are 3-0 when entering the fourth quarter trailing. They were down 15-7 entering the fourth quarter Sunday. They already have tied it with 12:28 left in the fourth quarter. Bo Nix found RJ Harvey for a 27-yard touchdown, and Troy Franklin’s reception on the 2-point conversion tied it up.

Officials flagged the Broncos for the hit, but picked it up after determining there was no direct contact to the head.