No Denver offense between Peyton Manning’s retirement and coach Sean Payton’s arrival finished better than 23rd in scoring. Payton’s first team here finished 19th. Then this season the Broncos scored 28 or more points eight times and won all eight of those games.

George Paton and Sean Payton were foisted upon each other, but two years later, it appears to be a match ordained by the football gods.

The Denver Broncos have made a ton of solid moves in the Sean Payton era, but these three stick out as being the smartest.