DENVER — Let us pray that the next truly good news for the Broncos will begin with these words: With the first pick in the 2024 NFL draft …

Let the Caleb Williams watch begin.

You got a better idea? Broncos coach Sean Payton obviously does not.

After blowing an 18-point lead and losing to Washington 35-33 on Sunday, the Broncos’ next destination is Tank City. With no realistic chance of making the NFL playoffs, it’s time to start dreaming about plucking Williams from the USC roster to finally begin the rebuilding process Denver has delayed for far too long.

“We’ve got to keep our foot on their neck,” lamented Denver cornerback Pat Surtain II.

The Broncos need to blow it up and start over.

Two games into the Payton era, we can either concentrate on Williams wearing a Denver uniform as the team’s new starting quarterback next season, or wallow in the stench of this orange-and-blue dumpster fire.

“We have to be better than that, and that starts with me,” Payton said.

After reviewing the videotape of a debacle that dropped Denver’s record to 0-2, Payton needs to look himself in the mirror and ask hard questions:

How long will it be before he gets fed up with Wilson’s costly turnovers and inability to break the huddle in a timely fashion before benching the Broncos’ $245 million mistake?

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