LONDON (AP) — Broncos coach Sean Payton's “culture of high expectations” has changed the trajectory of the team since the last time Denver played in London, owner and CEO Greg Penner said Friday.

In a state-of-the-Broncos media session, Penner praised Payton's impact, addressed his willingness to reward young standout players and confirmed the team would love to host a Super Bowl at its planned new stadium.

The Broncos are in town to face the New York Jets on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, looking to follow up on their 21-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles that improved their record to 3-2.

Three years ago, they beat the Jaguars by the same score at Wembley Stadium to snap a four-game losing streak, but the joy was short-lived. Then-coach Nathaniel Hackett didn't last the season — he was fired after a 4-11 start.

“We’re a completely different team,” Penner said of the Broncos squad in the English capital this week. “Different leadership, different quarterback.

“Since that time, bringing in Sean and having him really build a strong culture of high expectations, winning, competitiveness — we’re on a different trajectory,” he said at the team's hotel in Ware, north of London.

Payton, who led the New Orleans Saints to a 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl to cap the 2009 season, was hired in early 2023. A little over a year later, they drafted Bo Nix and the rookie quarterback helped the Broncos end an eight-year playoff drought.

The team has shown a willingness to pay big money to keep talented players, such as outside linebacker Nik Bonitto, who enters the game tied for the NFL lead with seven sacks.

“We want to be a place that young players can come, they can develop, and if they are on that track and they are doing things the right way, we’re going to reward them with contracts, and we want them here long term,” Penner said.

The Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group bought the franchise in August 2022 for a then-record $4.65 billion.

Broncos want to host Super Bowl in new stadium

The team recently announced Burnham Yard as the preferred site for a proposed new stadium. The target completion date is the 2031 season, which the team has said aligns with the expiration of their lease at Empower Field at Mile High.

NFL owners usually try to host a Super Bowl in their new stadiums.

“We’d certainly be excited about that,” Penner said. "As we’re thinking about the stadium, our first and primary focus is on what’s best for our team, our players and our fans. Then you get to the next step of, OK, we want to have some flexibility. It’s the reason why we’re looking at a retractable roof.

“Our intent is for our football games to be played with the roof open, in the elements. The exception will be to close the roof,” he added. “It would give us the flexibility to host events like Super Bowls, concerts, other events.”

Leicester Panthers reunion

Payton, who spoke this week about his one season as a quarterback in England, met up with some of his old Leicester Panthers teammates on Friday.

“We’ve all gotten older," he flatly noted.

The Broncos hosted Panthers youth players at practice and presented them with new gear.

Injury list

LG Ben Powers (biceps) is out. ... OLB Jonah Elliss (ribs/shoulder) is also out after not practicing this week. ... Defensive tackle Malcolm Roach (calf) is “doing well,” Payton said Friday, and is listed as questionable for the game. On Wednesday, Roach had been designated for return from injured reserve. He was a full participant at practice Friday. Everyone else on the list was a full participant Thursday and Friday: Bonitto (wrist), RB Tyler Badie (shoulder), DT D.J. Jones (shoulder) and ILB Alex Singleton (thumb).

What's in Burns' backpack? Maybe the secret to Avalanche defenseman soon playing in 1,500th NHL game

DENVER (AP) — Brent Burns carries a lot of weight on his shoulders these days.

Not pressure-related or anything, just from his heavy, military-style backpack that’s crammed with all the necessities to keep the 40-year-old Colorado defenseman humming along.

The precise contents remain a mystery, but whatever’s stuffed inside sure is working. Burns, who’s embarking on his 22nd NHL season and first in Colorado, is slated to play in his 1,500th NHL game on Saturday against Dallas. Delving deeper, he hasn’t missed a contest since 2013, running his streak to 927 straight, which is the league's fourth-longest “Iron Man” streak of all time.

Burns has been with the Avalanche for a short time and already he's making his mark. The bushy-bearded, front-teeth-missing Burns is a social butterfly who strikes up conversations all around the facility. He’s a fatherly hockey figure, too, and another 40-something to play for the Avalanche, following in the footsteps of Hall of Famer Ray Bourque, who joined the team at the end of his storied career.

Like Bourque, Burns is chasing his first Stanley Cup title late in his hockey tenure. The Avalanche would love nothing more than to make that title happen, too, much like they sent Bourque into retirement by hoisting the trophy in 2001.

“He came here for a reason,” fellow defenseman Cale Makar said of Burns. “We’ll get there at some point, but right now we’ve got to focus on the day-to-day.”

Milestone alert

On Saturday against Mikko Rantanen and the Stars — the team that knocked Colorado out of the playoffs last season — Burns is set to skate in game No. 1,500. When he does, he will become the league’s eighth defenseman to reach the milestone.

If Burns were to suit up in every game this season, he could move up to No. 2 on the all-time consecutive games played list with 1,007. At that point, he would trail only Phil Kessel’s streak of 1,064.

For this sort of healthy run in a hard-hitting sport, some credit goes to the contents of Burns' backpack. It’s the stuff of legend around the locker room.

“Don’t even try to pick it up,” captain Gabriel Landeskog warned. “You’ll blow your back out.”

The backpack supposedly contains everything from stretching bands to assorted recovery gear to his own coffee setup.

Care to offer any details?

“It's a secret,” he said with a laugh, adding the backpack has been part of his routine since his San Jose days. “Definitely too heavy, and it keeps getting heavier and heavier.”

Talking shop

He certainly likes to chat, too.

Coach Jared Bednar was recently walking around the facility when he spotted Burns chatting with teammates by the coffee machine. Thirty minutes later, Bednar walked by the weight room and he was talking to more teammates. Twenty minutes later, he’s conversing with more teammates in the hallway.

Simply teammates taking any chance to pick up helpful hints.

“There’s so much, obviously, that he’s seen and been around for,” Makar said. “There are a lot of things in his game that I ask questions about, and how he does certain things.”

Age is just a number

Avalanche forward Gavin Brindley was still a year away from even being born when Burns made his NHL debut on Oct. 8, 2003, with Minnesota after being a first-round pick by the Wild.

“That’s wild, just wild,” Brindley said of Burns' longevity. “It's so impressive what he does on the ice.”

Burns has quickly emerged as another leader for the Avalanche, joining Landeskog as a respected voice. He assists by keeping things loose.

“I’m a little bit more of a goof — I screw drills up all the time,” Burns said. “I’m just a little different.

“Obviously, we’re not all around the same age, so it’s kind of fun to hear what they’re doing. It keeps me feeling better and energized — just to talk to other guys and mess around and make them feel good.”

Added Bednar: "I love the personality that he brings to our team. He’s hungry to win.”

Burns got to the Stanley Cup final in 2016 with the Sharks, where they lost in six games to Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Burns has played in 135 career playoff contests.

“We’re so happy to have him here,” Landeskog said. “He wanted to be here. He wanted to be a part of this group, and I think that says a lot about where we’re at as a team."

Over the summer, Burns signed a one-year deal with the Avalanche, his fourth NHL team. He joined a squad that's a Stanley Cup favorite behind a lineup boasting Nathan MacKinnon, Landeskog and Makar.

One thing that Burns quickly realized was that it's filled with players who get to the rink early.

“I feel like I’m going to be one of the first cars in the parking lot, and it’s packed," Burns said. "I’m like, ‘Holy crap.’”

As an older player — “I know you’re not saying old player,” he playfully interjected — there are extra things he does to stay ready.

“But I’d be here until tomorrow, trying to tell you all the new things,” Burns cracked.

More than anything, he stays young at heart.

“Just a big kid in a big man’s body,” goaltender Scott Wedgewood said. “Just down to earth, fun to be around. Just has a little bit of a joking side, a high-energy side. He loves the game, cares about it and he's chasing that ultimate goal.”

Jets edge rusher Jermaine Johnson is 'ready to go' against the Broncos in London

WATFORD, England (AP) — The New York Jets' struggling defense will get a boost with the return of edge rusher Jermaine Johnson, who missed the last three games with an ankle injury.

Jets coach Aaron Glenn pronounced Johnson “ready to go” against the Denver Broncos in Sunday’s game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as New York (0-5) seeks its first victory this season.

“I just want to go help. I want to contribute,” Johnson said Friday after practice at the team’s hotel north of London.

The 2022 first-round draft pick fully participated in practice after being limited Thursday, and was removed from the injury report.

Johnson was injured in New York’s 30-10 loss to Buffalo in Week 2, but he wasn't rushed back considering he missed most of last season because of a torn right Achilles tendon.

“Just a little tweak of the ankle, but you just want to make sure it’s not tied to anything else,” said Johnson, a Pro Bowl selection after the 2023 season when he had 7 1/2 sacks.

Though he wouldn't confirm which ankle was injured, Johnson noted that an Achilles tendon injury can "come back real fast.”

Johnson added: “You don’t want to make something big from something little. Just make sure everything is OK, and we definitely feel like it is now.”

The defense needs all the help it can get. The Jets have no takeaways through Week 5 and only three sacks in the last four games. Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams described his side of the ball as “ probably the worst defense in the league.”

Johnson said the defensive players gathered for a meeting before the trip to London.

“Everybody was on the same page,” Johnson said. “We have to be better. We can’t be the reason we lose. That can’t happen. We have too much talent."

Glenn said Johnson has an “edge to him."

"He’s another guy that can get after the quarterback, so any time we can bring that type of attitude, anytime we can bring that level of player on our team back from injury, it’s always good,” Glenn said.

‘We’re going to start winning'

The Jets have the NFL’s longest playoff drought — currently at 14 years — yet their rookie coach sees reason for optimism.

Even if others don't.

“I do know this — there are some foundational things that I see us building right now that no one else sees, and that’s OK, because everybody sees 0-5,” Glenn said. “That’s going to change, and the foundation is going to be stable. We’re going to start winning and everything will be just fine.”

With last week's 37-22 loss to Dallas, Glenn is the first coach in franchise history to begin his tenure with five losses.

“I understand exactly how it looks from the outside,” he said. "We just know for a fact that it’s going to happen at some point. When it happens, we know it’s going to pop. Every day, it’s all I think about. How do we get us a win so we can get this thing going.

“That’s all we need — we just need one,” Glenn added. “I have all the confidence in the world that we’ll get this thing going.”

The Jets are the “home” team Sunday. Looking ahead, they host the Carolina Panthers before a trip to Cincinnati. Their bye is in Week 9.

‘I want to be here’

With the Jets' season slipping away, there's been speculation about trades ahead of the NFL's deadline for deals on Nov. 4. Running back Breece Hall said he has been hearing rumors for months.

“I’m here, I want to be here. I love being a New York Jet,” he said. “At the end of the day, I don’t control what goes on. I only control what I do on the field and how I handle my business off the field. For me, it’s all about servicing my teammates and coaches the best way I can.”

Hall, the 36th overall pick in the 2022 draft, is averaging 5.3 yards per carry this season.

Fun fact

The practice area at The Grove hotel is very close to a World War II air-raid shelter — several entrances to the shelters are visible in the woods next to the field.

Injury updates

RB/KR Kene Nwangwu (hamstring) is also “ready to go” on Sunday, Glenn said. Nwangwu was injured in the season opener and the Jets have since used several players to replace him on kickoffs. ... CB Michael Carter II (concussion) is out. ... WR Allen Lazard (personal) did not make the trip and is officially out. ... CB Brandon Stephens popped up on the injury report Friday with a neck injury that limited him at practice. He's listed as questionable to play. ... QB Justin Fields, who was on the injury report earlier in the week for treatment on a knee, snagged a one-handed catch during a drill in Friday's practice.

Broncos dismiss notion of a trap game as they face winless Jets in London after emotional victory

The Denver Broncos have left the thrill of a stunning victory far behind.

After all, their 21-17 win over the previously unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles was last week — and a continent away.

“Yes, we definitely have to get back honed in, get back focused and move on to the next game,” Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper said as the team prepared to face the New York Jets on Sunday in London at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“You can’t live on this game and be like, ‘Wow, we beat the Eagles,’ and then just carry that into the week,” Cooper added. “No, it’s time to flush that one. Process it, review it, learn from it and then on to the next one.”

That would be the struggling Jets (0-5), who are still looking for their first win under Aaron Glenn. He's the first coach in franchise history to begin his tenure with five losses. A loss to the Broncos (3-2) on Sunday would give them their third 0-6 start and first since they opened 0-13 under Adam Gase in 2020.

“Listen, we say it’s a long season, but we know how these weeks continue to compile and we have to make sure we get out of this hole that we’re in,” Glenn said. “And we all understand that.”

The Jets are the only NFL team without a win. They were steamrolled by the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday, falling 37-22 in a game that was never close. Glenn has preached patience, but frustrated fans are just about out of that — especially with the team appearing likely to extend the league's longest active playoff drought to 15 seasons. No team has made the postseason after starting 0-5.

Still, Denver quarterback Bo Nix was miffed at the mere suggestion the Broncos could overlook the Jets.

“I think in the league, quite honestly, it’s a little disrespectful to consider anybody a trap team,” Nix said. “I think any game you can walk in and slip up and lose, that’s just the league. ... They were a couple of walk-off plays away from having two or three wins. I definitely think that is something you’ve got to be careful with.

“This is not a team to just toss around like they’re winless, but I think we will be ready to go.”

Consecutive DPOYs?

Take it from the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year: Denver outside linebacker Nik Bonitto has what it takes to win the award this season.

“He’s my favorite, I’m not going to lie,” Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II said of his teammate, who's tied with the Giants' Brian Burns for the league lead with seven sacks. “Shoot, even last year he was up for it. I think this year he’s setting himself apart. I know we’ve got a lot more games down the road, but as long as he stays consistent, stays healthy, for sure ... I think his game has leveled up.”

Familiar foes

Glenn spent the final season of his 15-year playing career in New Orleans, where Sean Payton was his head coach in 2008. He returned to the Saints eight years later, serving as Payton's defensive backs coach for five seasons.

The two will square off Sunday for the first time as opposing head coaches.

“I owe a lot of my coaching development to Sean,” Glenn said. “I think he’s a hell of a coach. ... He’s one of the guys that I love everything about who he is and what he’s about and I’m looking forward to competing against him.”

Payton recalled speaking to Glenn for about 20 minutes the night before the former cornerback took the job with Jets in January. The two haven't chatted since, but might have a few moments to catch up before the game.

“He’s a tremendous coach," Payton said. “He was a huge asset to us in New Orleans. I’ve said this before, as a head coach you love to see guys get these opportunities. ... Aaron’s getting things built there.”

Roll or rut?

After starting last week with seven punts in eight possessions, the Broncos scored on all three of their fourth-quarter drives with the 18 unanswered points producing the win at Philadelphia.

So, is Denver’s offense on a roll or in a rut?

“Our defense just continued to make a stop,” Nix said. “We just kind of had some hope, had some life there at the end of the game, and we just kept chipping away, found things that worked, and eventually put some touchdown drives together.

“It’s tough to win games like that.”

Tough takeaways

The Jets' defense is making dubious history this season.

They're the first NFL team to have no takeaways through the first five games since 1933, when turnovers were first tracked, according to ESPN Research. The only team since 1960 to go six straight at any point without a takeaway was the 2018 San Francisco 49ers, according to Sportradar.

“It has to be a conscious thing,” linebacker Jamien Sherwood said. “It can’t just be going in there and making the tackle. You have to go in there with the mindset that I’m going to make the tackle and punch the ball out. When the ball goes up in the air, I’m going to go up and get it. I’m going to be the one to bring the ball down."