Sean Payton risks Mike Vrabel wrath with savage Super Bowl shot at Patriots before AFC Championship Game

Sean Payton apparently knows something the bookies don’t.

His Denver Broncos are 5.5-point underdogs going into Sunday’s AFC Championship Game — a record spread for a home team.

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Much of the negativity surrounds quarterback Box Nix’s injury, leaving Jarrett Stidham to carry the burden for Broncos Country in the race for Super Bowl LX, which fans can watch here.

But Payton is bullish, telling reporters that his players will have two weeks rest between the showdown and the Super Bowl — seemingly forgetting the small matter of beating Mike Vrabel’s Pats.

“They’re going to have a lot rest after this one. Two weeks,” he said.

New England fans think Payton’s message will be plastered on their team’s locker room wall.

“Bulletin board material,” one wrote.

“Vrabel is about to have this playing on loop in the Patriots locker room this week,” added another.

“Keep talkin smack Denver Pats have been feeding off it,” a third posted.

Stidham comes into the game with just four starts — the fewest of any quarterback entering a Championship Game.

In better news for the Broncos, Jeff Hostetler had five career starts, including the playoffs, entering the 1990 NFC Championship Game and led his team to victory.

He ended up winning the Super Bowl for the New York Giants.

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Bo Nix believes in Broncos

Nix suffered a fractured ankle during the Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills.

“The last few days have been hard to put into words,” he wrote in an emotional social media post.

“What started as one of the most exciting games I’ve ever been a part of ended with some of the most devastating football news I’ve ever received.

“This is not how I imagined my season would come to an end, but our season has been defined by overcoming adversity and responding to it.

“I can’t express how much this team and organization mean to me and how much I believe in them. I couldn’t be more proud of our guys. I couldn’t be more confident in Jarrett. And I couldn’t be more excited for what’s next.

“Thank you all for the kind words, love and support over the last few days. Thankful for my trainers, Beau, Vince and Dr. Waldrop for taking great care of me.

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“God never says oops, and he is always good. He has big plans for this team.

“We’re not finished, as a matter of fact we’re just getting started. We’re just going to keep climbing higher. Go Broncos.”

The winner faces either the Seattle Seahawks or Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl.

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