ENGLEWOOD — Broncos coach Sean Payton gave a nod Friday to his mentor Bill Parcells.

Before Jeff Hostetler as a backup quarterback led the New York Giants to a Super Bowl XXV victory in the 1990 season, his then-coach Parcells told the team, “Listen, if we lose it’s not going to be because of that quarterback.”

Payton talked to Parcells after quarterback Bo Nix suffered a season-ending broken ankle about how he handled the Hostetler situation 35 years ago. And Payton was asked about backup Jarrett Stidham taking over for Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against New England at Empower Field at Mile High.

“I told the team this,’’ Payton said. “I said, ‘I’m not worried about Stiddy in this game. I’m worried about everyone else, all right, and how we play.’’’

The Broncos head into Sunday with questions on offense, but players on that side of the ball did not seem worried about much as they held their final practice of the week at Broncos Park.

In addition to Nix being out after he was hurt late in overtime in last Saturday’s 33-30 win over Buffalo in a AFC divisional playoff, the Broncos won’t get an extra boost with the return of running back J.K. Dobbins. Dobbins, who suffered a left foot injury Nov. 6 and had surgery, was designated for return from injured reserve last Monday and was limited in practices Wednesday through Friday. But he was ruled out Friday for Sunday’s game.

It remains to be seen if wide receiver Troy Franklin, listed as questionable, will be able to play Sunday after being lost for the game in the second quarter against the Bills with a hamstring injury. A source said the Broncos are strongly considering elevating Elijah Moore on Saturday from the practice squad as a potential replacement for Franklin’s speed. Moore ran the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds at the 2021 scouting combine.

Broncos receiver Pat Bryant, who has no injury designation, will play after being lost in the first quarter against the Bills with his second concussion in a month.

The big issue on offense is how Stidham will look for the Broncos, the top seed in the AFC, against the No. 2 Patriots. The seven-year veteran will make his fifth career start, his last one being to close the 2023 regular season. He didn’t throw a single pass in 2024 and 2025 regular seasons with Denver.

“It’s great,’’ guard Quinn Meinerz said about how preparations went during the week with Stidham. “He prepares every single week to be the starter and that’s how you have to stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready. Clean huddles, clean snap count and I know he likes the plan (for the game).”

Tackle Mike McGlinchey said there’s no difference in the “vibe” surrounding the Broncos with Stidham replacing Nix.

“Obviously, it was a tough situation,’’ McGlinchey said. “You don’t want to see a guy that’s your leader and a guy that’s the life of your team go down, especially at such a big moment. But Stiddy’s done an unbelievable job stepping in and commanding the huddle, commanding the team, and he’s ready for it. And the rest of the team is, too.”

McGlinchey sure seems ready. He played in the NFC Championship Game in 2019, 2020 and 2022 with San Francisco and said he’s as fired up as ever for being one step shy of the Super Bowl.

“This is the reward for 25 weeks of trials and tribulation and hard work and stress and all that,’’ McGlinchey, who had one win in a conference title game came in the 2019 season before the 49ers lost Super Bowl LIV, 31-20, to Kansas City. “Playoff football is the reward for the opportunity that we get to play in the greatest league in the world.  … This is my fourth title game, second at home, and I’m just as excited for this one as I was for my first one. In fact, I think they might get better.”

McGlinchey is one of just five players on Denver’s 53-man roster to have played in a conference title game, the others being linebacker Dre Greenlaw, safety Talanoa Hufanga and defensive tackle D.J. Jones with San Francisco and defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers for the Los Angeles Rams.

Those who haven’t been there are relishing the opportunity.

“It’s exciting stuff to be in this position,’’ said guard Ben Powers. “It’s everything you dream about as a kid.”

Tight end Evan Engram has similar feelings.

“It’s a big one,’’ Engram said. “It’s one we dream about our whole lives.”

On Friday, the Broncos started the practice inside before moving outside. With the temperature below 20 degrees, Payton wanted to get the team in the cold weather due to Sunday’s projected high temperature being in the teens.

“(Games are) impacted more by rain,’’ Payton said. “We’ll deal with the elements. … We’ll be prepared.”

While Payton said he is “worried about everyone else” other than Stidham, he didn’t give specifics. But one would think he has less worries on defense, with the Broncos having been No. 2 in the NFL in the regular season in total defense and No. 3 in points allowed.

“At the end of the day, we’re one of the best defenses in football,’’ Franklin-Myers said.

With support for Stidham being the company line this week, Franklin-Myers added one more thing.

“And we’ve got complete faith in Stiddy,’’ he said.