Broncos take ‘significant’ step towards championship objectives by incomes No. 1 seed

DENVER — The path is now clear.

Two extra wins, and the Broncos can be Santa Clara-bound.

Check that: Two residence wins, and the Denver Broncos can be boarding a flight to Super Bowl LX.

As the Broncos clinched the No. 1 seed within the AFC with a 19-3 win on Sunday over the Los Angeles Chargers, that actuality abruptly felt inside attain.

A far-off objective that the Broncos have been chasing because the summer season is now inside hanging distance.

“It’s significant,” stated Head Coach Sean Payton of incomes the AFC’s high seed, “and the reason is, you can see the light. Two home wins — and that’s exciting. It’s why you do all of it. It’s why you work late hours. It’s why the players train and lift. It’s a big deal.”

It’s the newest step for a corporation that returned to the playoffs a 12 months in the past after which needed extra. The Broncos pointed to successful the AFC West as a objective following final season’s postseason loss to Buffalo, they usually just lately earned their first division title in a decade. That accomplishment assured at the least one residence playoff sport — and Sunday night time’s victory promised much more, if the Broncos hold successful.

“It just shows the toughness and just the will and the ability to keep being able to grow,” outdoors linebacker Nik Bonitto stated of the staff’s development. “I feel like it’s been pretty special being a part of that.”

Denver will not know its divisional opponent for an additional week, however the Broncos do know that the street to Super Bowl LX runs via the Mile High City.

“We feel like, as a team, we have a lot to correct and a lot to adjust, but at the end of the day, we are glad we have home-field advantage,” cornerback Pat Surtain II stated. “You need as much of an advantage going into the playoffs [as possible]. That’s a huge part of it, securing the No. 1 seed and getting home-field advantage. That’s big time for us. I feel like we aren’t a finished product. We aren’t where we want to be yet.”

And whereas Surtain acknowledged the Broncos could be “dangerous” with home-field benefit, Denver is aware of there are corrections to be made if the staff hopes to make the most of the chance forward.

“You still have to take it one step at a time,” tight finish Evan Engram stated. “We still have to stay present where our feet are and prepare for the moment. That moment will come if we handle this moment correctly.”

Payton, who grew to become the fifth coach in NFL historical past to guide two totally different organizations to a No. 1 seed in his profession, acknowledged the Broncos’ room to enhance at the same time as they now chase their ultimate objective of a championship.

“To be able to host the Divisional Round is significant,” Payton stated. “Yes, we have to clean some things up, and we will. We’ll be ready.”

As the Broncos put together, the last word objective that they have been chasing for months is now close by.

“It’s special,” inside linebacker Alex Singleton stated. “That’s the objective. You wish to be the [No.] 1 seed. We are the [No. 1] seed. … You can see the sunshine.

“Let’s go get the job done, win three and get to raise the Lombardi.”