ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Broncos have earned this opportunity.

With an 8-2 start to the season, they've put themselves in position to further solidify their division lead with a win on Sunday against the Chiefs.

The Broncos are aware of that opportunity in Week 11 at Empower Field at Mile High, and they know they'll have to be ready to play against a team that has won nine consecutive division titles.

"The players are aware of division games, and certainly there's great respect for a team that's had the staying power that they've had," Head Coach Sean Payton said Wednesday. "So, you've worked hard to put yourself in a position to play a game like this at home. We'll play in bigger games. I say that all the time, 'We're going to play in bigger games,' but this is the next one, and this is a team that's playing really well right now. You can see that. So, we're going to have to be on point."

The Chiefs have won three of their last four games after a 2-3 start, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes led the NFL in passing yards and passing touchdowns during a 4-1 stretch from Weeks 4-8. The Broncos have knocked off Mahomes just once — which came in his last trip to Denver — and understand the test he presents opposing defenses.

"We know the challenge this week," outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper said. "We know what we're up against. We know how [good] this team is, the success they had, the players they have, Patrick and all the way down. They have a great team over there, and it goes through them. We have to make sure we're on our A game."

Denver's odds of winning its first AFC West title since 2015 would surge with a third consecutive home win over the Chiefs, and tackle Mike McGlinchey described the benefit of earning that crown.

"It's the first step," McGlinchey said. "It's the first step to the postseason. It's the first step to guaranteeing yourself getting in. It doesn't leave anything up to chance and it guarantees a home playoff game these days, which is something we haven't had here in a while. From experience, there's nothing better than playing at home in the playoffs. That's the first goal, because you've got to beat the teams you play twice a year. That'd be a huge step for us."

Denver has won 10 consecutive home games dating back to last year and will put its 5-0 home record in 2025 to the test against Kansas City, which is 1-3 on the road this year. As the Broncos look to replace the Chiefs atop the division for the first time since winning the Super Bowl, a win would be yet another indication of the Broncos taking a step toward contention.

"There's a reason this team has won for a long period of time, and it's talent, it's coaching, it's a program, it's a GM, it's ownership," Payton said. "That's where we're aspiring to go."

On Sunday in Denver, the Broncos will aim to take that next step toward a division title.