ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Broncos faced a similar scenario a year ago.
In Week 10 of the 2024 season, Denver traveled to face the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in a game that offered an opportunity to prove how the team stacked up against one of the league's best.
And stack up, Denver did. Though the Broncos fell short in heartbreaking fashion in a 16-14 loss to the Chiefs, they proved they belonged on that stage with Kansas City.
Denver took a 14-3 lead in that game before Kansas City surged back, and Bo Nix and the Broncos then methodically marched down the field to set up a game-winning field-goal attempt. The kick never made it to the uprights, and the Broncos' upset hopes were dashed — but the effort showed the Broncos their own potential.
As Denver prepares to face another road matchup against the defending Super Bowl champs — this time against the Eagles in Philadelphia — outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper believes that game in Kansas City set a foundation. And he believes the Broncos are able to do more than just compete.
"We've done it before," Cooper said Thursday. "We've been in this game before, going against the reigning Super Bowl champs in the Chiefs last year, going to their place. We've been in these type of games before. We're more experienced this time, and I feel like we'll be even more ready for the moment."
The ability to turn a competitive game into a win is critical for the Broncos, as Cooper said this Week 5 matchup is the type of game they need to finish.
"It's hard to say we want to win a Super Bowl [and] we want to do that stuff when you haven't put up the best film, best tape, best effort against some of these top teams," Cooper said. "… For us, it's just getting ready. I feel like everybody's confident. Everybody's sure of what we have over here. We know what we have. We know we have a good team. It's going to be two good teams on Sunday."
The Broncos' 2024 victory over the Buccaneers was their lone win against a playoff team last season, but Denver could notch an even more impressive win against the defending champions.
"They won the championship," Singleton said. "Especially offensively, it's pretty much the exact same team. They were the best in the world. If we want to be that or say we can be that, this is a game to go prove that."
Earning a win, though, will be far from easy. The Eagles have won 20 of their last 21 games and have the best record in one-score games since the start of 2024.
"Everything counts," Cooper said. "When you go against good teams, the mistakes are magnified. You've got to be sharp on your details. You've got to make sure you execute. You've got to finish the whole entire game, especially [against] teams that know how to win games. They know how to finish, they know how to win. They've done it before. It's time for us to get up there."
Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto rejected the notion that simply being close is enough, as he and Denver aim to improve to 3-2 on the season with a signature win.
"We're trying to go win the game," Bonitto said. "We know we're a good team. We can go into an opponent's house and win a football game."
Should the Broncos do that, they'll earn a win that could define the early part of Denver's season.
"Just knowing that, especially this year, we've been so close on the road multiple times this year already," Bonitto said, "and being finally able to get over the hump against a team of this caliber, as great as they are, Super Bowl champs, it would be a major boost for us as a team to be able to go on the road and win a game like that."
