ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Broncos have dropped back-to-back games, but inside the locker room, the focus remains forward.

Head Coach Sean Payton and his team acknowledged the sting of missed opportunities, but the message is about making the corrections and growing over the coming weeks.

"I have great confidence that it can be flipped," Payton said Monday. "... We're playing the schedule that we got. Obviously, the last two weeks we've played some pretty good football teams. We think we're one of those teams. The significance of today as it applies to preparing for next week is important. … We've lost two games in a row, two close games with, really, last-second field goals. It's disappointing, but we have to learn, 'Why were these games this close towards the end, and how do we put ourselves in a position to finish better?' Certainly, that's collectively all of us."

For Payton, the complete story of the season isn't written yet — and he believes in the Broncos' ability to improve after two tough losses.

"I don't think I can ever recall being with a team that always finished and didn't struggle," Payton said. "In other words, it's a journey here. … The corrections and the improvement — any good team, really — there's a stretch where you begin to win games and you play better. That's what's due for this team. That's what has to happen for this team. That's what has to be on our horizon."

Guard Quinn Meinerz echoed that sentiment, noting the offense's collective responsibility in making the necessary corrections.

"Today was a big thumbs-pointing-in kind of day," Meinerz said. "And understanding that everybody in every single room needs to get better, and we're going to do that together. … You win games, and you learn from your losses. This is a big learning game for us as an offense, and moving forward, we'll be better because of it."

STRIVING FOR OFFENSIVE EFFICIENCY

With the defense and special teams combining for two takeaways against the Chargers, Payton turned the focus to the offensive inconsistency that he felt put the group in too many difficult situations.

"The two takeaways were the reason we stayed in that game," Payton said. "In other words, we only had nine first downs offensively. We have to be more efficient relative to what we're doing both with the run game and the pass game. Our average third down was third-and-11. … We have to, offensively, be able to finish. Two weeks in a row, we've been in that position to finish in the fourth quarter. I think the penalties were a big issue today in the meeting. We had 10. … Those are the things, and us as coaches, we have to look closely at what we're doing to help eliminate those issues."

Payton also pointed to the impact of negative plays, which put quarterback Bo Nix in tough situations.

"I think [the offense] was too inconsistent," Payton said. "There were too many minus plays. … If we're not more efficient on first and second down, the best in our league are going to struggle with the numbers that we gave [Nix] on third down. … That has to be corrected for us to be a quality offense."

Meinerz emphasized the importance of eliminating penalties in crucial moments, particularly in the red zone.

"Right around the beginning of the fourth quarter," Meinerz said. "We were up four points, we were on the 5-yard line, and having penalties, no matter what they are, in the red zone makes calling the next play extremely difficult … Those are some mistakes and technique things that we'll get cleaned up moving forward. Because looking at that tape, we understand that was an opportunity for us as an offense to go up two scores and put it, obviously, more in our favor and a chance to win that game."

For Denver's offensive line, improvement in the run game also remains a clear area of focus.

"I think the run game needs to get better, has to get better, and it definitely starts with us as an offensive line," Meinerz said. "There is plenty of room to improve our execution … and moving forward, it's just about getting that 1% better. I know that our offense will be extremely detail-oriented going into this [next] game."

ELLISS FINDING HIS STRIDE

While the Broncos' offense works to smooth out its efficiency, outside linebacker Jonah Elliss is focused on continued internal growth. Against the Chargers, Elliss forced a fumble on special teams — a play he credited to a week of detailed preparation.

"On special teams, I feel like [Special Teams Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach Darren] Rizzi has been preaching to me not to just run into the blockers," Elliss said. "This week, I was really focusing on using my speed and getting around them, and that's kind of what I did."

Elliss also noted a shift in his approach on defense, focusing on playing with more freedom and explosiveness.

"Last year, everything started with my get-off," Elliss said. "I was so worried about my assignment, I was so worried about not jumping offsides and just trying to do everything right that I was playing slow. … This week, I just really tried to lock into playing free with my athleticism and honestly just running off the ball, and that helped create these counter moves. … It makes it so the offensive tackle doesn't know what I'm doing every single time."

Part of Elliss' development has come from watching and learning from fellow outside linebacker Nik Bonitto.

"I actually spent a lot of time in the offseason watching him," Elliss said. "And just watching his get-off, because like I just said, that's somewhere I really wanted to improve, and so that's something that I see out of him that is honestly something all pass rushers should try to learn. … I don't know if anyone in the league has a better get-off than him. [He's] a great guy to learn from."

Together, Elliss and the Broncos' depth at edge rusher are committed to keeping the standard high.

"We have to go out there and have the mentality that we are going to dominate," Elliss said. "And I feel like that's what we've been doing."