DENVER — The Broncos are 8-2.
They've won seven consecutive games, started 5-0 at home for the first time since 2014 and hold the most wins in the NFL.
Entering the weekend slate, they're the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
And yet, the Broncos are searching for more.
"We're never satisfied," Head Coach Sean Payton said Thursday. "If my answer were to you, 'I'm comfortable,' that'd be silly. Right? So, obviously, we've got to clean up the penalties, we've got to clean up some of the execution, and that is an ongoing thing that probably never ends. You search for that Shangri-La. Right now, we're a team sitting at eight wins. I think we're the only team sitting there, and yet we're constantly looking internally."
Veteran tackle Mike McGlinchey echoed that sentiment, noting that while the Broncos were "pumped to get the win" over a division rival, they must find more offensive consistency as the season progresses.
"Certainly, we're all ecstatic to be 8-2," McGlinchey said. "It's an incredible accomplishment to win that many games out of 10 and put ourselves in a great position for the back half of the year. But … we're living a little dangerously, and we've got to clean that up, and I'm sure we will."
The Broncos have shown their ability to perform offensively, as they scored 28 points against the Colts and Bengals, tossed 33 points up in a quarter against the Giants and posted their highest home scoring output in a decade against Dallas.
Quarterback Bo Nix, though, knows the team must be more consistent and that "at some point, 10 points isn't going to be enough" for the Broncos.
"I think you have to stay level-headed," Nix said. "You have to understand that it is the NFL. Seven wins in a row is hard to come by. So, you're doing something right, but at the same time, you're also doing something wrong because there's plenty left on the table, I think. Between penalties and just some sluggish football, we're just not playing very well. It starts with me. I have to be better. Then the rest of the guys will follow along. We have to find some juice somewhere. We have to find something, especially against a good defense like that, there are plays to be had. We just have to find them."
As the Broncos look for that juice, players throughout the locker room expressed confidence the offense can find the most consistent output for which they are searching
"I think it's very close," McGlinchey said. "Obviously, there's too many negative plays. We had a couple turnovers. That was tonight. But over the last stretch. … when we get in lulls, offensively, it's not like we're taking sacks, it's not like we're turning the ball over at alarming rates. It's not like we're having huge negative plays, we're just not … capitalizing on what we need to do. There's opportunities there."
GETTING REST
At long last, the Broncos have a couple of days to rest.
Over the last six weeks, the Broncos have played: a short week game on the East Coast; a game in London; a game, without a bye, following the London trip; and a "Thursday Night Football" game.
The Broncos have played six games in the last 33 days and come through it unscathed, propelling them to an 8-2 mark.
How long of a stretch has this been for Denver? Ten games before a bye or mini-bye is the longest stretch on the Broncos' schedule since 1999.
"It was a lot of football since we went to Philly on a short week after 'Monday Night Football,'" McGlinchey said. "It just feels like we've been kind of rolling, rolling, rolling. But certainly physically, it's going to be good to get rest. You've got to get some guys healthy. I think it's going to be good for us mentally to get away from it for a little bit."
Denver's players, understandably, are eager for the rest they'll get ahead of a Week 11 showdown with the Chiefs.
"It's much needed, for sure," outside linebacker Nik Bonitto said. "It's been a long stretch and just talking about the traveling and the wear and tear that has been on our bodies these last couple weeks, so it's going to be much needed, for sure."
