ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The bar has been raised.

And the Broncos have responded in turn.

While Denver exceeded nearly all national expectations in 2024 as the team surged to 10 wins to snap a nearly decade-long postseason drought, the Broncos quickly outlined a higher standard for 2025. From the players in the locker room to the team’s leadership core, a number of key members of the franchise echoed that sentiment in the months since the end of last season.

Nearly five months after the final snaps of the 2024 season, the Broncos are nearing the end of the offseason program — and Head Coach Sean Payton said Tuesday he believes his team has been receptive in embracing higher expectations for 2025.

"I think pretty good," Payton said. "I think they have a high standard of how they see themselves and where we can be."

Perhaps more importantly, the Broncos are embracing the expectations without sacrificing the type of work that must accompany those goals.

"I think we're handling it really well," safety Brandon Jones said Tuesday. "I will say, we're still a young team. I think that just kind of brings that juice and energy and kind of that overall dog mentality that we all have. We never want to get comfortable; [you] never can get comfortable in this league. So I think we're just going to keep striving for greatness and continue to do what we can do."

That approach is no different than it was in 2024, when many national outlets doubted Denver's potential. Jones said he and his team will aim to maintain that "underdog mentality" while knowing that "we're going to be as good as we want to be."

Payton often mentions that confidence for individual players is born from demonstrated ability, and he offered a similar comparison in relation to his team.

"Now, a little bit of confidence always helps," Payton said. "You get going, you win some games."

And, Payton said, there are a couple of keys to Denver finding the success it's working toward.

"Any team really that's been worth their salt has always put a string of wins together," Payton said. "We need to start faster. The last two years, we haven't. But I like where we're at right now."

Since Payton took over in 2023, the Broncos have shown their ability to accomplish the first outlined goal. In the last two seasons, the Broncos have posted three winning streaks of at least three games, including a five-game winning streak in 2023 and a four-game winning streak in 2024. Before Payton's arrival, the Broncos had not posted a winning streak of at least four games since 2016. The Broncos' last five-game winning streak prior to 2023 came in 2015. Denver also posted a separate three-game winning streak in 2024, marking the first time since 2015 that Denver had multiple three-game winning streaks in a year.

"I think we've just got to stay calm and composed and just focus on the game and attack each opponent the same way, the way we study, the way that we game-plan, the way that we do things," said tackle Garett Bolles on how to string wins together in 2025. "We have a hell of a coaching staff here. We really do. One of the best in the NFL for a reason. Coach Payton, I love him dearly. … Just his coaching experience, his mindset [and] his culture that he builds is so special."

Bolles said the Broncos' culture — and the way the team practices — has prepared the team for the in-game scenarios that can make the difference between winning and losing.

"I think when we get in those moments when it's crunch time and you've got to score [or] you've got to make a stop, I don't think we're afraid because he puts us in situations in practice to make us feel uncomfortable so that when we get in those moments, we can win those close games," Bolles said. "… Those are the games you have to win in this league. … I think it's just all about the culture we have here and the players we have here and the mindset that we have here."

The Broncos' mindset, currently, is one of embracing the expectations that come with success — while also putting in the necessary work ahead of the season.

"I'll put our team up against anybody in the league," Bolles said. "We've just got to focus on getting better every single day and focus on the important things. And then when it's time to rock and roll, we'll rock and roll."