ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Only four teams remain.
For the first time in a decade, the Broncos are playing on championship weekend — and they realize the precious nature of the opportunity that awaits them this weekend.
"We're one of four teams that are still practicing right now," wide receiver Courtland Sutton said. "Everybody else is at home enjoying their offseason. When you look at it from that perspective, it's such a blessing to be one of four. It's something that this team has earned, and I don't think that anybody takes it for granted at all. I think everybody is embracing the moment, embracing this opportunity. We have a locker room that's full of guys that are ready to take advantage of what's in front of us. We have a huge opportunity in front of us."
That opportunity comes in the form of hosting the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. Denver last appeared on this stage during the 2015 season, when the Broncos earned a dramatic 20-18 victory over the Patriots to advance to Super Bowl 50.
The Broncos will have to overcome adversity — as they often have this season — as they look to advance to Super Bowl LX without their starting quarterback in Bo Nix. But despite the disappointment, cornerback Pat Surtain II said the Broncos have no other option but to find a path forward.
"We've just got to find a way," Surtain said. "… We didn't make it this far just to come this far. We realize we have a lot on the horizon to look forward to, and this is championship football now. So, we've got to lock in and buy into the process."
Regardless of who is at quarterback, Head Coach Sean Payton said the key lies in how the Broncos prepare for "a real good football team." That combination of preparation and opportunity offers quite a bit of motivation.
"There's nothing like it when it's just [the time] ticking, and you're wanting to make sure you've looked at every bit of film, that you haven't missed anything," Payton said. "You're playing another good football team, and you know what's at stake and you know what's next. It's exciting."
Only a select few players on the Broncos' roster have ever reached this stage of the postseason, making Sunday's matchup with the Patriots an opportunity they don't want to pass up.
"I've been watching these games from my couch my entire career," tight end Evan Engram said. "… I can't wait."
Added outside linebacker Nik Bonitto: "It's a real special opportunity. … We've got to fully take advantage of this moment."
One of the biggest motivating factors, according to Sutton, is to keep an already special season going and to continue to build the memories from the brotherhood the team holds in the locker room.
"This is one of those memories that we get a chance to go out there and make," Sutton said.
As Stidham approaches his first postseason start, he also recognized the opportunity on which the Broncos can capitalize when they take the field on Sunday with a trip to Santa Clara on the line.
"We're playing in the AFC Championship," Stidham said. "We're one of the last four teams playing. What's not fun about this? So, we're going to go out there, give it the best we got, and hopefully come out victorious."
