The road to Super Bowl LX runs through the Front Range.
The route there is long and uphill for everybody, but it is shortest and most manageable for the Broncos.
That goal turned to reality at Empower Field on Sunday when Sean Payton’s team clamped the Los Angeles Chargers in a 19-3 victory that featured little in the way of offensive rhythm and everything Denver could have asked for in terms of consequence.
After a decade chase, they are once again the No. 1 seed in the AFC. They will watch Wild Card weekend as six conference foes are whittled to three.
They are two home wins from playing for the Lombardi Trophy in the Bay Area a little more than a month from now.
Renck: Broncos secure homefield for playoffs, but are not home free from criticism
“It’s significant,” Payton said of earning the bye and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. “And the reason is because you can see the light. Two home wins. That’s exciting. That’s why you do all this. It’s why you work late hours. It’s why the players train and lift.
“It’s a big deal.”
They finished the regular-season job Sunday riding the same strengths that powered an historic, 14-win regular season.
A dominant defense, which on Sunday held Chargers back-up quarterback Trey Lance and a motley crew of visitors to one field goal, 13 first downs and 217 total yards of offense.
A knack, honed over the past three seasons by Payton as he first overhauled and later tinkered with Denver’s roster to find players he refers to as “Hurricane proof,” for figuring out how to win the game that presents itself each week, regardless of whether it matches expectations.
A belief, forged in close game after close game this fall, that the group will find a way to the finish line each time out.
“A win is a win. I don’t care if it’s 3-2,” said veteran wide receiver Courtland Sutton, one of many players on this roster for whom this perch is, “unfamiliar territory,” as Payton called it. “It doesn’t have to be exciting. At the end of the day you just have to have more points than the other team and you get the ‘dub.’”
Against the Chargers, that meant overcoming an offensive outing that fluttered on the January wind between lackluster and downright bad.
The group had the ball at L.A.’s 20 yard line or closer four times and settled for a Wil Lutz field goal each time. For the first time since Week 2 in 2024 — a span of 33 regular-season games — Denver didn’t score an offensive touchdown.
If Chargers beat Patriots in playoffs, they get another shot at Broncos
“Our defense played incredible,” Sutton said. “Wil’s leg, he’ll probably have to ice his leg. But a win is a win and it’s exciting to be able to share this moment with the team. The team is well-deserving and there’s a lot of guys on this team who have seen some darker days.”
Added Payton, “Yeah we’ve got to clean some things up. And we will. We’ll be ready.”
On the flip side, Vance Joseph’s defense kept an opponent out of the end zone for the fifth time this season. They put points on the board themselves for the first time when nickel Ja’Quan McMillian ran a first-quarter interception back for a touchdown.
The defense basically gets credit for three more points after a third-quarter Nik Bonitto strip sack set the offense up in field goal range.
“It’s the best thing in the world,” inside linebacker Alex Singleton said. “You play this game to get to this point. And then once you’re to this point, now the next season starts and we get a game up on everybody.
“The playoffs run through Denver. We’ve worked for that. We’ve earned that.”
Wins are the only currency that buy advantage in the NFL. Style points don’t matter.
Everybody else in the conference is done for the season or at risk of losing next weekend.
“It’s the best possible position to be in,” quarterback Bo Nix said after finishing 14-of-23 for 141 yards and a season-high four sacks, one of his worst statistical outings of the season as a passer. “Two home games is where we want to be. It’s better than being on the road. It’s better than having to win an extra game. For us it’s the best-case scenario and it’ll be good to play here because of our stadium and the atmosphere.