DENVER (AP) — Look past the clunky offense and the persistent special teams gaffes and you'll see the exact same thing that carried the Denver Broncos to a tickertape parade the last time they started a season 8-2.

A suffocating defense that erases just about all the warts.

It was Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware and the “No Fly-Zone” secondary in 2015 that carried Peyton Manning and a doddering offense across the finish line in Super Bowl 50.

This time, it's Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Zach Allen, Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, Alex Singleton and, when healthy, Pat Surtain II, that's leading the way through all those three-and-outs by scuffling second-year QB Bo Nix and the sputtering offense along with the weekly goof-ups in the kicking game.

The Broncos edged the Las Vegas Raiders 10-7

See Full Page