The Broncos are back at home.
And as October nears a close, the Broncos are in the thick of the AFC race.
The Broncos approach the halfway point of the season with four wins in their last five games, and they can improve to 5-3 with a win over the Panthers.
A victory over Carolina (1-6) would push Denver to two games over .500 for the first time since early in the 2021 season and give the Broncos their best record through eight games since 2016.
"We've got to come out firing," cornerback Pat Surtain II said Friday. "No matter who the opponent is, it's a faceless opponent to us. We've just got to come out and play our brand of football. That's being the most physical team each and every snap. We've got to hold ourselves to that standard and be accountable for what we're going to do. I'm pretty confident in our guys. We prepared the right way this week. I'm just very excited."
Denver can also even its home record at 2-2, which has been a focus heading into Sunday's matchup against the Panthers.
"You've got to be able to win at home," wide receiver Courtland Sutton said Wednesday. " ... That's one of the things that should be like a pillar."
As Denver approaches this week's game, though, it's clear the team is not satisfied with where it stands — and the Broncos know there's plenty more work to be done.
"The job still isn't finished," Sutton said. "We've got a lot of opportunities still ahead of us. We've got a big game this weekend against Carolina. We can't overlook what's right in front of us.
… It's nice to be where we are, but it's not where we want to be."
Here, then, are the questions that will decide if Denver can keep the momentum rolling and improve to 3-0 vs. NFC South teams this season:
CAN DENVER PRESSURE BRYCE YOUNG?
After Andy Dalton suffered a thumb injury in a car accident earlier this week, former first-overall pick Bryce Young returns to the starting lineup.
"He has good vision, quick release," Head Coach Sean Payton said Wednesday. "He shows accuracy [and] poise. He's played in big moments. In other words, I remember him coming out [of the draft]. He's played in real big moments. I think that you flip the focus when you have a change in quarterbacks from, like, one to the other, and you study it the best you can."
Young started the first two games of the year for Carolina, but he was supplanted by Dalton after throwing three interceptions and no touchdowns in his first two starts of the year.
In his short career, Young is 0-9 on the road while completing 53 percent of his passes for 175.2 yards per game and a 61.8 passer rating. Young has thrown four interceptions and no touchdowns in his last six road starts, and the Broncos certainly don't want to see Young reverse his fortunes.
The Broncos hold the league's third-ranked total defense and scoring defense, and they also rank second in sacks. Against Young, the Broncos will aim to continue their success against opposing quarterbacks and prevent Young from finding a rhythm. In Week 7, the Broncos sacked Spencer Rattler six times and recorded a pair of strip-sacks.
If Denver can find similar success against Young and make him uncomfortable, the Broncos should be poised to earn a win.
WILL THE BRONCOS' RUSHING SUCCESS CONTINUE?
The Broncos posted their best rushing output in more than a decade in Week 7, as the team tallied 225 rushing yards in a win over the Saints.
Against the Panthers, it's possible the Broncos may be able to keep their ground game going. Entering Week 7, the Panthers have allowed the most rushing yards per game, as they've given up an average of 162.1 per contest on the ground.
The Broncos had four players average at least five yards per carry against New Orleans, and Javonte Williams posted his highest rushing total in nearly three years as he notched 88 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Quarterback Bo Nix has also provided a threat on the ground, as he ranks second among AFC quarterbacks in rushing yards entering Week 7.
"I think it's an important part of the game," Nix said Wednesday. "When you look at the times it happens and all that kind of stuff, it can be good for an offense. It can be used as a weapon. That's what we're going to continue to use it for and just find ways to get explosives with my legs. When it's not there in the passing game or other guys are running it, I have the ability to do that as well."
Payton has talked often about how there's a different way to win each game, and it's possible the ground game could be the answer for Denver's Week 8 matchup.
CAN BO NIX CONTINUE TO PLAY CLEAN FOOTBALL?
As the Broncos have earned four wins in the last five weeks, their ability to avoid mistakes has been critical.
Denver has posted a 4-0 record this season when turning the ball over one or fewer times, while the Broncos are also 4-0 when Nix avoids throwing an interception.
Denver, though, is 0-3 when either Nix throws an interception or the team turns the ball over at least twice.
After turning the ball over four times in his first two starts, Nix has turned the ball over just once during the last five games, which is tied for the second-fewest turnovers among quarterbacks with at least four starts since Week 3.
Additionally, no team has allowed fewer sacks than the Broncos, and Denver's coaching staff has often pointed to sacks as a quarterback stat.
"It puts pressure on you when you think the quarterback's going to put you in a bad position if you haven't called the perfect play," Offensive Coordinator Joe Lombardi said Thursday. "If he's going to avoid the big mistakes, you can be a little bit more aggressive."
Carolina is tied for the eighth-fewest takeaways entering Sunday's slate of games, as the Panthers have recorded three fumble recoveries and three interceptions.
Turnovers can be an ultimate equalizer in games, and it will be critical for the Broncos to avoid falling behind in the takeaway battle.
