ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The initial roster is set, and the practice squad is largely assembled.
Soon, it will be time to see how the Broncos measure up.
After months of work in the offseason, training camp and the preseason, Denver is on the precipice of Week 1.
And when the Broncos arrive in Seattle, they'll have the chance to answer their first challenge of the season.
"A real opponent that's going to actually count against the record?" running back Javonte Williams said. "I'm ready to get to it."
As Denver approaches Week 1, the team has offered a consistent message that the standard has not changed. General Manager George Paton emphasized Tuesday that the team's 53-man roster was assembled to win, and inside linebacker Alex Singleton pushed back on a reporter's notion of a rebuild on Wednesday.
"We've got to win football games," Singleton said. "We're trying to win. We're trying to win now."
While Head Coach Sean Payton said he preferred to stay away from specific season predictions, he did mention he's eager to see how his team compares.
"I'm excited to see how we stack up," Payton said. "Because throughout the preseason you've got different combinations of teams playing players and there's a lot going on. But I am pleased with the energy, some of the things that you guys can see just from the eye."
Payton did acknowledge the need for the team to start fast, and he said he would talk with his team about what it takes to find success.
"I think it's playing well early," Payton said. "… What does that mean? We can't get off to the start we did a year ago and dig ourselves in a hole. I think that's important. I think the leadership is ever evolving because there's a number of former leaders, former captains that were here that aren't. It's a process, and certainly I never in a team meeting talk about what our record should be. I discuss things like the division, I discuss things like [making the] playoffs, what it takes. I discuss things like the opponents. We'll look at the first quarter pole of the schedule and then really focus in on Seattle."
Payton did acknowledge, though, that the NFL provides teams with the opportunity to make quick turnarounds.
"Look, our league has showed it to us every year: Tampa Bay, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans," Payton said. "Tune out [the noise]. Once again, there's the entertainment part of our business, and then there's the football side to our business. Often times, we understand both very well. There's a 'prove 'em wrong' mindset."
On Sept. 8 in Seattle, the Broncos will get their first opportunity to do just that.
