ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The divisional slate is set to begin.
And as the Broncos prepare for a Week 5 battle with the Las Vegas Raiders, Denver knows what's at stake.
"Look, it's a division opponent," Head Coach Sean Payton said Wednesday. "It's our first chance to play a division opponent [this year]. Last year, we finished 3-3 in the division. I can't recall a team that has accomplished anything worthwhile finishing .500 in your division. Then you take a team like Las Vegas. There's a long, storied history, and certainly I appreciate that, especially with our fans. It's our job to play our best football this Sunday and get ready to play."
The Broncos haven't beaten the Raiders since the final game of the 2019 season, and Las Vegas prevented Denver from finishing the 2023 campaign with a winning record. As outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper looks ahead to Sunday, the two losses from a year ago remain fresh in his mind.
"We lost those two games that we had against them, and in order to go where we want to go to, you have to win in your division," Cooper said. "That starts this week, especially against the Raiders."
The Broncos last posted a winning record in the AFC West in 2015, though Denver's 3-3 mark in 2023 was the franchise's best since 2019. Yet while wide receiver Courtland Sutton acknowledged a divisional contest "hits a little bit different," he also noted the results of the past won't impact this year's matchup.
"We've got a big game Sunday," Sutton said. "The most important game is the one we're about to get ready to go play. Whatever happened in the past is the past. The thing we can focus on is this team we have right now and the team we're about to go play this year."
Quarterback Bo Nix is poised to get his first experience in the rivalry, and he said he has an appreciation for the Broncos' history with the silver and black. As someone who has played in one of college football's best rivalry games while at Auburn, though, Nix knows a rivalry must be experienced to be completely understood.
"I don't think you really truly understand it, I think, until you play in your first one," Nix said. "I'm excited to play Sunday. I know it's important for this organization. I know it has been for a long time. The players, we don't take it lightly. We're going to go out there and compete at a high level and I know they will too. It's going to be a fun football game."
It could also be a critical football game for the Broncos, who return home from three of four on the road to play two consecutive divisional home games. Payton said he spoke to his team about the importance of October football, and Denver will look to capitalize on playing three of its next four contests at Empower Field at Mile High.
"I just talked about how important the month of October is for teams in our league," Payton said. "You've gotten four games kind of on film with everyone. There's really not this plateau. You're getting better or it's the other [option]. So this is an important month of football."
Payton said the Broncos "have to be stepping on the gas right now," and while he said the team wasn't in a rut during an 0-2 start, he also believes the team has more to do to reach consistent success.
"It's week to week," Payton said of stacking wins. "I do believe there's a fine line between a groove and a rut. It's real close either way. I don't believe we've been in a rut yet, and I don't believe we're in a groove yet. I'll tell you when either happen."
On Sunday against the Raiders, the Broncos will look to take a step closer to that groove — and to an ever-important divisional win.
