ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- There was no question in defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson's mind.

"I want to be back," Vickerson said of his attitude entering free agency. "(Denver) is a good fit for me. We're a contender and I think we have a chance to do something special. That's really where I'm at, and that is why I signed back. I just liked the fit."

Now the eighth-year veteran is back in Denver on a two-year contract, ready to build on a season in which he played in all 16 games for the Broncos.

That starts with the fact that the Broncos have continuity on defense under Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio.

"I think with another year under the same defensive head coach we can flourish," Vickerson said. "I think we were a top-five defense (in 2012). It can only get better. That's what I see and that's how I see it."

The best part about the defense, he said, is that it's "a real collective unit."

"We're all helping one another on this championship run."

And now that he's back in orange and blue, he's focused on avenging the team's early playoff exit last season. He said he "definitely" still has a bad taste in his mouth about the Divisional Round loss to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Baltimore Ravens.

"Every time I see that Super Bowl commercial for Sports Illustrated, every time I see a Ravens helmet or Jacoby Jones dancing or anything like that, yeah, it's bitter," he said.

So he didn't hesitate to back his teammate, linebacker Von Miller, who said the Broncos will win the Super Bowl in 2013 after being motivated by his cousin coming out of a coma.

"If he said it, I'm going with it," Vickerson said. "We aren't going for anything less. That's what it is. That's what we're going for. I'm not going to come into the season and say, 'Yeah, we're going for playoffs or to be 8-8.' We want to go into the season wanting to win. Everybody is 0-0.

"It's up for grabs."