At 4-12 and without possession of their own first-round pick, it almost feels like the Denver Broncos have nothing left to play for this season, but interim head coach Jerry Rosburg strongly disagrees.

“It’s been a dry spell a bit. We all recognize that; this team recognizes that,” Rosburg said of the past 17 weeks. “Perhaps desert-like, but I think [the season ticket renewals] is a really bold declaration and demonstration by our fans that they see the promised land beyond the horizon. They are looking downfield. We want to give those fans—all the people that come out to the field and all the people that are at home—hope for that. We’re working hard to do that. Thank you for your support. Our team sees that, and we are going to do our very best to qualify that faith in us. We seek joy this Sunday. We are out to win so we can celebrate with one another. We look forward to having our fans celebrate with us.”

He believes the Broncos have plenty left to play for, like that joy and that ability to celebrate with one another, even if the team’s painful record is more-or-less set in stone.

“The 5-12 thing, I don’t think, resonates with them at all. It certainly doesn’t with me,” Coach Rosburg shared during his Thursday media availability. “They don’t look backwards. It just doesn’t work that way. You have to look forwards when you’re in this business. There are so many things to play for. I don’t even want to begin to numerate them. They enjoy this game. They are pros. I see it every day. The thing that has happened this year with our roster since I’ve been here is there is constantly a new energy brought by new players and guys that have new opportunities that have never had opportunities. I think that is a feeling that others get because this isn’t guaranteed. We better take advantage of every opportunity that we have to play this game.”

That notion of always looking forwards, and never looking backward, was a consistent theme throughout Rosburg’s presser.

“I recognize that past. I talked about that last week a bit—how we own that, and we recognize that,” Rosburg said. “I think I said one other time that that’s a mess that we made. Our focus is on how we need to clean that up. We need to do this. I try not to—perhaps I do at times—but I try not to send negative messages. I’m not going to tell our guys to go out there and not lose so that this streak is extended. That just doesn’t resonate with me.”

Hopefully, Rosburg’s message does resonate with his players, and the Denver Broncos manage to close this season on a strong note.