Can a team be any more bi-polar?

Broncos fans can attest to their favorite team being superb on defense but bad offensively for many years, going back to the Super Bowl 50 win, and that continued on Sunday. The Broncos won 16-0, shutting out a team for the first time since 2017, and it was because the defense carried the offense.

Denver’s defense forced seven punts in the first half alone, and Chris Harris Jr. ended the half with Marcus Mariota’s first turnover of the season, a pick. In the second half, it was much of the same; Tennessee punted three more times, Justin Simmons picked off a pass and Demarcus Walker ended a key drive with a sack on fourth down. Oh, and Kareem Jackson intercepted one more.

In fact, this was as much a game of superlatives from the stars — Harris with his pick, and Shelby Harris enjoyed a sack — as it was for the unknown players on Denver’s defense.

Walker, who’s looked like a bust since being selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, went wild. He enjoyed two sacks on the day, including a key takedown of Ryan Tannehill on a 4th-and-3 mid-way through the fourth quarter. Mike Purcell — who started his second game in place of the lackluster Adam Gotsis — consistently blew up the interior of the Tennessee offensive line and had five tackles, two for a loss. Jackson, the new safety, had one lightning play behind the line of scrimmage and picked off that game-sealing turnover near the end of the contest.

Finally, A.J. Johnson, who broke out last week with a great game including an interception in the end zone, enjoyed two sacks with seven total tackles, too.

On the day, Denver enjoyed seven sacks of Marcus Mariota — who was benched — as well as Tannehill, his backup. Derek Wolfe enjoyed the other two, previously unmentioned sacks while Todd Davis quietly led the team with seven total tackles.

That was that otherwordly, completely dominant defense Broncos fans grew to love back in 2015. But, it’s also a new look.

Not only because of the new players we already talked about, but because there’s a new man in charge in Vic Fangio.

After a slow start to the season, some wondered how much of an impact Fangio would make. Now, it’s becoming clear.

Fangio’s defense allowed a minuscule 35 rushing yards against the Los Angeles Chargers, and then gave up only 39 to the Titans on Sunday. Even better, L.A. was able to put 13 points on the board last week, while Tennessee was shut out by Fangio’s defense. It was the first shutout by a Denver defense since Dec. 10 of 2017, a 23-0 win over the New York Jets.

Still, all that amazing defense was nearly overshadowed by how terrible the Broncos offense was on Sunday against the now 2-4 Titans.

Denver started the game 1-12 on third down opportunities and finished 2-13. The final conversion led to a field goal while their touchdown drive went without a third down.

Overall, it was a putrid offensive output from Denver; 270 total yards, that 15.4 percent conversion rate and only 16 points. But, there were a few bight spots.

Joe Flacco’s deep pass to Courtland Sutton down the sideline was special. Phillip Lindsay continued his hot streak with 15 carries for 70 yards including the 30-yard run on Denver’s last offensive drive of the day that cemented the win. And Royce Freeman was a reliable receiver out of the backfield, helping a bit when Emmanuel Sanders missed the entire second half with a knee injury.

Denver’s offense also was called for three penalties for 15 yards on the day, shooting themselves in the foot while simultaneously struggling to put positive plays together in succession.

Simply, it may be too late for this team to reach the playoffs. But, with two straight wins, and two simultaneous losses by the AFC West-leading Kansas City Chiefs, Denver is back in the hunt for the postseason.

If they’re going to beat the Chiefs on Thursday night — on a short week, against a hungry team trying to prove their dominance — Denver will win with defense-first yet again. That is, until the offense finally finds its confidence and consistency.

Broncos fans will tell you, there’s no guarantee that will happen all season long.

So, enjoy the defense, which is playing without Bryce Callahan and Josey Jewell and Duke Dawson and others; they’re the backbone of this Broncos team, just as they have been for the last four years.