The Denver Broncos made it to their bye week with a 7-3 mark.
It isn’t that they have been playing horribly, but after starting 4-0, the last six games have been a mix of good and bad.
The Broncos still hold their destiny in their own hands, as they sit just a half game behind the Oakland Raiders, and have three divisional games remaining on their schedule.
Yet if prior to the season we had said that this team would sit at 7-3 at the bye week, most Broncos fans would have certainly taken it.
The Broncos lost a number of players on both sides of the ball, and whoever started at quarterback, would be making his NFL debut.
With the target of being the defending Super Bowl champs squarely on their back, this team has managed to stay in the thick of things.
So, while there is still much important work to do in the regular season, let’s take a quick look back at the top players for the Broncos to this point.
Darian Stewart
It isn’t just the huge game he had last week against the New Orleans Saints; Stewart has been producing at a high level all season.
The heady free safety is rarely out of position, and he is an important reason that the Broncos have allowed just 13 passing plays of over 25 yards all season. Stewart doesn’t just keep the play in front of him, he comes up and delivers a pop in the process too.
On the season, he has racked up 44 tackles, with three interceptions, a fumble recovery and a tackle for a loss.
Darian Stewart has been one of the key contributors on this defense through the first 10 weeks.
Aqib Talib
It’s no surprise that the Broncos have struggled without Talib, who has been out the last three games with a sore back.
Through the first seven games, Talib proved to be one of the most dangerous cornerbacks in the NFL, as he made 20 tackles, defended 11 passes, grabbed three interceptions and returned one for a score.
You can target Talib if you want to, but be prepared for the fact that he will probably make you pay for it. And he seems to save his best plays for the biggest moments.
Who could forget his pick-six against Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2?
And his early interceptions against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in Week 4, set the tone for what would be a Denver blowout.
Talib says that he hopes to play this next week against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Let’s hope he can get back to form very soon.
Demaryius Thomas
No, he hasn’t had the great season that the Broncos have been hoping for since they signed him to a franchise contract prior to last season.
But DT is still making some big plays for an offense that is struggling.
Through the first 10 games, Thomas has been thrown to 85 times. He has made 55 receptions for 678 yards and he leads the team in touchdowns with five.
Yes, he has too many drops, but he is still the offensive player on this team that can take over a game and score on any given play.
Hopefully his most recent game against the New Orleans Saints, where he racked up eight catches for 87 yards and touchdown, are a sign of more big things to come.
Derek Wolfe
Another player that has missed some games due to injury, Wolfe has been a force on the defensive line.
With the loss of Malik Jackson, there was concern that the Broncos defensive front could take a step back. Wolfe has done his best to make sure that doesn’t happen.
He leads Bronco defensive linemen in tackles with 30 and has 4.5 sacks, despite missing a game with an elbow injury.
Wolfe has a relentless motor, and he has proven to be as good against the run as he is against. the pass.
Last season, John Elway rewarded Wolfe with a four-year contract extension worth $36.7 million dollars. So far, Wolfe looks to be a great value.
Von Miller
After his domination in the postseason last year, and his whirlwind appearance tour in the offseason, what could Miller possibly have left for 2016?
Quite a bit, actually.
The Broncos made Miller the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history in July, and he looks to be worth every penny.
Not only does Von have 39 tackles, 9.5 sacks and a forced fumble so far, but he’s doing it against teams that have the single-minded focus of stopping him from making big plays.
He has been better against the run. He has been a leader for his teammates after the loss of Peyton Manning. And he seems to have a knack for making the big play when you need it the most.
Despite being double and sometimes triple teamed, and even though he may be the most held defensive player in the league, Von Miller is still finding ways to carry this defense.
And he is a key reason that you cannot count out the 2016 Denver Broncos from being a Super Bowl contender yet again.