The fans were yelling, the players were smiling, and the 1977-themed scoreboard numbers kept changing like lever pulls on a slot machine. Touchdown Marvin Mims Jr. Touchdown Courtland Sutton. Touchdown Devaughn Vele. Good Lord, how did he catch that one? Bo Nix stood at the fault line of this offensive earthquake. The stadium shook, and the man wearing the No. 44 Floyd Little jersey under the 530 sign in the upper deck danced to “Party Rock Anthem.” The Broncos were in the clear. All they had to do was run out the clock, which read 6:46 remaining. In the second quarter. The Broncos may very well go to Buffalo on Sunday and get eaten like Anchor Bar wings coated in ranch dressing, but they will always have this moment. They earned this. Take Our Poll The Broncos are in the playoffs for the first time since 2015. This is where they belong. The NFL is better when the Broncos are good. “This organization is known for winning,” said Sutton, soaking in his first postseason berth as the second-longest tenured Bronco. “To have a chance to add to the legacy is humbling.” Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) celebrates his first quarter touchdown with Miles the Denver Broncos mascot during the first half of the game at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on Jan. 5, 2024. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post) All of the criticism of their schedule, all of the finger-pointing about coaching decisions the past two weeks, all of the hand-wringing about the slumping defense melted away on a sun-splashed 30-degree afternoon at Empower Field at Mile High. You want an asterisk? Be miserable in your basement with flaming hot Cheetos and a Big Gulp. The Broncos did not win by forfeit. They delivered a 38-0 knockout. It’s not their fault Cincinnati won just one game in September. It’s not their fault the Chiefs secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC, prompting coach Andy Reid to use reserves Sunday, sitting future Hall of Famers Patrick Mahomes, Chris Jones and Travis Kelce. Taylor Swift’s backup dancers might have made this a more dramatic playoff-clinching game. But do not fall into the trap believing the Broncos are not worthy. Related Articles Sports Columnists | Renck: After whiffing twice on playoff berth, Broncos’ Sean Payton has chance for redemption against Chiefs Sports Columnists | Renck: Time for CU to show Deion Sanders it remains serious about football and extend his contract Sports Columnists | Broncos podcast: It comes down to Week 18 for Sean Payton, Bo Nix and Denver Sports Columnists | Renck: Broncos’ Bo Nix will handle what’s next in must-win game vs. Chiefs Sports Columnists | Renck vs. Keeler: Which New Year’s resolution do we want most for Colorado sports: Broncos postseason or Jamal Murray getting right? They absolutely deserve this. They won 10 games. Sure, only two came against teams with a winning record, but the B-side of the vinyl reveals truthful lyrics: They proved they can beat bad teams. That, too, is a skill in the NFL. The Broncos are no longer trapped at the bottom of the mine shaft, no longer living in a “world of suck,” as Emmanuel Sanders eloquently described the start of the 2019 season. They are a team that Broncos Country can be proud of, a team that will definitely save its group photo from the Pat Bowlen Fieldhouse. They went into the playoffs how you are supposed to: Full throttle. The Broncos clobbered the Chiefs, and made a statement through Jumbotron graphics and press box announcements. Bo Nix (10) of the Denver Broncos hands off to Javonte Williams (33) during the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) Nix set a Broncos record with 18 straight completions to open the game, tied for fourth most in NFL history. His 18 touchdowns at home are an NFL rookie best. And he joined John Elway as the only rookie to lead Denver to the postseason. Sean Payton has made some questionable decisions this season. Cutting Russell Wilson and hand-picking Nix was not one of them. Of all the things the kid has taught us — he is a fiery competitor, he doesn’t curse — the most important is that he is a winner. You think Nix understood Sunday’s significance? He ran a lap round the field, high-fiving fans after the game. “I was a little tired at the end,” said Nix, who completed 26 of 29 passes for 321 yards and four TDs. “They deserve it. It has been a long time coming.” When Peyton Manning retired, the Broncos became irrelevant, logging eight years of participation trophies and embarrassment. It only took the 13th starting quarterback and the fifth head coach since Super Bowl 50 to end the NFL’s second longest active playoff drought. “If you said what’s important, it’s not compensation, it’s how your peers think of you,” Payton said. “It starts with the right people and what you are looking for vision wise, I know that. And man, we had a good offseason.” It is days like this when we are reminded of what was and what can be. Here are the Broncos, picked to win five games by oddsmakers and six by me, who galvanized around youth and disrespect. Find a Broncos team that exceeded expectations more than this one. Or a quarterback for that matter. “You would never know Bo’s a rookie,” Sutton said. It is not just Nix who exhibits tireless work ethic. Siri would get lost trying to find prima donnas and troublemakers in the Broncos locker room. It took belief, of course, but that would not have mattered if not for players executing in critical situations. Like cornerback Pat Surtain II turning half the field into a “Do Not Disturb” sign. Like Nik Bonitto transforming from a role player into the Broncos’ best edge rusher since Von Miller. Like Mims morphing into a blend of Rick Upchurch and Eddie Royal, running so fast on his first score Sunday that the name on the back of his jersey began peeling off. Nik Bonitto (15) of the Denver Broncos sacks Carson Wentz (11) of the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) The Broncos are going to the playoffs. They are 7.5- to 8.5-point underdogs depending on the book. No one will give them a chance. But watching Garett Bolles wave a Broncos flag and stomp up and down the sidelines, and Malcolm Roach jump into the stands, is it really about that? Put this season in perspective. They found a franchise quarterback, they have a 63-sack defense and they power-washed all the stains from their recent past. Enjoy this. The Broncos are back. And they did not back in. Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.