Denver Broncos coaches and players alike eye the biggest playoff opportunity since winning Super Bowl 50 ten years ago: being the No. 1 seed in the AFC, something they can accomplish with a win against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

For head coach Sean Payton, the rest afforded by the No. 1 seed is essential. “It’s time off,” said Payton on Wednesday after practice. “It’s also a game you don’t have to play. We just had… It’s time off, but you skip a weekend. Then it’s two home games to where you want to go.”

The players can feel it too. “It’s huge,” said quarterback Bo Nix. “I think that’s our main focus right now, the best chance, the best position we could put ourselves in. I think that’s the next challenge for us, and it’s going to be important for us this week. We’ve got to make sure that we’re practicing hard and plan to earn that. I think we put ourselves in a great spot, obviously.”

For Courtland Sutton, he recognizes this level of success is something the Broncos have lacked since he was first drafted by Denver. “To be able to have the opportunity to control our own destiny, it is very similar to last year — similar but different,” said Sutton. “Last was we win and we’re in. This year, it’s win and we get the No. 1 seed. The importance of that is not to be overlooked. To be able to have the opportunity to get the first-round bye and then have the opportunity to play two home games leading into being able to get to Santa Clara.”

Denver controls its own destiny from here on out. A win on Sunday gives them the first seed outright. With a loss, things get significantly more complicated. Cornerback Pat Surtain doesn’t even want it to come to come down to that. “It’s a huge opportunity for us to be able to control our own destiny,” said Surtain. “There is little room for error when we have home-field advantage. It’s very telling when opponents come in here that they have a tough time. That will be huge for us as a team and carrying that momentum moving forward.”

Before worrying about the No. 1 seed, the Broncos have to beat the Chargers on Sunday. “The focus is on beating a real good Chargers team,” Payton said.

Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.