The Denver Broncos got the message on where they stand in the playoff race and what they need to do to improve their status before they left the locker room after Sunday's road loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
They'd gone to KC with a chance to strengthen their position in the AFC West with a victory over the Chiefs. Instead of a win that would have put them in first place in the division with a 7-5 won-loss record, they went home with a 22-9 loss that dropped them into a tie with the Raiders for last place in the division.
From visions of first to the reality of last. That was a sobering change in expectations, especially considering how the Chiefs have taken control of the division with a defense that is improving by the week.
The Chiefs have put together a five-game winning streak to lead the division with an 8-4 record. The Chargers are second at 7-5, and the Broncos and Raiders are next at 6-6.
View photos of the starters for the Denver Broncos.
![Head Coach Vic Fangio
Offensive Coordinator: Pat Shurmur
Defensive Coordinator: Ed Donatell
Special Teams Coordinator: Tom Mcmahon](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/erjeknpgockrnlwtedlv.jpg)
Head Coach Vic Fangio
Offensive Coordinator: Pat Shurmur
Defensive Coordinator: Ed Donatell
Special Teams Coordinator: Tom Mcmahon
![WR Jerry Jeudy
Backed up by Kendall Hinton](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/c53m6gzd7jkyz436srx6.jpg)
WR Jerry Jeudy
Backed up by Kendall Hinton
![LT Garett Bolles
Backed up by Cameron Fleming](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/ro4dowpi0awqmxyxhsad.jpg)
LT Garett Bolles
Backed up by Cameron Fleming
![LG Dalton Risner
Backed up by Netane Muti](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/utojaaiwvdaline1mefx.jpg)
LG Dalton Risner
Backed up by Netane Muti
![C Lloyd Cushenberry
Backed up by Austin Schlottmann](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/qcojrzqqrtvxxvjj744p.jpg)
C Lloyd Cushenberry
Backed up by Austin Schlottmann
![RG Quinn Meinerz
Backed up by Natane Muti](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/au9fphkfxq3xjgg4dyyo.jpg)
RG Quinn Meinerz
Backed up by Natane Muti
![RT Bobby Massie
Backed up by Cam Fleming](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/auzzocwhrdna3zra5iyn.jpg)
RT Bobby Massie
Backed up by Cam Fleming
![TE Noah Fant
Backed up by Albert Okwuegbunem, Eric Saubert and Andrew Beck](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/d9n6qwjybo3oxuuwawvc.jpg)
TE Noah Fant
Backed up by Albert Okwuegbunem, Eric Saubert and Andrew Beck
![WR Tim Patrick
Backed up by Diontae Spencer](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/e7gehjs6pizokvvodkmv.jpg)
WR Tim Patrick
Backed up by Diontae Spencer
![WR Courtland Sutton](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/plu0rpd8zycdshxf4xqj.jpg)
WR Courtland Sutton
![RB Melvin Gordon
Backed up by Javonte Williams, Mike Boone and Damarea Crockett](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/eowrtceuazim4irmwhzl.jpg)
RB Melvin Gordon
Backed up by Javonte Williams, Mike Boone and Damarea Crockett
![QB Teddy Bridgewater
Backed up by Drew Lock and Brett Rypien](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/gzxnjfuwpxwxadxbj3nu.jpg)
QB Teddy Bridgewater
Backed up by Drew Lock and Brett Rypien
![DE Dre'Mont Jones
Backed up by Shamar Stephen](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/vtbmvjqm32fewotiobsn.jpg)
DE Dre'Mont Jones
Backed up by Shamar Stephen
![NT Mike Purcell
Backed up by DeShawn Williams](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/tae4wnt9qocgzsc554o2.jpg)
NT Mike Purcell
Backed up by DeShawn Williams
![DE Shelby Harris
Backed up by McTelvin Agim](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/hxdijxfuliwmc3zx0af9.jpg)
DE Shelby Harris
Backed up by McTelvin Agim
![SLB Bradley Chubb
Backed up by Jonathan Cooper](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/fk1pyrvjfcnplclpblq4.jpg)
SLB Bradley Chubb
Backed up by Jonathan Cooper
![WLB Malik Reed
Backed up by Stephen Weatherly and Aaron Patrick](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/egsi97pi2uy1pxm2cale.jpg)
WLB Malik Reed
Backed up by Stephen Weatherly and Aaron Patrick
![ILB Baron Browning
Backed up by Justin Strnad](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/cmqprhjxlrr1t6c0e1my.jpg)
ILB Baron Browning
Backed up by Justin Strnad
![ILB Kenny Young
Backed up by Jonas Griffith](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/u540v0bcceh0wjglujfs.jpg)
ILB Kenny Young
Backed up by Jonas Griffith
![LCB Pat Surtain II
Backed up by Kyle Fuller and Essang Bassey](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/gf39r4m4xih6slvxdizl.jpg)
LCB Pat Surtain II
Backed up by Kyle Fuller and Essang Bassey
![RCB Ronald Darby
Backed up by Nate Hairston and Mike Ford](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/nvl40uwv9jzst9gerjjx.jpg)
RCB Ronald Darby
Backed up by Nate Hairston and Mike Ford
![SS Kareem Jackson
Backed up by P.J. Locke and Jamar Johnson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/bulduespld7qbtnajixj.jpg)
SS Kareem Jackson
Backed up by P.J. Locke and Jamar Johnson
![FS Justin Simmons
Backed up by Caden Sterns](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/qjiaxa4tqtsejfcrvdtu.jpg)
FS Justin Simmons
Backed up by Caden Sterns
![PK/KO Brandon McManus](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/hcntkkfcqrcdqwqyr1rx.jpg)
PK/KO Brandon McManus
![P/H Sam Martin](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/ehevuodfuixexnslmsqx.jpg)
P/H Sam Martin
![LS Jacob Bobenmoyer](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/bmxdmlb0lh4vbnx7jmhe.jpg)
LS Jacob Bobenmoyer
![KR/PR Diontae Spencer
Backed up by Kendall Hinton](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/lions/hxeqsif1ftb79oemod2j.jpg)
KR/PR Diontae Spencer
Backed up by Kendall Hinton
What's next for the Broncos as they look to get back above the .500 mark in Sunday's home game against the Detroit Lions?
"Kareem Jackson said it best in the locker room after the game," quarterback Teddy Bridgewater said of the Broncos' veteran safety. "We have five games left. Each one is a playoff game for us.
"All we have to do is focus on one day at a time, one week at a time, one opponent at a time."
Here are some issues facing the Broncos as they hope to make a playoff push starting with Sunday's game against the Lions:
Offense: If the Broncos are going to make a playoff run, it likely will be led by their defense. They're third in the league with 216 points allowed and 24th with 237 points scored. That's the fewest of any team in the league that does not have a won-loss under .500.
The Broncos have a balanced one-two punch at running back – 670 yards for Javonte Williams, and 605 for Melvin Gordon III. Gordon missed the Chiefs' game with a shoulder injury.
With Gordon out, Williams rushed for 102 yards. Mike Boone picked up some of the slack caused by Gordon's absence by rushing for 35 yards on four carries.
Head coach Vic Fangio said earlier in the week he'd like to see more targets for wide receiver Courtland Sutton, who had two catches for 15 yards on six targets.
Two other areas for concern, Fangio said, are conversions on third-down (4-14 against the Chiefs) and the red zone (1-3).
Defense: As the No. 3 ranking in points allowed shows, this is a strong unit. Broncos management felt it was strong enough to trade franchise icon Von Miller earlier in the season to the Rams for future draft picks.
Miller's 3.5 sacks before the trade still rank second on the team to Malik Reed's team-high five.
In per game averages, the Broncos are ninth in the league in total yards (325.5), 10th in passing yards (220.3) and 10th in rushing (105.2).
Streakers: The Broncos took advantage of a soft schedule to win their first three over the Giants, Jaguars and Jets, then lost the next four. They've been up and down since, with their biggest wins over the Cowboys and Chargers.
The Broncos are looking to start another streak and end a streak of five straight seasons of missing the playoffs and four straight with a losing record.