A day removed from enjoying plates full of good food, the Broncos got back to practice this morning. They enjoyed another early practice starting at 10:20 am as they wrapped up their preparation for the Jets.

And since we leave early for the long plane ride across the country tomorrow, the early schedule had all the players smiling.

WE KNOW WHERE WE STAND

A lot can be said about players focusing on only the game at hand and never looking down the road, and everyone in the Broncos locker room would agree with that.

At the same time, given the close race for the AFC West title, you can bet that the Broncos have a good feel for how the final stretch of the season is playing out.

“As a player you always tell yourself, ‘Let’s take it one week at a time,’ but I know we’re 6-5, San Diego’s 4-7, and in the AFC West whoever wins the division is going to be in the playoffs,” Ebenezer Ekuban said. “The way it’s looking right now, there’s going to be no wild card for second place. You recognize it, but does it take over your mind totally? No, it doesn’t. Our priority is still focusing on the next play and the next game.”

And in this next game against the Jets, Ekuban sees a pair of running backs in Thomas Jones and Leon Washington that look similar to the 1-2 punch in San Diego.

“They’re very comparable to Tomlinson and Sproles back there,” Ekuban said. “You have your north and south guy in Jones and your cutback, energy guy in Washington. It’s going to be a tough matchup.”