My preseason patience lasted three games. If it were up to me, I’d say let’s get right to the Steelers and the opening act of the 2012 season.

While there is the final preseason game for the Broncos to work through, I have seen enough to know that I think they’ll at least be pretty good this year.

Of course, injuries, the unknown and the unexpected all usually come into play at some point or another but overall, I really like where the Broncos stand as the regular season is about to get started.

1 – PEYTON MANNING IS READY. It is so completely obvious that he can still play at a really high level and his performance against the 49ers again showed what I already believed. Some of his passes were simply crazy good. None was better than the 38-yard completion to Lance Ball, a pass he delivered with pinpoint accuracy while taking a faceful of defensive lineman.

Let me begin with a well-worn but appropriate qualifier. All together now…“It’s only one preseason game….”

Now that the formality is out of the way, the Broncos have to be thrilled with how the preseason started in Thursday’s 31-3 win over the Bears. I know, it means nothing in the standings. See the qualifier above.

But the game does mean something when it comes to getting an idea of where the Broncos stand. It means something when it comes to getting a glimpse of their overall talent. It means something when it comes to continuing to claw their back towards the top of the NFL.