Bill Williamson

DENVER - Only in the AFC West can a team that had recently lost five out of six games feel so good about itself after evening its record at 5-5.

But in Denver on Monday night, the Broncos celebrated their fight back to evensville with a dose of bravado. And why not? This is a first-place team, ladies and gents.

“This is our division,” said Denver's blossoming star receiver Brandon Marshall, who talks as big as he plays. “It’s always been our division. Before we had myself, before we had Rod Smith and before we had John Elway. It’s always been ours, and we just have to take it back.”

Don’t you wish the 10-0 Patriots talked this way?

Although they have accomplished only half of what New England has, Denver resides in the same tax bracket as the Patriots. They’re in first place.

Denver, which was blasted 44-7 in Detroit two weeks ago, has settled down after an emotional players’ only meeting Nov. 7 and has rebounded with impressive wins at Kansas City and over Tennessee on Monday night.

While the nation watched Vince Young run around like he was in Longhorns’ white and orange, Denver pounded the Tennessee defense in a convincing 34-20 victory. It joins a Sunday night win over Pittsburgh a month ago as the Broncos’ most impressive wins.

It might be premature to declare Denver out of its midseason slump and ready to continue. But in the AFC West, the Broncos are primed for a playoff push.

“Getting back to .500 is a great feeling,” said Denver right corner back Dre’ Bly, who had his second interception in as many weeks Monday night.

The Broncos, with six weeks to go, are suddenly the team to beat because they are playing with passion and momentum. San Diego, which a couple of weeks back seemed out of its September rut, just can’t get going. It is 5-5 as well after a beatdown in Jacksonville on Sunday.

How bout this one? Had Denver scored from the 3 in the final minute against Green Bay three weeks ago and an Adam Vinatieri field goal was a foot inside last week at San Diego, Denver would own a two-game lead over San Diego.

Maybe that’s why the Broncos feel so good.

Another reason may be the schedule the next two weeks. The Broncos opponents’ combined record is 24-36. None of Denver’s remaining six opponents has a winning record. San Diego has two games remaining with opponents with winning marks.

Although the Chargers have a veteran-filled roster dealing with sudden mediocrity, the Broncos are a young team full of confidence. Funny thing is, Denver entered training camp this summer with one of the older rosters in the league. But after a rash of major injuries, this is a young team.

The best players on this team, particularly on offense, are fresh faced.

Quarterback Jay Cutler, who outshone Young (who was drafted eight spots ahead of Cutler in the 2006 draft), is 15 games deep into his NFL career and getting better each week. Denver had four touchdowns (one on special teams) of more than 40 yards Monday night for the first time in team history. It was the first time that feat was accomplished in the NFL since the 2003 Vikings did it.

He has poise beyond his years that is a nice accessory to his cannon arm.

Marshall is a tackle-busting phenom who is living up to his “Baby T.O” tag and undrafted rookie Selvin Young, a Vince Young roommate at Texas, has the Broncos less nervous about Travis Henry’s looming drug suspension.

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Henry could hear any day on his appeal. If he wins, the Broncos will use a one-two punch of Henry and Young. If not, Young will be the man.

The team is also hoping standout receiver Javon Walker comes back from a knee surgery that has kept him out seven weeks. But the team isn’t sweating the Henry and Walker issues, not anymore.

Not with a matured offense, not with a settled down defense, not with a suddenly strong special teams.

In a normal year, Denver’s October swoon would have buried any team. But not in 2007’s AFC West.

The Broncos may be average, but in the AFC West, average buys a spot in first place. And it buys a Thanksgiving Week feel-good attitude. After a shaky first couple of months, Denver will take this first-place tie and run with it.

“(There was) a little panic in Denver,” Cutler said. “But we were able to pull it together tonight. We had two big wins these past two weeks and we need to keep the momentum.”

Yes, in the AFC West, a two-game win streak qualifies as momentum.

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