The Broncos should give belated thanks and Christmas greetings to the Colts.
The Colts gave the Broncos seven Super Bowls, three world championships, eight AFC title games, 15 other post-season games and 193 regular-season victories.
Thanks, especially, to the late Robert Irsay and Jim Irsay.
Because of the generosity of the father-and-son owners the Colts traded John Elway to the Broncos, and the Colts released Payton Manning, who signed with the Broncos. Two quarterbacks who were No. 1 picks overall in the NFL draft 15 years apart and future Hall of Famers made Denver significant in football for 20 combined seasons.
Those two transactions were akin to generous gifts of the Magi and worth more than gold, frankincense and myrrh to the people of Colorado.
Without Elway and Manning, Denver still would be a dusty old cowtown primarily preparing in late December for the annual Stock Show.
Elway not only forced the elder Irsay to deal him in 1983, but was so important in the pursuit and signing of Manning, who made the choice to join the Broncos in 2012. Both decided to stay here permanently after their NFL careers -- and own homes close to each other.
The Colts again could share responsibility for the Broncos getting a Christmas season present Sunday.
A fourth consecutive triumph would give the Broncos a 9-5 record and a golden, franken-sensible and mirthful opportunity to return to the post-season for the first time since Manning and Elway were together with the franchise in 2015. And the Broncos conceivably could win 12 games as they did nine years ago.
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The Colts, the Chargers, the Bengals and the Chiefs stand in the Broncos' way back to the playoffs for the 23rd season. Kansas City already has clinched the AFC Division for the ninth straight time since the '15 Broncos. The Colts at 6-7 and are clinging to a chance to finish first in the AFC South or earn a wild card spot. The Bengals are barely hanging on with a 5-8 mark.
Then there's the Chargers, who the Broncos confront Thursday in Los Angeles.
The Chargers also are 8-5. The Flex Football Fantasia Thursday night will be the biggest game between the two teams since Denver defeated then San Diego in the 2013 playoffs 24-17 and the biggest regular-season game in 130 AFL-NFL meetings.
The Broncos, the Ravens and the Chargers have duplicate current records for wild-card placement, but the Broncos are not tiebreaker-worthy now. Assuming that they are the seventh (and final) seed in the conference, the Broncos probably would be requested to visit Buffalo (No. 2 behind the Chiefs), where they lost in the AFC Championship in 1990 when Elway got hurt during the game. A sixth seed would get the Broncos the Steelers and you know who. Oddly, the Broncos are 4-2 against the Steelers in playoff games, prevailing in their first one ever and even once in Pittsburgh.
The Dolphins remain alive, but must play in Houston on Sunday. The Broncos will be on the Texans' side while the Colts are pulling for the Dolphins. However, Miami has the fading 49ers, the broken Browns and the jettisoned Jets and could yet factor. The Colts have what seemingly is the easiest schedule with the Titans and the Jaguars at home sandwiched around a road game with the Giants. The Bengals have to win out - including victories against to the Broncos and in Pittsburgh for the final game - and hope that every other contender collapses to pieces.
Meanwhile, the Broncos are emphasizing TCB. Win four, and they definitely are in the post-season. Win three, and 11-6 will be good enough to go. A 10-7 record should be just enough, but 9-8 is no sure thing.
If the Broncos can take care of business against the Colts, they will be more than 90 percent certain for the playoffs. Despite, though, the Colts' gift-giving, they will be scary. Indianapolis upset the Broncos in the 2014 playoff game @Mile High, and they kicked the Broncos in overtime here two seasons ago.
The Broncos should bring out Elway and Manning before the opening kickoff to set the mood for 76,000 fanatical, frantic followers. All remember post-seasons and championships. It is the gift that does not keep on giving.
But, after eight seasons sans success, the Broncos being in a playoff position would be an immaculate berth.