Mike McGlinchey understands what is needed to make a deep postseason run.

The Denver Broncos starting right tackle is unique in that aspect. Most of his teammates will make their NFL playoff debut in a road wild card game Sunday against the Bills. McGlinchey appeared in a Super Bowl and NFC championship game while playing for the 49ers (2018-22).

He discussed the value of that experience during a Monday teleconference call with local media after the Broncos shutout the Chiefs, 38-0, to secure a postseason berth in Week 18.

“It’s about keeping things the same. You want to do the things that got you here,” McGlinchey said. “Stay in the same process. Don’t try to do too much just because it’s the playoffs. You’ve got to be who you are and not let the pressure of the moment take over. I think it’s just a matter of competition as hard as you can, being on task and doing your job. It’s as simple as that. … The (teams) that deal with the pressure the best and execute through all that are the teams that make noise in the playoffs.”

Chip on their shoulder

A common refrain from the postgame locker room after the Broncos clinched?

Nobody believed they could do it.

The sports betting over/under win total before the season was 5.5. Denver was also saddled with a massive cap hit after releasing ex-quarterback Russell Wilson. Many national analysts said that drafting Bo Nix at No. 12 overall was a reach.

On Monday, coach Sean Payton talked about using outside negativity as a motivator this season.

“I think your players certainly do have a little bit of a chip when they see those initial prognostications or whatever,” Payton said in a teleconference call with local media. “Then eventually, when you’re in this long enough, you tune that stuff out because half those people don’t have a clue what they’re talking about.”

DE Allen: ‘I definitely did see this coming’

In 2023, defensive end Zach Allen signed with the Broncos in free agency after spending four previous years with the Cardinals. Allen reunited with ex-Arizona defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.

Allen logged career highs this season in sacks (8.5), tackles (61), tackles for loss (15) and quarterback hits (40). Now, he’s in the NFL postseason.

“I definitely did see this coming,” Allen said on Monday. “Before I came here, it was already a really stout defense. When you have a coach like Sean Payton take over and an ownership group like we have, things are going to happen in the right direction quickly. Then VJ, just being so familiar with his (style), it was a perfect situation.”

Nix superlatives

Nix closed his rookie season in style with a 38-0 drubbing of the (mostly) Chiefs backups. Here is a breakdown of the different superlatives to describe his strong performance in 2024.

— Second-most passing TDs by a rookie in NFL history (29).

— Most passing TDs by a rookie at home in NFL history (19).

— First rookie QB in NFL history with multiple games passing for at least 300 yards and four TDs with a passer of 140-plus.

— First rookie QB in league history with at least seven games throwing multiple TDs with no INTs.

— Third-most completions (376) by a rookie quarterback in a single NFL season.

— Franchise record in Week 18 for highest completion percentage in a game (89.7).

— Third-highest passer rating in team history (152.4) against the Chiefs.

— Most completions to start a game (18) in franchise history vs. Kansas City.