There are lot of fans of the Broncos’ defense, and perhaps the biggest ones are the guys on Denver’s offense.

The Broncos’ defense bailed out the offense in Sunday’s 20-12 win over the lowly Tennessee Titans in the opener at Empower Field at Mile High. And on Monday, tackle Mike McGlinchey spoke of his appreciation of the unit.

“A defense like that allows us to win a football game the way that we won it (Sunday),’’ McGlinchey said. “Obviously, we were very sloppy with (four) turnovers. We didn’t convert enough third downs (6 of 15). … Having a defense like we have is incredibly valuable. We’re incredibly lucky to have them because it was a dominant performance from their side of the ball.’’

The Titans gained a meager 133 yards of total offense, the least ever by a foe in a Denver opener, and had six sacks. Not surprisingly, the Broncos are ranked No. 1 in the NFL in total defense through Week 1.

On the other side of the ball, the Broncos are middle of the pack with a No. 14 ranking in total offense. But considering they were facing a team that went 3-14 in 2024 and might not be much better this season, it was an underwhelming showing.

Quarterback Bo Nix threw two interceptions and lost a fumble, with Denver’s other turnover coming when All-Pro returner Marvin Mims Jr. botched a fair catch on a punt. The Broncos had 317 yards of total offense but just 121 came in the first half when they didn’t seem too interested in establishing a run game.

In the first quarter, the Broncos called 14 pass plays and ran just three times. In the first half, the Broncos called 23 pass plays and ran just nine times for 25 yards. Two of the carries were by Nix while running backs J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey combined for just seven carries and 24 yards.

“I have to be better there, and it’s one of those day afters (Monday) where you look back and say, ‘All right, let’s look at how we really wanted to start this game,’ and get those two runners going because we think we’ve really improved in that area,’’’ said head coach Sean Payton, whose Broncos next play Sunday at Indianapolis, coming off a 33-8 rout of Miami at home in Week 1.

The run game did get going in the second half, when the Broncos gained 126 yards on the ground. Harvey finished with six carries for 70 yards and Dobbins had 16 attempts for 63 yards and scored on a 19-yard run with 7:37 in the game to give Denver a 20-12 lead.

“The two backs that we have are great players and we have to afford them the opportunity to touch the ball more, and we got to be able to do that as a team as a full offense,’’ McGlinchey said.

As for the turnovers, Nix discussed his two interceptions after the game and brought up Denver’s dominant defense.

“Sometimes you can be a little too aggressive and I was too aggressive,’’ Nix said. “And I ultimately have to be smarter and take care of the football, especially with our defense as well as they’re going to play this year. Can’t put them in a bad spot.”

With that in mind, Payton was asked Monday how he approaches his play calling when he has such a good defense.

“I appreciate Bo saying that and yet part of that’s on the play caller, so understanding how the game is unfolding,’’ Payton said. “I think that’s a head coach and a play caller as well as a quarterback understanding how this game is being played relative to how aggressive our tolerance level is.”

Considering how dominant Denver’s defense was Sunday, the offense didn’t have to do a lot to pull out a win. The Broncos were able to survive despite a minus-two turnover margin.

It marked the first time in Payton’s three seasons with the Broncos that they won a game with a minus-two margin or worse. They had been 0-6, losing in 2023 to Washington, Miami, Kansas City and Houston and in 2024 to Pittsburgh and the Los Angeles Chargers.

“It wasn’t our best effort offensively and the defense allowed us the opportunity to kind of stay into a base game plan and be able to come out into the second half and get a little rhythm, and all that,’’ McGlinchey said. “So it certainly speaks to the defense’s ability to keep us in games.’’

The Broncos for the ninth time in their history had at least six different players get sacks, and only once have they had more do it in a game. Dumping Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward were outside linebackers Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper and Jonah Elliss, inside linebacker Justin Strnad, defensive end Zach Allen and cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian.

“We just accept the challenge no matter what quarterback is out there,’’ Cooper said. “(It comes down to) making sure he feels uncomfortable in that pocket,”

The Broncos led the NFL with 63 sacks last season and have the league lead after Week 1. They will try this season to remain No. 1 in the NFL in total defense, something they have done only done once in team history. That was courtesy of the 2015 team that won Super Bowl 50.

“Obviously, we have a high standard for each other, for the group, what we have in the room, and the guys are working each and every day,’’ McMillian said. “We just come to work and try to get better. It’s only Week 1. We’ve got a long season ahead of us and we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing, what we did this first week, and we’ll see where we’re at at the end of this thing.”

Meanwhile, expect Denver’s players on offense to be rooting hard for the Broncos to have the NFL’s top defense.