“The NFL Today” had everything Sunday except James Brown riding a mechanical bull.

CBS took its iconic pregame show on the road to Denver for Sunday’s big AFC West clash between the Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs. A stage was set up on the south end outside Empower Field at Mile High for Brown, the host, and analysts Bill Cowher, Matt Ryan and Nate Burleson. Midway through the pregame show, the four left the stage to where a mechanical bull had been set up.

Cowher, Ryan and Burleson all rode the bull, but Brown did not participate.

“Clint Eastwood’s line still applies, ‘A man’s got to know his limitations,’’’ Brown, 74,  quipped to The Denver Gazette before the Broncos won 22-19 on Wil Lutz’s 35-yard field goal on the final play.

Several hundred fans roared their approval as the three analysts took turns riding the bull while assessing division races around the NFL. During each turn, the other analysts threw miniature footballs at the rider.

“I’d never done it before in my life, so that was the first time,’’ Ryan said. “Luckily, they didn’t crank it up too fast.”

The fans were very vocal throughout the one-hour pregame show that started at 10 a.m., well before the Broncos and Chiefs kicked off at 2:25 p.m. on CBS. Chants of “Beat the Chiefs, beat the Chiefs, beat the Chiefs” reverberated.

This is the second year “The NFL Today” has taken its show on the road to some big Sunday regular-season games. Last year, the show went to two games and Sunday’s visit to Denver was the fourth this season away from the New York studio.

“The concept of us going on the road is what we like to do,’’ Brown said. “We love the studio. This is simply awesome because we get a chance to connect with the people. They feel like we’re touchable, the whole nine yards. The enthusiasm is second to none. By the way, college football has been doing it right for awhile, and you see the enthusiasm associated with that. There’s no downside to this at all.”

Ryan said the atmosphere was great before the game, with many fans already having arrived five hours before kickoff.

“It’s been awesome,’’ Ryan said. “When you got fan bases that are out and excited about it, it makes our show a lot funner … This is one of the biggest games in the last decade for Denver, so to be out here to be a part of it and to feel the energy is great.”

Ryan, a former NFL star quarterback whose cousin is Broncos right tackle Mike McGlinchey, made the most of his visit to Denver.

“I got a chance to spend some time with (McGlinchey on Saturday) and just catch up,’’ Ryan said. “It was really good. He’s excited about the season (the Broncos are) having.”

Ryan, Cowher, a Pittsburgh Hall of Fame coach, Burleson, a former NFL receiver, and Brown all were greeted enthusiastically by the crowd. After the pregame show was over, all signed autographs and posed for photos with fans.

Cowher was the Steelers coach when they defeated the Broncos 34-17 in the 2005 AFC Championship in Denver. But didn’t stop fans from embracing him.

“It was great,’’ Cowher said. “Fantastic. We love the crowd. This place is electric. I love these rivalry games. That’s what this one is. You can just feel the intensity.”

Cowher thrilled the fans when he rode the mechanical bull.

“I did that back in my day, so I have a little history with that,” Cowher said.

But Cowher at 68 is six years younger than Brown, who passed on his bull riding opportunity.