LAS VEGAS – During their 10-game winning streak, the Broncos have fattened up against some losing foes.

The schedule, though, is about to change.

The Broncos (11-2) next Sunday will face Green Bay (9-3-1) at home in a battle of teams seeking to be a No. 1 seed. After that, they play Jacksonville (9-4) at home, are at Kansas City (6-7 but a nine-time defending AFC West champion before being eliminated with Sunday’s 20-10 loss to Houston), and close the season at home against the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4).

“If you want to make the big game, you got to win big games,’’ Broncos defensive end John Franklin-Myers said after Denver’s 24-17 win Sunday over woeful Las Vegas (2-11) at Allegiant Stadium. “Every week, we get a chance to put ourselves on tape and show what type of team we are. It’s an opportunity that we can’t let pass. These next three or four games are huge where we want to go as far as seeding.”

During the 10-game winning streak, the Broncos have defeated seven teams that currently have losing records, one that is at .500, and two that currently have winning records. Eight of their wins during the streak have come in one-score games.

“You want to be in a position where December football matters in a big way and it does now,’’ said Broncos guard Mike McGlinchey. “(We’re) excited to go out and test our stuff against some really good football teams here down the stretch, starting with Green Bay next week. I can’t wait to see what (Empower Field at) Mile High is going to be like next week because it’s been on fire this year. Excited to get home and play before our fans.”

While the Broncos and New England are both 11-2, the Broncos assured themselves with Sunday’s win that they would claim any possible one-on-one tiebreaker between the teams for the No. 1 AFC playoff seed. That’s because Denver would win any potential tiebreaker based on record against common foes.

“It doesn’t matter unless we finish the job,’’ McGlinchey said of securing that possible tiebreaker.

Finishing the job for the Broncos would amount to beating some top teams to close the season.

“If we want to be that team that we talk about, these are the games that matter,’’ said cornerback Pat Surtain II.

Nix manages another win

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix doesn’t mind being called a “game manager” even though he said the term has become a “negative thing.”

Nix said it all comes down to whether a quarterback wins. And the Broncos have been doing plenty of that this season.

“The best quarterbacks of all time manage the game at a high level,’’ Nix said. “I think the biggest difference is when the time comes down to it, they just find ways to make either an explosive or make another play. … Your job as a quarterback, execute the play that’s called, get your team in the end zone, and at the end of the day, have more points than the other team, and find a way to win, and that’s what we’re managing to do.”

Against the Raiders, Nix completed 31 of 38 passes for 212 yards while utilizing a short passing game. His longest completion was 15 yards.

Nix spread the ball around, with 11 different players catching passes. Having six apiece were wide receiver Courtland Sutton for 62 yards and running back RJ Harvey for 25 yards.

“With a quarterback in his second year, it’s each week, growth,’’ Broncos coach Sean Payton said of Nix, who has thrown for 828 yards in the past three games. “(Nix’s) job is to lead his team to the end zone and to win.”

Sack attack

The Broncos had four sacks Sunday to raise their season total to 55, but they have some work to do to set an NFL record.

The record for sacks in a season is 72 by Chicago in a 16-game season in 1984. Denver is now on pace to finish a 17-game season with 72. But the Broncos want to set the record in 16 games and Dan Hampton, a Hall of Fame defensive lineman on that Bears team, has said there should be an asterisk if the record is broken in a 17^th game.

Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto had two sacks and defensive linemen Malcolm Roach and John Franklin-Myers each had one. Roach started at nose tackle in place of D.J. Jones, out with an ankle injury.

Bonitto has 12.5 sacks this season. He told The Denver Gazette he still hopes to equal or break Von Miller’s 2012 team record of 18.5.

“It’s within range, but it’s going to be tough,’’ Bonitto said. “I’m going to have to have some good ones over the last couple of games.”

Prentice’s solid outing

Everything is relative when it comes to fullbacks, but Denver’s Adam Prentice had the best statistical game of his career.

The fifth-year man rushed twice for 22 yards and caught two passes for 11 yards. That’s the most yards rushing and the most receptions he’s had in any of his 61 career games. His 18-yard run in the third quarter was the longest of his career, his previous longest being 8 yards.

“The one thing about him is you know exactly what you’re getting,’’ said Payton, who before this season had coached Prentice when he was a New Orleans rookie in 2021. “You’re never fooled. … He played well.”

Payton spoke well about Prentice playing an increased role with tight end Nate Adkins missing the last five games due to a knee injury. Payton said Adkins is “close to coming back.”

Briefly

The Broncos controlled the game, running 72 plays to just 48 for the Raiders. “That’s what we did,’’ said tackle Garett Bolles. “Obviously, we wore them out (on offense) and our defense did what it needed to do.” … With Jones out, the Broncos activated rookie Sai’vion Jones over Jordan Jackson as the fifth defensive lineman. Jones played for just the second time this season and first time since Sept. 29 against Cincinnati. Jackson hasn’t played since Oct. 5 at Philadelphia. … In addition to D.J. Jones, Jackson and Adkins, inactive for Denver were outside linebacker Que Robinson, offensive lineman Geron Christian and cornerback Reese Taylor.