CHICAGO — In the 186 days between Super Bowl 50 and preseason game No. 1, a gap of boredom opened up for the Broncos’ defense so big it can hardly hold all the healthy egos.

“Once you play in the Super Bowl, a preseason game is kind of nothing,” Broncos cornerback Bradley Roby said. “But that game we played was awhile ago. I understand what this is for. It’s for me to get back in game shape.”

The Broncos’ defense, already a premier side in the NFL, has one superlative left to discover. Can it be among the best in league history?

“If you’re the best defense, an aggressive defense, you anticipate and…” Roby said, cutting off his words to clap his hands in a show of speed, “… just go. Make things happen.”

But after snubbing out Cam Newton and the Panthers’ No. 1-ranked offense to the total of 10 measly points in February’s Super Bowl, the Denver D disappeared. When training camp started two weeks ago, as the Broncos search for a starting quarterback and rookies try to make a mark, the defense bit its tongue and bided its time.

It cannot hit or tackle or inflict pain in practice. So much muscle, no flexing allowed. Until Thursday. The outcome of a preseason game might not matter, but the free reign allowed to tackle is the most welcome sign of a season.

“We’re tired of each other. Coaches are tired of each other. Players are tired of each other,” Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said. “I told them after practice: ‘We’ve been going at each other for a long time. Now it’s time to go with each other.’ This is the fun. It’s why you work.”

Roby recognizes some doubt, from outside parties, of Denver’s defense. This would be an odd conclusion. This is the defense that held the high-powered Panthers to 20 fewer points than their season average, the defense that sacked Tom Brady four times and Ben Roethlisberger three more in the playoffs. In a league tilted toward offensive advantages, and relative to their era, the Broncos last season allowed the second fewest yards per play and forced the 10th-most turnovers per game in league history.

And they return this season largely intact. Only defensive end Malik Jackson, now with Jacksonville, and linebacker Danny Trevathan, with Chicago, left the Broncos. If ever there was an opportunity to judge a defense over multiple seasons, it would be this year.

On Thursday, it took the Broncos just four plays before they sacked Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler. Defensive end Derek Wolfe and linebacker Shane Ray shared the job. Later in the first quarter, safety T.J. Ward wrapped up Cutler again. Chicago gained just 13 yards in the first quarter, with one first down. At the end of the first quarter, the Bears’ first-team offense went three-and-out against the Broncos’ second-teamers. Even their backups bang.

This, perhaps, is why Kubiak and general manager John Elway are not in a hurry to name a starting quarterback. They already have a leader — really, 11 of them, on the other side of the ball.

“Because defense wins championships,” Roby said. “People are just saying that because we lost two quarterbacks. I don’t know the last time that’s happened. But when people see events that haven’t happened before, they automatically doubt.”

The Broncos kept some defenders on the sideline. Strongside linebacker Von Miller, now the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history, weakside linebacker DeMarcus Ware, and veteran cornerbacks Chris Harris and Aqib Talib did not play. Cornerback Taurean Nixon, whom Gary Kubiak said “has a little nick,” and safety Ryan Murphy (hamstring) sat with injuries. Their opportunity to flex will wait.

But Denver’s defense set its bar.

“If you don’t give up a touchdown, how can you lose?” Roby said.