As the regular season ends, the Broncos still have a bigger goal in mind.

Still, the bye week allows a time to look back at all the Broncos have accomplished this year.

At the end of Week 17, the numbers solidified what we knew about the Broncos all along — they have an elite defense and one of the best in franchise history.

Here’s a look at some of the team and individual goals they accomplished this season:

For the first time in team history, the Broncos finished No. 1 in total defense. They allowed opponents to gain just 283.1 yards per game.

To put that in perspective, two teams (New York Giants and New Orleans) allowed more passing yards per game than total yards the Broncos allowed.

The Seahawks were second with 291.8 yards per game.

• Denver also led the NFL in sacks (52), pass defense (199.6) and rushing yards allowed per attempt (3.3).

The Broncos league-leading sack total tied for second-best in franchise history, five sacks shy of the team record set in 1984.

• Outside linebacker Von Miller had 11 of the Broncos’ 52 sacks and 32 of the team’s 120 quarterback hits on the season.

• Receiver Demaryius Thomas landed in the record books in a couple different ways this season.

Thomas joined Marvin Harrison and Jerry Rice as the only receivers in NFL history to have four consecutive seasons with at least 90 receptions and 1,300 yards. He also surpassed Broncos Ring of Fame receiver Rod Smith for the most 100-yard receiving games in Broncos’ history with his 32nd such performance Sunday against San Diego.

• Quarterback Peyton Manning didn’t get win No. 187 to pass Brett Favre for the all-time record Sunday, but he did add another notch to his game-winning drive record after adding his 54th in the fourth quarter or overtime Sunday against the Chargers.

• For the second time in three seasons, Danny Trevathan finished as the Broncos’ leading tackler. He had 110 tackles on the season and two interceptions. Trevathan and Brandon Marshall became the first Broncos duo to each go over 100 tackles since linebacker D.J. Williams and safety Brian Dawkins in 2009.

• Brandon McManus fell one field goal make shy of tying Jason Elam (1995, 2001) for the franchise single-season record.

• Center Matt Paradis was the only Broncos player to play every snap on offense or defense this season.

• Coach Gary Kubiak tied Red Miller (1977) for most wins by a first-year head coach in Broncos history.

CHEW ON THIS

• Brock Osweiler or Peyton Manning? Who should be the Broncos’ starting quarterback in the playoffs?

• Columnist Mark Kiszla chimes in with his two cents on the QB debate.

• Everything you need to know about the Broncos’ playoff schedule.

• Shiloh Keo’s interception saves day for NFL-best Broncos defense.

• Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried talks about playing after his “very scary” injury.

• And sad news, former Denver Post columnist Penny Parker died Saturday. She was 62.

WATCH THIS

Think you can return a kickoff for a touchdown? Not on Mason Crosby’s watch. The Green Bay Packers (and former Colorado Buffaloes) kicker chased down Vikings’ speedy Cordarrelle Patterson and forced a fumble.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Retired MMA fighter Shane Carwin turns 41. A Colorado native and former wrestling star at Western State, Carwin won the interim UFC heavyweight title in 2010, but lost the unification match against Brock Lesnar.

Cameron Wolfe: cwolfe@denverpost.com or @CameronWolfe

Online sports producer Joe Nguyen contributed to this story.