When you hear NFL pundits say the Broncos defense is winning games, you may take it as a figure of speech. “Oh, the defense is playing really well again,” one may think.

But it’s no mantra, it’s a reality.

Denver’s defense has scored four touchdowns this season, which ranks second in the league (the Chiefs have five). In addition to the scores that they’ve created themselves, the Broncos defense has helped the offense score 103 points off turnovers through 13 weeks, 24 more points than the next closest team (Kansas City), according to Sporting Charts.

That’s a remarkably high number.

As a team, Denver has scored 286 points this year. That means the defense has been responsible for scoring or setting up 36 percent of the team’s points. Over the last two seasons, the team is 9-0 when the defense has scored, according to KMGH-TV’s Troy Renck. They’ve also won an NFL-best 29 consecutive games when winning the turnover battle, according to team PR man Patrick Smyth.

The Broncos have 12 interceptions (tied for the fifth-most) and 14 forced fumbles through 12 games. The points they’re scoring off those turnovers has kept them in the playoff race. Last year, Denver proved the cliché true that defense wins championships.

The defense is on pace to win them another championship in 2016.