Every season for every NFL team has those moments. The critical victories, the key decisions, the big plays and the bad plays that alter their season and the shape of their franchise. For last year’s Broncos, no moment will rival the evening of Feb. 7, when confetti fell from Levi’s Stadium as Peyton Manning, John Elway and Gary Kubiak hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in celebration.

But there were many huge moments en route that changed the team’s course to the postseason and the title, and their legacy. Two of the most significant came in separate games against Kansas City, Sunday’s opponent. One was a game-winning scoop-and-score by cornerback Bradley Roby on the road in Week 2; the other a benching of an injured Manning at home in Week 10.

Denver’s defensive depth and nose for big plays carried the lagging offense to a championship.

The Broncos have a knack for extremes, illustrated best by their games against Kansas City last year. This Sunday, with both teams owning 7-3 records in the toughest division in the NFL, prime-time drama is all that is guaranteed as Denver begins its final push for the playoffs.

“You look around this league and it’s going to be so competitive these last six weeks,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “It’ll come down to how we play, that’s what I tell the guys. It won’t come down to anything else. It’ll come down to how we play, so we’re trying to stay focused on that.”

Cornerback Chris Harris has labeled the Broncos’ remaining six games as playoff matchups. Following their reunion with the Chiefs on Sunday night, the Broncos take a pair of road trips, to Jacksonville and Tennessee, then host the 8-2 Patriots. A visit to Kansas City on Christmas follows before they close out the regular season at home against the Raiders (8-2), who roughed up the Broncos earlier this season.

A sixth-consecutive divisional crown is slipping from Denver’s grasp but not out of reach — yet. The AFC West is the only division in the NFL with three teams owning at least seven wins, and the Broncos sit at No. 3, with a 1-2 record in divisional play. Another title would be sweet, but its perks would be even sweeter; the division’s victor will likely get a first-round playoff bye and home-field advantage in the second round while the Nos. 2 and 3 teams likely duke it out in a wild-card game.

“It’s always a big test, especially in the last few games trying to make a playoff push and finish out the regular season,” outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett said. “Every game is going to be big for us.”

For Denver, the road to the playoffs starts in similar fashion to last year’s final meeting with the Chiefs, when they arrived in Denver to face a proven defense and struggling offense, led by an injured quarterback. Kansas City handed the Broncos their second loss of the season, as Manning was benched following four interceptions and a 0.0 passer rating.

Kansas City leads the league with 23 takeaways and has scored 72 points off those turnovers, second to only the Broncos’ 90 points off turnovers (38.9 percent of their scoring).

On the other side, Kansas City’s offense is pedestrian, averaging only 97.9 yards rushing and 235.9 yards passing to rank one spot above the Broncos (97.4 rushing, 227.3 passing) in both categories. The catch: Kansas City boasts a 17-3 regular-season record dating to last October.

“That’s always been the Chiefs since I’ve been here,” Harris said. “They have always been pretty stout on defense and had a very manageable offense. Playing against (quarterback) Alex Smith, that’s how it’s been. We kind of adopted that same thing. Whoever plays the best defense is going to win.”

The return of cornerback Aqib Talib (back) could be a big boost for Denver in a game where turnovers might be the key.

“I’ve been watching Kansas City for two weeks,” Talib said. “It’s our division opponent so we don’t have to watch them that much. They know what we’re going to do and we know what those guys are going to do, so it will just be a (good) fight.”

The potential return of defensive end Derek Wolfe (elbow) offers hope of an improved run defense that has allowed 123.7 yards rushing, which ranks 29th.

“Not good,” Harris said. “That’s not our standard here. We know that’s something that we need to tighten up. If (we) tighten up for these last six games in the run, it’s going be hard for teams to beat us.”

The “if” is, as always, a significant qualifier. The Broncos’ final stretch leaves little room for error but plenty of room for improvement in the tough AFC West.

“To be 7-3, we’re in a great position,” Harris said. “We’re in a same position that we’ve been in the past five years. It’s on us. We have a chance to win it, and we have to go and take it.”

DEFENDING DIVISIONAL DOMINANCE

Most AFC West Titles

The Broncos won their fifth consecutive and 15th all-time AFC West title last year.

1. Denver: 15

2. Oakland: 12

3. San Diego: 10

4. Kansas City: 6

5. Seattle: 2

Best Records Against Divisional Opponents Since 2011

Over the last five seasons, since John Elway joined the Broncos’ front office, Denver has compiled the best winning percentage in divisional play (postseason included):

1. Denver: 26-8-0 (.765)

2. New England: 25-8-0 (.758)

3. Green Bay: 25-8-1 (.750)

4. Indianapolis: 24-10-0 (.706)

5. Baltimore: 23-11-0 (.676)