The Ravens are 5-5. The Broncos are just one game back at 4-6

On this day of peace and reflection, the Broncos can say thanks to NFL parity.

Do you realize if the playoffs started today, the Baltimore Ravens would have the final AFC wild-card spot?

The Ravens are 5-5. The Broncos are just one game back at 4-6.

“Really?’’ said Broncos safety Will Parks. “Ah, we’re going to take it one game at a time but that’s good news to know. That pushes your spirits high even more, makes you want to go harder knowing that you can possibly get in.

“We never count ourselves out in the first place. That’s what is always good thing about this team. We kept our spirits, grinding throughout all the trials and tribulations. And it showed last week with us fighting hard and getting that win (against the Chargers). But we’re just focused on this week, this game and let the cards play themselves out.’’

It does need to be pointed out that while the Broncos are one game off the playoff lead, there are four other AFC teams besides Baltimore who are ahead of them with 5-5 records: Bengals, Colts, Titans and Dolphins.

So essentially, the Broncos are running sixth for that remaining No. 6 playoff spot.

“Playoffs, Mike, come on,’’ head coach Vance Joseph said to the 9News inquisitor. “We’ve won one game and we’ve got small focus. To talk playoffs right now, with our football team, is unfair.

“We’ve got to work every day to get better and better every day and play our best ball to win the game on Sunday. We’ll see. We’ve talked about having small-picture focus but big-picture awareness. We know what’s out there. Everyone reads the stuff, but right now, we’ve got to focus on Pittsburgh.”

Still, beat the Steelers on Sunday and there will be some buzz about a Broncos team that has already been written off. The Broncos are not legitimate playoff contenders yet. But beat the Steelers and the Broncos will be.