We’ve heard it all season long.

The Broncos can’t beat the Packers. The Broncos can’t beat the Patriots. Peyton Manning can’t win in the playoffs. The Broncos can’t beat the Patriots a second time.

Every time, Denver has proved the critics wrong.

#Panthers are early 3.5-point favorites to beat #Broncos in #SB50. That's OK: Denver was underdog against Packers and Patriots (twice). — Jon Heath (@JonHeathNFL) January 25, 2016

An incredible 78 percent of experts picked Denver to lose in the AFC Championship game. Now the Broncos are early 3.5-point underdogs to the Panthers in Super Bowl 50.

Amazingly, people are still not taking the Broncos seriously.

And so the disrespect begins, from Troy Aikman: "I don't think Denver can stop Carolina." (h/t @jemorrone7) — Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) January 25, 2016

After watching ESPN for the last 30 minutes it's apparent that the Super Bowl doesn't need to be played. Carolina is gonna utterly dominate. — Brandon Thorn (@VeteranScout) January 25, 2016

Early impression: #Panthers are going to smoke the #Broncos in the Super Bowl — Ben Volin (@BenVolin) January 25, 2016

The Boston Globe, still unable to come to terms with the fact that @Broncos might be, y'know, decent or something. pic.twitter.com/dM4jTzZoO9 — Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) January 25, 2016

Looks like you guys are thinking Cam Newton and the Panthers will hoist the Lombardi Trophy. pic.twitter.com/WQjHpV1CKZ — NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) January 25, 2016

The Broncos don’t like being disrespected, but it can be beneficial.

Denver takes it personally—being an underdog motivates them. It also helps them play loose, putting the pressure on the opposing team.

“That underdog mentality, that’s a good thing,” veteran linebacker DeMarcus Ware said last week. “Now that pressure is not on us.”

Few expect Denver to win the Super Bowl, just as few have expected them to win their toughest contests this year.

They’ll just have to prove them wrong. Again.