The Broncos’ biggest offensive issue the past two weeks has been the inability to convert on third down, but quarterback Kyle Orton said the key issue might be what the offense is doing with its first two downs.

The Broncos have converted only two third-down tries in the past two games and have found themselves in third-and-long. In both games, the Broncos needed to gain more than 10 yards per third down to stay on the field.

“Third-and-10 is the common thread, and you just look at percentages throughout the league — the best offenses in the league, they don’t convert those at a high clip, and we’re not going to either,” Orton said. “That’s just a reality of football. So, like I’ve been saying, the better we can do on first and second down, the better we’ll do on third down.”

The Broncos didn’t even get to third down on their game-opening touchdown drives against the Chargers and Rams, using a mix of pass plays to move down the field and running plays to finish off drives.

Third down is just as major an issue for the Broncos’ defense, after it allowed St. Louis’ rookie quarterback Sam Bradford to throw for six third-down conversions.

Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said Wednesday his defense should be wary of Kansas City receiver Dwayne Bowe, who made seven third-down conversion receptions last week against Seattle.

Lloyd’s Pro Bowl push.

Broncos wide receiver Brandon Lloyd continues to make his case, on the field at least, to represent the Broncos in the Pro Bowl at Hawaii.

He leads the NFL in receiving yards with 1,122 and is tied for third in receiving touchdowns with nine. His is increasingly the top target for Orton, who is once again the league’s leader in total passing yards with 3,370, 8 yards more than San Diego’s Philip Rivers.

“I have a lot of confidence in (Lloyd), and he proves me right,” Orton said. “He makes great plays, makes spectacular catches. I’m certainly not trying to turn the football over, by any means, but anytime we feel like we have a good chance of completing the pass and the risk of a turnover is low, then yeah — we’re going to throw it up to him.”

Preparing for Arrowhead.

Extremely loud rap and hip-hop music blared through speakers on the practice field Wednesday as the Broncos held their first practice in preparation for Sunday’s game at Arrowhead Stadium, notoriously one of the loudest stadiums in the league.

And with the Chiefs leading the AFC West — and a 5-0 record at Arrowhead this season — the Broncos are expecting the stadium to be extra loud Sunday.

“Just the atmosphere of the stadium, it’s always tough to play there,” tight end Daniel Graham said.

Footnotes.

Three of the four players held out of practice were defensive backs: safeties Brian Dawkins and Darcel McBath and cornerback Andre Goodman. Receiver Demaryius Thomas also was out with an ankle injury. Those players are not expected to travel to Kansas City.

Lindsay H. Jones, The Denver Post