Not so much in the AFC West, where a 6-5 record is good for not only first place, but a two-game lead. The Broncos lost against Oakland on Sunday but maintained their lead because San Diego also lost to drop to 4-7.

At some point the Broncos, who travel to New York to play the Jets this Sunday, want more from themselves than to keep hoping San Diego doesn't make a run.

"I don't want to be in the playoffs off of those guys," receiver Brandon Marshall said. "I want to be in the playoffs with what we do. We want to control our own destiny."

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan understands that there are areas in which his team can improve. He could go back to the playoffs and win the AFC West for only the second time since 1998 by just winning a few games down the stretch, but Shanahan usually has higher hopes than to just get to the postseason.

"We want to play at the level where if you do get in the playoffs, you have a chance to do something when you get there," Shanahan said. "That's the key."

The Broncos have been maddeningly inconsistent all season. There's no way to explain how they beat a solid Atlanta team on the road one week, then lose at home by three touchdowns to a poor Oakland team in their next game.

The back-to-back road wins at Cleveland and Atlanta at least gives the Broncos some hope of finishing the season strong.

"I think that shows what we're capable of doing on both sides of the ball," Shanahan said. "We're capable of beating a good football team on the road, and we're also capable of losing when we don't make the plays we normally make. Sometimes you beat yourselves, other times they beat you."

There are reasons for the inconsistency. The Broncos are a very young team which has started seven rookies this year. The defense has only four interceptions all season and hasn't had a sack in three games. The lack of big plays on defense give the Broncos little margin for error.

Turnovers have also been a problem for the offense. The Broncos are 5-0 when posting an even or positive turnover margin, but 1-5 with a negative turnover margin. Last week against the Raiders, the Broncos didn't force any turnovers, but a fumble inside Oakland's 10-yard line and a fourth-quarter interception were huge turning points in the game.

The Broncos have tough games at the Jets and at Carolina, with home games against Buffalo and Kansas City remaining before the season finale at San Diego. Although the Broncos have a lead in the AFC West, they also feel there's not much cushion.

"At this point every game is so crucial and everyone in the locker room knows it," quarterback Jay Cutler said.

SERIES HISTORY: 31st regular-season meeting. Broncos lead series, 15-14-1, and Denver beat the Jets 27-0 in the last meeting, in 2007. Denver defeated the Jets 23-10 in the 1998 AFC Championship Game. The Broncos are 3-6 all time in Giants Stadium against the Jets and Giants.