The Denver Broncos had a breakout year last season, once again establishing themselves as one of the best defenses in the league and having a consistent offense, with Bo Nix taking strides. They're looking to build on that momentum this year, but they know there will be some teams in the way of that.

One of those teams is their division rival Kansas City Chiefs, who they've managed to beat more often over the past few years. That's who they'll be facing in Week 1 on Monday Night Football, and Patrick Surtain II spoke about the tables turning recently when going up against the Chiefs.

“They had our number in years past but now it’s all of a sudden how can we get over that hump (like) we did these past few years. So now it’s like tables are turned but also we understand they’re a great team still,” Surtain said via Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette.

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The Chiefs definitely want to keep their dynasty going, but after losing in the Super Bowl two seasons ago and missing the playoffs last season, this year might be their last chance before people hand over the keys to someone else. The Broncos could be in that mix, but they know they have to beat the best to be the best.

After what the Broncos were able to accomplish last season, they may be closer than some think. If Nix didn't get hurt during the postseason, they could've found themselves in the Super Bowl.

If Nix can stay healthy and take another step in his game, and the defense continues to shine, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Broncos were once again a top team in the league.