The Broncos are back home.

And as October draws to a close, the Broncos find themselves in the thick of the AFC race.

The Broncos are approaching the halfway point of the season with four wins in their last five games, and they can improve to 5-3 with a win over the Panthers.

A win over Carolina (1-6) would move Denver to two games above .500 for the first time since the start of the 2021 season and give the Broncos their best eight-game record since 2016.

“We’ve got to come out shooting,” cornerback Pat Surtain II said Friday. “It doesn’t matter who the opponent is, it’s a faceless opponent for us. We just have to come out and play our brand of football. That’s being the most physical team every time. We have to stick to that.” I have a lot of confidence in our boys. We prepared in the right way this week.”

Denver can also improve its home record to 2-2, which has been a focus heading into Sunday’s game against the Panthers.

“You’ve got to be able to win at home,” wide receiver Courtland Sutton said Wednesday. “…That’s one of the things that should be like a pillar.”

As Denver approaches this week’s game, however, it’s clear the team isn’t satisfied with where it currently stands — and the Broncos know there’s a lot more work to be done.

“The job is still not done,” Sutton said. “We still have a lot of opportunities ahead of us. We have a big game this weekend against Carolina. We can’t overlook what’s right in front of us.

… It’s nice to be where we are, but it’s not where we want to be.

These then are the questions that will decide if Denver can keep the momentum going and improve to 3-0 vs. NFC South teams:

CAN DENVER put pressure on BRYCE Young?

After Andy Dalton suffered a thumb injury in a car accident earlier this week, former first overall pick Bryce Young returns to the starting lineup.

“He has good vision, quick release,” Head Coach Sean Payton said Wednesday. “He shows accuracy (and) poise. He’s played in big moments. In other words, I remember him coming out of the draft. He’s played in really big moments. I think you shift the focus when there’s a change in your game is.” quarterbacks from one to the other, and you study it as best you can.”

Young started the first two games of the year for Carolina, but he was replaced by Dalton after throwing three interceptions and no touchdowns in his first two starts of the year.

In his short career, Young is 0-9 on the road while completing 53 percent of his passes for 175.2 yards per game and a passer rating of 61.8. Young has thrown four interceptions and no touchdowns in his last six road starts, and the Broncos certainly don’t want Young to reverse his fortunes.

The Broncos rank third in the league’s total defense and scoring defense, and they also rank second in sacks. Against Young, the Broncos will look to continue their success against opposing quarterbacks and prevent Young from finding a rhythm. In Week 7, the Broncos sacked Spencer Rattler six times and recorded a pair of strip sacks.

If Denver can find similar success against Young and make him uncomfortable, the Broncos should be ready to win.