by Jeff Legwold The Denver Post , The Denver Post

The Broncos are, indeed, still in first place in the AFC West at 6-2 after Monday night's 28-10 loss to the Steelers at Invesco Field at Mile High.

And in the usual postloss sweeping-up, quarterback Kyle Orton said the Broncos are "certainly not in panic mode. We're in first place in the AFC West."

Spin the clock back less than a year. After a crushing loss to the Buffalo Bills at Invesco Field, former Broncos linebacker Jamie Winborn offered: "This league isn't easy, but we're still in first place in our division."

Time reveals things in the NFL. The more teams play, the more is uncovered about them. After eight games - the halfway point of their season - the Broncos have shown themselves, at their best, to be hardworking opportunists with level heads and a quality outlook.

But they also have shown themselves to be limited offensively, spotty on special teams and in some trouble

defensively if the push-and-

shove teams get the running game going.

And it would be a mistake for them, with eight games to play, to cling to the idea that being in first place in the AFC West right now will somehow fix those things.

It was the error in the ways of the 2008 Broncos , that during their historic collapse down the stretch they continually grabbed on to the ideas of "still a lot of Football left to be played" and that they were a first-place team until they weren't in the season's final week.

Yes, the Broncos are in first place, but they will have to play better to stay there.

Key matchup

Having felt the sting of two quality rushing offenses over the past two games, the Broncos will have a chance to push back Sunday against the Redskins.

Because of a long list of injuries, the Redskins will start their fifth combination this season on the offensive line.

Tackle Mike Williams was added to the list with a ligament tear to his ankle after Washington's loss to Atlanta this past weekend and is the third starting offensive lineman who will miss a game.

The most likely shift would be to move Stephon Heyer, who had been filling in for the injured Chris Samuels at left tackle, back to his original right tackle spot to fill in for Williams, then play former Bengals first-round draft pick Levi Jones at right tackle.

The Redskins come into the game 24th in the NFL in rushing offense and are likely to be without running back Clinton Portis.

Portis suffered a concussion in the loss to the Falcons and is not expected to play against the Broncos .

Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com ------------ Receptive to comparisons

Of the seven teams the Broncos play in their final eight games - they play Kansas City twice - six have a receiver or a tight end among the NFL's top 18 in average yards per catch. The Chiefs (1-7) do not, but wideout Dwayne Bowe ranks 36th in the league at 13.9 yards per catch.

The Broncos have no players in the league's top 50 in the category. Wideout Jabar Gaffney and tight end Tony Scheffler are tied for 54th at 12.7 yards per catch. Tight end Daniel Graham is 62nd at 12.1 yards per catch, and wideout Brandon Marshall ranks 84th at 10.6 yards per catch. --------- Numbers game

As the Broncos started 6-0, all that was said about their difficult schedule seemed forgotten. But it has begun to rear its ugly head on the scoreboard, where the offensive points have not topped 20 against teams that are .500 or have winning records. Offensive production against teams with .500 or winning records:

Opponent....Total yards....Passing....Rushing....Points....

Cincinnati....302....227....75....12....

Dallas....337....221....116....17....

New England....424....321....103....20....

San Diego....328....227....101....20....

Baltimore....200....134....66....7....

Pittsburgh....242....221....27....3....

Offensive production against teams with losing records

Opponent....Total yards....Passing....Rushing....Points....

Cleveland....449....263....189....27....

Oakland....372....157....215....23....

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