Words passed down, decade to decade, from those who have won to those who wish to.

The rules of engagement, as it were. And then there are the 2008 Broncos, living life outside the box.

Stop the run.

The Steelers (10-3) stop the run better than everyone else in the league. As a matter of collation, they're at 73 yards allowed per game, just ahead of Minnesota (8-5) at 73.3. Baltimore (9-4) stops the run, the Giants (11-2) stop the run, the Titans (12-1) stop the run.

The Broncos? Not so much. They've been better the past month or so, but they still surrender far too many big plays - 50 of 10 yards or longer this season, nine of 30 yards or longer - and currently are the only division leader in the AFC that is not in the league's top 10 in run defense.

Run the ball.

The Broncos run the ball, they've always run the ball, always will run the ball. Usually.

They are 16th in the league in rushing - they have not finished worse than 12th in Mike Shanahan's tenure - and have a training room filled with injured running backs, with Peyton Hillis having joined the list Sunday.

As a result, they have thrown on 59.1 percent of their offensive plays this season, which would be the highest percentage for any season in Shanahan's tenure.

Win the turnover battle.

The Broncos are minus-12 in turnover margin, which puts them 31st in the league, ahead of only San Francisco (5-9).

Jay Cutler has thrown 14 interceptions - two have been returned for touchdowns, including one by the Chiefs' Maurice Leggett on Sunday - and lost 10 fumbles. On the other side of the equation, the five interceptions by the Broncos defense is 31st in the league, with only winless Detroit having snared fewer (four).

Watch the point differential.

The Broncos have been outscored by 20 points this season, 336-316, yet still lead their division by three games, and that puts them on one of history's shortlists.

Since modern divisional play began in the NFL in 1967, only four division winners have finished a regular season having been outscored, and only one of those four - Minnesota in 1978 - was outscored by more than 10 points for the season.

Those four teams also went 1-4 in their postseason games, with Seattle in 2006 the only one to construct a postseason victory.

What's it all mean?

"It means you can't always look at the numbers," Broncos cornerback Dre Bly said. "All you have to do is get in (the playoffs), and once you're in, it's about who's the hottest. We know who were are. We need to just get hot."

Yes, the 2008 Broncos are the pebble in the NFL's shoe, the thorn in the side of conventional wisdom and the guys who still seem to be enjoying their swim upstream.

"A few close wins are worth more than one big loss," defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban said. "We know what we have to fix, but it's all about getting that chance in the playoffs, and we can get that chance."

And those have been their words to live by.

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BREAK IT DOWN

Just because of the geography of the left tackle position - it's on the end of the weak side of the offensive formation - and the job description - protect the highly paid quarterback's blind side - that player usually stays right where he lines up.

If a team runs, it most often runs to the strong (tight end) side, away from the left tackle, and if it throws, he usually must keep the opposition's best pass rusher off the quarterback.

But Sunday against the Chiefs, the Broncos occasionally set left tackle Ryan Clady free, breaking him to pull and lead block on pass and run plays.

"Just to get out there in space, sacrifice yourself, make a nice little cut block, that's why I like it," Clady said. "It's something I kind of did well in college. I like it - it's fun to me. I get to run full speed at them instead of them running full speed at me. A little payback for me."

Clady continues to show off an advanced game, especially considering his youth.

On Sunday, he pulled on a first-and-10 from the Chiefs 34-yard line - the Broncos were in a three-receiver set - and easily got to Maurice Leggett and cut him down.

Receiver Brandon Stokley took what had been a quick-hit pass just inside Clady's block and went 16 yards for a first down.

Later in the game, Clady pulled on a first-and-10 from the 50, with the Broncos in a two-tight-end look. This time, Clady got out to safety Bernard Pollard on a running play.

Pollard couldn't escape, and Tatum Bell took the ball into the crease, made another defender miss and went for 28 yards.

"Just get there, get the whole body across and get them down," Clady said. "If you don't get them down, at least get in the way."

Asked if defensive backs like to see a 6-foot-6, 325-pound tackle coming at them, he offered, "Nah, I don't think they do."

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GET IT DONE

It's clear when the Panthers need a play, really need a play down field in the passing game, they point toward receiver Steve Smith.

Smith is averaging almost 4 yards a catch more than any other Panthers regular.

Since returning from his season-opening, two-game suspension for fighting with a teammate, Smith has caught at least six passes in seven games and also has averaged more than 17 yards a catch in six games.

That's certainly the profile of trouble for the Broncos this season.

San Diego's Vincent Jackson, Jacksonville's Marcedes Lewis, Atlanta's Roddy White and the Raiders' Ashley Lelie each had at least two receptions of at least 20 yards against the Broncos this season.

The Panthers have run the ball 51.9 percent of the time this season, so they truly are balanced on offense, but when they're looking to ring the bell deep, Smith likely will get the ball.

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MATCH GAME: Broncos LT Ryan Clady vs. Panthers DE Julius Peppers

Ask players to name the league's best all-around athlete, and Peppers' name routinely will come up.

The three-time Pro Bowl selection once was a starter for the University of North Carolina basketball team, and at his best, he has the reach, the power and the speed to make life miserable for opposing tackles.

He's tied for fourth in the league with 12 1/2 sacks, a rebound from last season, when he finished with only 2 1/2 in 14 starts.

Clady already has held without a sack players such as Miami's Joey Porter, who leads the NFL with 16 1/2, and Atlanta's John Abraham (12 1/2 sacks). Clady's reach, quick feet and tough-minded demeanor have served the rookie well.

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HOT SPOT

The Broncos' improvement on run defense will get a big test in this one. The Panthers have two backs - DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart - who are averaging at least 4.9 yards per carry.

The two also have a combined 21 rushing touchdowns.

The Panthers have topped 140 rushing yards seven times and have topped 200 rushing yards three times this season.

Williams and Stewart have the kind of speed that, if the Broncos miss a gap, they could be looking at the kind of big play that has plagued them at times.

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Numbers game

Julius Peppers has 43 percent of the Panthers' 29 sacks this season.

Player Sacks

Julius Peppers 12.5

Charles Johnson 5

Damione Lewis 3.5

Tyler Brayton 2.5

Thomas Davis 1.5

Na'il Diggs 1

Charles Godfrey 1

Hilee Taylor 1

Richard Marshall 1