Coach Fox, Broncos focused on greater goals

(Reuters Pictures)

The Denver Broncos are the 2012 AFC West division champions!  Cue the party, we’ve made the playoffs!

Not so fast, says Coach John Fox.

“(At team head quarters) it’ll be business as usual,” said Fox after Denver’s 31-23 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday.

The Broncos, now 9-3, are headed to the playoffs and have a chance to improve on their fourth seed placing in the AFC Playoff race.  Winning the division is just one piece of the puzzle Fox is hoping to assemble this season.

“Anytime you win, I enjoy it for a minute.  At least a few minutes tonight. Then we turn it around and get right back at it the next day so that part won’t change.”

According to Denver’s PR team, Fox is just the third coach since 1970 to take over a team with a losing record and lead it to consecutive division titles.

“I really don’t have much to say about that.  I’ve been blessed, there’s no doubt.  This is a great city, great team, and I’m proud to be here.”

Under Fox’s guidance with quarterback Peyton Manning leading the offense, the Broncos have won seven straight games.  Ultimately, there is still a lot of football left to be played, though, and the Broncos know it.

“We still have a lot of improvement to do as a football team.  It’s just a starting point for us, really.”

“There’s different championships.  Your division is obviously one, everybody aspires to be in the conference championship but at the end of the day, everybody is looking for that world championship.  It’s a great accomplishment, a tribute to the staff and coaches in that locker room.  They did a fantastic job.  We still have a whole quarter of the season left.  We’ll see what happens.”

All quotes were provided courtesy of the Denver Broncos media relations team.  The Broncos are preparing for a Week 14 showdown with the Oakland Raiders on Thursday Night Football this week.