DENVER -- Is it too soon to compare this Denver Broncos team with its Super Bowl champion teams of the past?

Denver has to beat Pittsburgh on Sunday to win a trip to Super Bowl Forty in Detroit next month.

Right now, Jake Plummer is looking as good as anyone at the quarterback position in Denver since John Elway. And instead of Terrell Davis -- Denver has Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell.

At receiver, Ashley Lelie has taken the place of Ed McCaffrey and Rod Smith is still Rod Smith. There isn't much proven depth behind the top two, but there wasn't in the Super Bowl years, either. The Broncos miss Shannon Sharpe at tight end -- but it hasn't cost them so far.

Denver's running game is second in the NFL. After a year of adjusting without coach Alex Gibbs, it appears the offensive line might hang with the Super Bowl crews. Center Tom Nalen, a member of the title teams, is still playing at a high level.

The revamped defensive line has been superb, including the four players from Cleveland. They give the Broncos more depth there than they had during the Super Bowl years. The linebackers are considered the fastest in the league, and the defensive backfield is much better with Champ Bailey, John Lynch and rookie cornerbacks Darrent Williams and Domonique Foxworth.

All that said, the Broncos don't have Elway.

Speaking of which, the man who quarterbacked Denver the last time the Broncos went to the Super Bowl says he thinks his old team is on the right track.

Hall of Famer John Elway says the Broncos are in a good position, especially since he doesn't think they played up to their potential last Saturday against New England.

Elway says Denver still has yet to play as well as it can during the playoffs, but believes the team will go into practice this week knowing that has to change -- with Pittsburgh playing as well as anyone.

Elway expects the Broncos will focus on improving their offense, in hopes of beating the Steelers on Sunday to earn a Super Bowl invite.

The 45-year-old Elway started five Super Bowls, and was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl 33 back in 1999.