Maybe Sean Payton meant Bo Nix was a top five quarterback in the AFC West.

Time to rein in the outlandish expectations on the 25-year-old quarterback.

But after Nix and the Broncos offense had more turnovers than touchdowns in a 20-12 win over the Tennessee Titans Sunday, my biggest takeaway had nothing to do with the offense.

It had everything to do with Nik Bonitto, Talanoa Hufanga, Pat Surtain and a powerful defense.

Holy “No Fly Zone,” Broncos Country. Anyone else having flashbacks?

Was that Bonitto or Von Miller with a career-high nine pressures of Titans quarterback Cam Ward? Was that Derek Wolfe or John Franklin-Myers/DJ Jones/Zach Allen collapsing the offensive line?

Is this going to be that kind of season at Empower Field at Mile High — the kind where 73,000 fanatics recognize it’s go time when the defense is on the field, not the offense?

“This defense has the potential to be even greater down the line,” Surtain said after the ‘D’ tightened the vice and allowed only seven first downs, including two in the second half.

Yes, it’s blasphemous to mention a defense that’s played one game alongside the Super Bowl 50 outfit that punished Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady and Cam Newton in the playoffs. But I would be lying if the Broncos ‘D’ on Sunday didn’t give me flashbacks to that rowdy crew.

Six sacks — from six players. Two fumbles recovered. Enough swag where Payton made the bizarre call to throw deep — with a one-score lead and under 1 minute remaining in the game.

“The way we were playing defensively….” Payton explained.

Payton trusts the ability of Nix more than I do, at least at this point in the young man’s career. But it was unhelpful to force Nix to shoulder expectations he’s not ready to carry, including the idea he will be a top-five quarterback in the NFL in the next two years. Stop all that.

Patrick Mahomes has been the go-to highlight reel for SportsCenter for almost a decade. He’s also made it easy to forget quarterback greatness isn’t about sidearm, no-look throws.

It’s not Mahomes or even Payton’s fave, Drew Brees, that Nix should emulate. It’s Jalen Hurts, the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback who wins with his legs and brain as often as his arm.

Asked about Nix’s shaky start, which included two interceptions and his first NFL fumble, Payton said: “We won. That’s the first thing.”

Hey, that’s usually how coaches describe Hurts.

So that’s a start.

Back to the star of the show, a Broncos defense that comes with a side of ouch. Did you notice how the Titans grew alligator arms when crossing the middle in the fourth quarter? Sure looked like they were flat-out tired of getting walloped by safeties Hufanga and Brandon Jones.

“I think there was a point where they (Tennessee) became one-dimensional,” Payton said.

There’s a long way to go before this defense earns a spot alongside the “No Fly Zone.” What made that group special was a killer instinct that decided when it was time to call game — either through a Von strip-sack or an Aqib Talib pick-6.

Does this defense have that?

Time will tell. But even the Broncos offense took notice when the defense said, “No more.”

“The one that really sticks out is when they (Tennessee) get the ball, down one (point), and they get two sacks,” Nix said.

The possession he’s talking about came in the fourth quarter with the outcome still very much undetermined. Broncos return man Marvin Mims muffed a punt. Tennessee took over at the Denver 24-yard line, needing only a field goal to take the lead. Shoot, the Titans were already in field-goal range with Mile High getting nervous.

Then, Jonah Elliss sack. Then, Zach Allen sack. The Titans lost 25 yards and a field-goal try.

The whole scenario took me back to a game at Cleveland in 2015, when Shaq Barrett and Malik Jackson sacked quarterback Josh McCown to knock the Browns out of field-goal range.

Remember that one?

“I’ve only been part of one team that gave up zero points. But that is our goal every week,” said Hufanga, a revelation at safety who had a game-high 10 tackles in his Broncos debut.

Nix had the worst season opener of the AFC West quarterbacks, throwing for 176 yards to pair with three turnovers. Geno Smith threw for 362 yards and the Raiders won. Justin Herbert threw for 318 yards, three touchdowns and the Chargers won. Patrick Mahomes had 258 yards and the Chiefs lost (to the Chargers).

But Sunday had 2015 written all over it, a Broncos defense overcoming two offenses — the Titans and the Broncos — and we’ve seen around here what a championship ‘D’ can do.

“Our defense is going to do that all year,” Nix said.

It was a nice touch that Hufanga wore a “Bo Nix, No. 10” T-shirt to his own press conference.

“I wouldn’t be wearing this shirt if I didn’t have confidence in my guy,” Hufanga said.

For better or for worse, Nix would be wise to track down a “Broncos ‘D’” shirt of his own.