DENVER — And just like that, the Denver Broncos home preseason schedule is already in the books.

With only three weeks left until the opening kick against the Seattle Seahawks, the team is quickly coming into form. Saturday night’s 24-23 loss to the Chicago Bears had a significant impact in just how head coach Vance Joseph’s team is shaping up for the season opener.

Here are the five biggest takeaways and what they mean moving forward.

R-E-L-A-X

In the words of Aaron Rodgers, relax. In the words of Joseph, it’s preseason.

The Broncos’ first preseason game brought fear to the heart of Broncos Country about a potential 2017 repeat. Two three-and-outs to go along with the defense giving up an opening touchdown drive will do that.

Saturday night’s game should just about put those rumblings to rest. At least to an extent.

On the offensive side of the ball, Case Keenum and Co. put out a punt, field goal and touchdown in their three drives, respectively. One word came to Joseph’s mind following the game.

“It’s progress,” he said. “That’s what it’s for; it’s preseason. You want to see progress every week. Obviously, next week we want to see more progress. That’s what it’s for. I was pleased with that standpoint.”

After not picking up a single first down in their two series in Week 1, the first-team unit picked up eight, including going an impressive 3-for-5 on third down.

On the defensive side of the ball, Joseph’s first-team unit nearly showed as much playmaking ability in their four series than they did all of last year. Their drive chart read: Missed field goal, safety, touchdown allowed and interception.

By no means was it a perfect outing by the defense (read below), but in the words of Joseph, it was progress.

In many respects, the offense and defense made an Aaron Rodgers-like statement on the field: R-E-L-A-X, it’s the preseason.

TIGHT ENDS REMAIN AN ISSUE

Chicago’s tight ends made quite a few plays against Joe Woods’ defense during the team’s joint practices leading up to the second preseason game. That continued during Saturday’s game.

On the Bears’ first offensive drive, tight end Trey Burton accounted for 37 of his team’s 51 net yards. He continued to expose Denver’s defense throughout the night, finishing with four receptions for 45 yards and a wide-open touchdown.

Last year, when Burton was on the Philadelphia Eagles, he put up 41 yards and a touchdown against Denver’s unit, just one of many tight ends who found tremendous success against the Broncos.

Later in the game, Ben Braunecker caught the Bears’ game-winning touchdown. Yes, Braunecker is a tight end.

Through one play into the second quarter, Mitchell Trubisky had six completions for 69 yards and a touchdown. Five of his completions were to tight ends for 50 yards and the lone score.

All around, Denver’s defense looked like the defense of old—excellent in every way except covering tight ends.

CHAD KELLY THE BACKUP… BUT

After being promoted during the week from third-string to second-string quarterback, Chad Kelly played like he was still going up against the threes. Actually, he played even better against the stiffer competition.

In Kelly’s first two drives, he led the team to 10 points. But the most important number on the night was the pristine zero interceptions, fumbles and turnovers he and his unit had.

“Chad played well again,” Joseph said, summing up the second-year player’s night simply.

In every statistical category, Kelly was the team’s most impressive quarterback—posting a 77.8 completion percentage, one touchdown and an incredible 145.4 passer rating.

Yet, although Kelly played better than any backup quarterback the Broncos have seen in recent memory, the team isn’t ready to give him the job.

“Right now, he’s our backup,” Joseph said after the game when asked if he’s comfortable with Kelly as the backup quarterback entering the regular season. “I can’t speak for two weeks down the road. But right now, he’s our backup quarterback. That’s the answer.”

Kelly’s worst throw on the day—one of his two incompletions—was an overthrow to Tim Patrick down the right sideline.

The bad news is if he put the ball on the money, it likely would have been a touchdown. The good news is Kelly’s worst play of the day wasn’t even close to being in harm’s way.

After his second impressive performance, Kelly said he prepares every day like he’s a starter because “the minute you slip up the next person is trying to lap you.”

So far, Kelly’s shown no signs of slipping up on the field. Yet the Broncos haven’t fully bought in.

INSIDE BACKERS RESPOND

After taking part of the blame for giving up back-to-back 20-plus yard runs last week, the Broncos’ inside linebackers had a bounce-back game defending the run.

Todd Davis, who missed the first preseason game, and Brandon Marshall teamed up for an impressive performance clogging the middle of the line and making plays near, and behind, the line of scrimmage.

In the team’s second series, with Chicago backed up at their own five-yard line, Marshall read Chicago’s run play as if he heard the play come in from the sidelines, getting into the backfield for a near safety.

The next play, Marshall and Davis combined for a tackle at the line of scrimmage, setting up a third and long for Trubisky which turned into two points for the Broncos.

Against the first-team defense, Chicago had moments where they found success on the ground, but not in Marshall and Davis’ territory in the middle of the field.

Davis also had a fantastic stop on a screen where he evaded his blocker to make the tackle just shy of the first-down marker.

NEWCOMERS CONTRIBUTE

Case Keenum.

Bradley Chubb.

Marquette King.

Courtland Sutton.

Isaac Yiadom.

DaeSean Hamilton.

Phillip Lindsay.

The list goes on of newcomers that will clearly play a large role in the success or failure of the Broncos this year.

In total, over a third of John Elway’s roster is new this year. Out of the 90-man list, there are 34 new players, with many of those having a great shot at making the 53-man roster come the beginning of September.

On Saturday, those newcomers showed just how big of an impact they’ll have in 2018.

On the offensive side of the ball, there’s no question about the role Keenum will have. But Saturday showed the quarterback won’t be the only newcomer with a significant role.

With Demaryius Thomas out dealing with a sore wrist, Hamilton, not Sutton, got the start opposite Emmanuel Sanders. Sutton, however, got the touchdown.

Out of the backfield, rookies Lindsay and Royce Freeman were by far the team’s most productive backs, combining for over 50 rushing yards.

The Broncos’ first three 2018 draft picks were responsible for all of Denver’s non-kicking scores: Chubb’s safety, Freeman’s four-yard touchdown and Sutton’s 16-yard touchdown reception.

Don’t forget about Clinton McDonald’s sack in the fourth quarter, either. Or the fact that Yiadom and Chubb led the team in tackles.

It’s becoming clear that Elway’s many offseason moves will be integral in a potential bounce-back season.