The Denver Broncos have a nice four-game winning streak going, and they now sit atop the AFC West after beating the Kansas City Chiefs .

However, the Broncos must guard against riding the high of the win and dropping this coming game against the Carolina Panthers. The Broncos have to travel east for an early game, a trip that has historically challenged them, though that track record has significantly improved under Sean Payton.

To avoid a potential upset by the Panthers, which would be costly heading into the bye week, the Broncos will need to win two critical matchups. The biggest matchups come down to a wide receiver vs. a cornerback on both sides of the ball.

Let's dig into these matchups and why they're so important to the Broncos.

Offensive Matchup: Courtland Sutton vs. Will Lee III

Courtland Sutton runs after the catch against the Panthers. | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

The Broncos have struggled to find consistency with Sutton and rekindle his connection with Bo Nix .…