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Ron Rivera can sometimes shut down a narrative before it turns into a full-blown story. And that's exactly what Carolina's coach has done this week ahead of the Panthers' season opener at Denver.

Rivera's well aware that most teams put altitude on their list of worries when visiting the Broncos. The human body often has a hard time adjusting to playing 5,280 feet above sea level. But a look at Rivera's history at the Mile High site helps reveal why he's not all that concerned.

As a player and coach, Rivera's a combined 4-2 at Denver. If not for the 1987 Bears blowing an 8-point fourth quarter lead and the 2008 Chargers falling victim to an early whistle by referee Ed Hochuli, Rivera would be unbeaten up there.

"A lot of people have gone in there, and a lot of people have played, and a lot of people have won, and a lot of people have lost," he said. "I think a lot can be made out of it.

"It's funny, when you lose it's a bigger issue."

Right, and most teams leave Denver with a loss.

Whether at the original Mile High Stadium or Sports Authority Field, the Broncos have had the NFL's biggest home field advantage over the past four decades. With a sellout streak that dates back to 1970, their 252-92 home record is the league's best since 1975.

The Broncos are especially tough to beat in home openers when they're 42-13-1 all-time, 28-4 since 1984 and 15-1 since 2000 (Raiders, 2011).

The Panthers have traveled to Denver just twice, losing in 1997 and 2004. But they've never been there with Rivera, who may have a Mile High secret.

"It's really all about conditioning," he said.

"We're coming out of training camp. You'd like to believe that having worked in the humidity and the heat, the conditioning that we've done, that it's going to pay off no matter how you look at it.

"We've got to hydrate. We've got to make sure we eat properly and get our rest. What I really don't want to do is make the issue out of it a lot of people do."