BRONCOS DEFENSE HAS BECOME FORMIDABLE
Resurgent defense looks the part of a top-10 unit after stifling Browns
At 3-6 entering the team’s midseason bye, the majority of the Broncos’ woes can’t be pinned on the defense.
No, the Denver defense hasn’t been perfect. And yes, there have been a few critical fourth-quarter lapses they’ would like to have back — most notably drives that resulted in late losses to Chicago, Jacksonville and Indianapolis.
But in a somewhat nondescript season, the unit has been an overall positive.
“There have been some stumbles, but we’ve been rolling for the most part lately,” linebacker Todd Davis said Sunday after Denver beat the Cleveland Browns 24-19 and held them to one touchdown in five red-zone tries. “This is the defense we can be.”
Containing underperforming Cleveland is one thing. But statistics show progress.
The numbers say Denver has room to grow against the run, even after enormous improvement since being gouged for 269 yards by the Jaguars in Week 4. The Broncos’ 107.6 rushing yards allowed per game ranks 17th in the NFL. All other key stats affirm that Denver’s in the conversation as a top-10 defense. The Broncos are ninth in points allowed (18.9), and rank fourth in passing yards per game (202.1) and total yards per game (309.7).
The Broncos also rank second in redzone defense, having allowed a touchdown in just 37% of opposing drives inside their 20. In that area, efficient communication and consistent execution are becoming pillars on a unit interspersed with veterans and youth — and minus rising star linebacker Bradley Chubb, who’s out for the year with a torn ACL.
“We have to play better in the red zone, tighten up your coverage and try to do whatever you can to not let them get in
“Every week we’re excited about a new challenge, and we’re ready for it.”
Kareem Jackson, Broncos safety
the end zone,” cornerback Chris Harris said. “We made some plays down there (Sunday) and got some third-and-1 and fourthand-1 stops that were huge. We know the red zone is win or lose for us.”
As Harris suggests, the onus to win has been mainly rested on the shoulders of Denver’s defense. The Broncos still haven’t topped 24 points in any game, but the defense has managed to keep the team competitive in five of its six losses.
All the while, proven veterans such as Chris Harris, safety Kareem Jackson, linebacker Von Miller and defensive end Derek Wolfe are gelling with new players such as second-year cornerback Davontae Harris, emerging linebacker Alexander Johnson, journeyman nose tackle Mike Purcell and undrafted rookie linebacker Malik Reed.
“Regardless of what the offense is doing, who’s under center or what happens with that, for us that’s not where the focus is,” Jackson said. “It’s about going and doing what we do. … Whether we score seven, 20 or 30, if we go out and we hold opposing teams to a low score or no score, then we’re doing our job. Every week we’re excited about a new challenge, and we’re ready for it.”
Bigger tests are ahead. Four of the Broncos final seven games are on the road against teams that now are either in first or second place. Count new Broncos quarterback Brandon Allen as one unabashed fan of the Denver defense. The unit gave Allen plenty of cushion in his first NFL start Sunday.
“Our defense was really what held us in the game,” Allen said. “Holding them to all those field goals gives the offense confidence that, ‘OK, we’ll get a touchdown here and they’re going to keep holding them.’ I think they played incredible.”