The Denver Broncos’ defense has emerged as one of the most formidable units in the NFL during the 2024 season. Here’s a deep dive into why their defense ranks among the best.
Performance Per Play
The absence of captain and leading tackler Alex Singleton is a significant blow to the Denver Broncos’ defense. To maintain their production, they’ll need others to step up in the middle of the field.
Through the first three weeks of the season, the Denver Broncos have allowed only 4.5 yards per play, ranking third in the league. They trail only Seattle and Pittsburgh—the two teams that handed them their losses this year.
Yards per play directly relate to yards per game, whereas the Broncos are also currently ranked third in the National Football League at 259.3 per game. These figures could be misleading since Denver faced both Seattle and Pittsburgh in the first two weeks. Both Seattle and Pittsburgh rely on run-heavy offenses, favoring a slower pace and defensive emphasis, which limited production.
In Week 3, the Broncos took on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers entered the Week 3 contest with Baker Mayfield playing, arguably, the best football of his career. The Broncos sacked Mayfield 7 times and only gave up 7 points in a dominating performance.
Key Player Contribution: Cornerbacks Pat Surtain II and Riley Moss have locked down top wide receivers, allowing the defensive front—led by Zach Allen and Jonathan Cooper, who’ve combined for 5 sacks—to attack relentlessly. Players like John Franklin-Myers, Jonah Ellis, and Dondrea Tillman have also made key plays when it matters.
Points Per Drive
The Broncos’ defense is currently ranked sixth in the NFL, allowing just 1.27 points per drive. This statistic highlights the team’s focus and efficiency throughout the full 60 minutes of football. As the offense works to develop a rookie quarterback and establish its identity, the defense will need to keep the Broncos in games.
Key Player Contribution: Brandon Jones, a free agent from Miami, has more than filled the shoes of long-time safety Justin Simmons, who wasn’t re-signed. There was concern heading into the season about who would fill the void of leadership and production left by Simmons, but Jones has filled both gaps and has vaulted himself to third on the team with 19 total tackles.
Perseverance
Much of the Broncos’ defensive success this year is thanks to Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph. Last season, in week 3, the Denver Broncos gave up 70 points to the Miami Dolphins. There were real questions about Vance Joseph’s capabilities after that humiliating defeat. Broncos’ owner Greg Penner stuck with Joseph, and it’s proven to be the right decision.
The perseverance of Joseph and the patience the organization has shown Joseph is paying off. The Broncos’ defense performed well going down the stretch in 2023, and Joseph has built upon that production and taken them to new heights this year.
He’s adopted a simpler, more player-friendly approach. Joseph recognized that he had the talent to rush the passer and the defensive backs to roll out a predominantly man coverage. This gives players more freedom to react on the field compared to a rigid schematic approach. It is proving to be even more effective this year as all three levels of the defense are playing at a very high level.
The Denver Broncos are in the top 10 in both run and pass defense so far in 2024. While they don’t top the league in any one specific area, their consistency across various categories makes them a well-rounded defensive unit. They’ve allowed just 259 yards per game, placing them among the league’s top defenses.
Conclusion
The Denver Broncos defense has emerged as one of the most efficient and well-rounded units in the league this year. With standout performances in yards per play, points per drive, and overall defensive balance, they’ve kept the team competitive every week. They will need to fly even higher this week to ground Aaron Rogers, Breece Hall, and the New York Jets for a week 4 showdown in the Big Apple.
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