Given that they are 3-6, the Denver Broncos may not be doing too well. The Broncos under Russell Wilson haven’t performed up to preseason expectations, but their defense has. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero has this defense ranked as the best in the NFL, despite injuries and the trade of Bradley Chubb. Let’s examine the good, bad, and ugly aspects of this strong Broncos defense.
The Good: The Denver Broncos’ passing defense is the cream of the cropÂ
Given how strong they are across the board, it is challenging to single out just one positive aspect of the Broncos’ defense. However, they stand out and have the best passing defense in the NFL. This season, the Broncos’ defense has given up the fewest passing touchdowns and yards. The play of Justin Simmons and Partick Surtain II is a significant factor in this. Surtain is instructed to shadow the wide receiver on the opposing team and shut them down. which typically results in him shutting down whichever side of the field he is on. Simmons is the defense’s captain and a great safety. The communicator, Simmons, has the back third of the field under control. Their depth, which includes players of the caliber of Kareem Jackson and K’Waun Williams, is another reason that makes their passing defense so exceptional.
The Raiders’ offensive game plan will be severely hampered by the Broncos’ excellent pass coverage. Because the Broncos’ defense will only allow for tight windows, which Derek Carr hates to throw into, it might not be a good day for Davante Adams, as Surtain will be shadowing him, and Carr isn’t going to test him.
The Bad: They don’t force many turnovers
Despite being highly ranked in many categories, the Broncos defense only ranks 20th in forced turnovers. Teams are hesitant to throw the ball against them due to their excellent pass defense, which is one explanation for this. But despite their overall strength, their defense hasn’t been able to generate enough turnovers. They don’t want to see their offense on the field any longer than they already are, so this may be a good thing for them. They lack an enforcer who can force fumbles without Chubb. The Broncos’ defense falls into the uncommon category of being excellent without being among the best at forcing turnovers.
The Ugly: Their linebacker corps is their weaknessÂ
The linebacker group is the only defensive weakness that the Broncos’ defense has. They had trouble stopping the Raiders’ run the last time around. Josh Jacobs and the team ran for 212 yards at an average of 5.6 yards per carry. Linebackers are not solely responsible for run defense. At the same time, they play a significant role. That’s because they’re asked to meet the running back in the gap and prevent them from gaining yards. As during their first matchup, the Broncos linebackers were routinely blocked out of the action, which gave Jacobs room to run wild. The Raiders have already taken advantage of the Broncos’ vulnerability before. Looking ahead to today’s game, they’ll need to do so once more if they want to sweep the season series.
*Top Photo: Mile High Sports
