10 weeks ago, the Broncos lost to the Miami Dolphins in a historic fashion. Shockingly, the Broncos gave up 70 points and 726 total yards in a mortifying 50-point loss. After the game, the Broncos defensive coordinator, Vance Joseph, took the blame and vowed to fix the team. Somehow, Joseph has turned the desolate defense into a takeaway machine. Here’s how he did it.
The Broncos Defense Is Dominant And Vance Joseph Is The Reason
The Broncos Defense Was Terrible
Denver started the season 1-5 and looked to be out of the playoffs. The reason for that was their defense. The Broncos were giving up more than 36 points a game in that span while being last in almost every stat in the NFL. They allowed the Las Vegas Raiders (5-8), Washington Commanders (4-9), and Chicago Bears (5-8) to dismantle them in every fasciate. Sadly, each of these meager offenses had season highs against the Broncos.
By Week 3, the media and fans called for Vance Joseph to be fired. It seemed that Joseph’s second time coaching the Broncos defense would end the same way it did the first, with boos and failure. But, as the curtain started to close on Joseph’s time in Denver, he made drastic changes. Joseph did the impossible and fixed a defense that didn’t seem to have a chance.
How Vance Joseph Did The Impossible
As the trade deadline approached, it was obvious some changes had to be made. The many disgruntled starters who were underperforming had to go to make space for the budding playmakers. Joseph did just that. The team decided to trade away Randy Gregory and cut Frank Clark. These angry, aging stars only weighed the Broncos down. Joseph also benched starters like Damarri Mathis who were struggling immensely.
As these weights were lifted from the team, new names showed up. Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper started to create much-needed pressure while Ja’Quan McMillian forced turnovers. As Justin Simmons and Baron Browning were coming back from injuries, these changes started to have an effect. The Broncos defense was in full stride.
Since their Week 5 loss to the New York Jets, the Denver Broncos have the third-best defense in the league by EPA/play allowed. There isn’t a clear weakness, as the team ranks in the top-six in EPA/play allowed against the pass (6th) and against the run (4th). This is obviously impressive on its own, but it becomes even more shocking when you look at Denver’s opponents. During that stretch, the unit has faced the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, and the Kansas City Chiefs (twice).
The Results
Coming into November, the Broncos needed a miracle to beat the gauntlet of teams they were facing. That miracle was given to them by the Broncos defense. Since their winning streak started, the Broncos have only allowed 15.5 points per game and have had a league-leading 18 takeaways.
Their offense has formed around young playmakers and can take opposing offenses out of the game. Though they started their season on a catastrophic path, the Broncos and Vance Joseph have formed one of the premier defenses in the league. Because of Joseph’s patience and belief in his plan, the Broncos defense has guided the team to a winning record and a chance at the playoffs.
Main Photo: Ron Chenoy – USA Today Sports
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