Broncos D delivers yet again, goes out kicking and screaming

Give this to the Denver Broncos: At least they’re consistent.

Four games into the season, four games where your blood pressure rises and you don’t have any finger nails left.

Four games where the theme remains the same: Kicking and screaming.

I said it after the first win of the season and it remains true after the 23-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings. No matter what this team faces, the Broncos will find a way.

Need a key drive from the offense? Check.

Need the defense to come through and win the game with a turnover? Check.

The main reason John Elway made the move from John Fox to Gary Kubiak was because Denver was incapable of winning games like this. The Broncos under Fox were either caught off guard, ill prepared or incapable of making adjustments. The most recent example was the playoff debacle against the Indianapolis Colts.

Elway said he wants his team to go out kicking and screaming.

That’s paid off in spades for the Broncos the first four weeks of the season to get to 4-0.

So much of the focus has been on the Denver defense to start the season. Rightfully so when it’s the best in the NFL.

Some wanted to see what would happen when this unit faced adversity. The Broncos got that and then some from the Vikings. Teddy Bridgewater remained poised and efficient despite consistent pressure. The Minnesota receivers and the system of its offensive coordinator, Norv Turner, made plays on the Denver secondary we haven’t seen to this point. When was the last time you saw Chris Harris struggle like he did on Sunday?

To be considered a great unit, a special defense, historic, you step up when the game is on the line. You make plays to ensure the win.

The Broncos defense accomplished all of that with a T.J. Ward strip sack to end the game – their seventh sack of the game.

The other positive element to take from this win was the running game. Even if you take the 72-yard touchdown run of Ronnie Hillman away, the Broncos still finally were able to produce in the running game when they needed it. They finished with 24 carries for 144 yards.

Hillman seems to be the lead guy now, but C.J. Anderson may have finally gained some confidence he was lacking with how he ran at the end of the game. But the main reason to feel optimistic about the Denver running game is the offensive line is starting to figure the system out.

It’s still not where it needs to be, but there were glimpses; especially on the game-winning drive.

And give a lot credit to Minnesota. To come into Mile High Stadium and put forth the effort it did, it will be interesting to see how the Vikings stack up with the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North.

For the Broncos to find a way to win this game says a lot about their makeup. To give up two 10-point leads and deliver when it matters most is what will benefit this team when it counts – in the playoffs.

The NFL is all about familiarity. When you face certain situations, you know you have the confidence to succeed because you’ve done it before. You won’t get caught off guard. You won’t be ill-prepared. You will and can make adjustments.

Give this to the Broncos: Through four games they’re consistent.

They will go out kicking and screaming.