Denver’s defense is the best in the NFL.
Not only do they have a coordinator in Wade Phillips who is unafraid to blitz at will, they make plays when it matters most. Three of the team’s four wins have come with forced turnovers to end the contest as they continue to live up to John Elway’s expectations of going out “kicking and screaming.”
And when you look at their roster, the Denver Broncos are one of the deepest in the NFL. Especially in the pass-rushing department.
Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware, those are the men every NFL fan knowns. Both of them sacked Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater once each Sunday afternoon and the Broncos racked up seven total sacks on the second-year QB. That gives the team 18 on the season, which will be in the top-three if not the best in the league once all the stats are added up. That also puts them on pace for 72 in the year, which would tie the 1984 Chicago Bears’ mark for most-ever.
And when the Broncos want to give their superstar sack artists a break, in come rookie Shane Ray and second-year stud Shaquil Barrett. Either of them could start on other teams, but Denver’s lucky enough to bring them in as backups and fresh legs whenever needed.
In the first quarter during the Broncos 23-20 victory over the Vikings, Ray got some time to play, and he also wound up with the first NFL sack of his career.
https://twitter.com/oscargambler/status/650774987310153728
Ray went inside the tackle with speed as opposed to around the edge and was able to fool the would-be blocker with his explosiveness off the line.
The former SEC Defensive Player of the Year now has three total tackles and the sack on the season, seeing limited action with the 33-year old Ware playing at a Pro Bowl level in his 11th season.
But it’s a positive sign of things to come for Broncos fans with Ray likely to get more playing time in the future. Denver is stacked with edge-rushers and will be for years to come.
