Mile High Report
The Denver Broncos just defeated the Kansas City Chiefs for the second time in a row. A two-game win-streak against the Chiefs hasn’t happened since the 2014 season. The Broncos have now won eight straight and own the best record in the NFL. Two things that haven’t happened in a long time. The Broncos haven’t had the best record in the NFL this late in the season since the 2013 season when the Broncos were also 9-2 after 11 games. The Broncos have two blowout wins and the other nine games have been decided by one score (8 or fewer points). Denver is now 7-2 in one score games. With win margins of 8, 4, 2, 1, 3, 3, and 3.
The defense is still leading the league in sacks despite only having three against Patrick Mahomes. The Orange Rush has 49 sacks in 11 games or 4.5 per game. They are still on pace for 76 sacks which would set the NFL record, but in 17 games. The 84 Bears set the current record of 72 in 16 games. They have 15 more sacks than the second place Falcons and the difference between first and second is more than the 49ers have for the season (12).
The Bronco defense has only allowed 17 TDs in 11 games. In the Super Bowl era the fewest TDs allowed was 14 by three teams in the 70s (when there were only 14 regular season games). The modern era record was 18 allowed by the 2000 Ravens. The fewest TDs allowed by a Bronco team this century was 29 by the 2006 Broncos. This Bronco defense is on pace to allow 26 total TDs which would rank 26th this century.
Barring a total collapse by the defense down the stretch this will be one of the best Bronco defenses of all time, if not THE BEST in Bronco history.
In addition to having the best pass rush in the league, the Broncos have the #1 run defense (allowing a league best 3.6 YPC) and are 4th in passer rating allowed (78.2). The only thing this defense has not done well is force turnovers. They are near the bottom of the league with 9. The Bears have forced 22. The Jets have forced one. The Bronco D is 3rd in points allowed (17.5) and is leading the league in YPP allowed at 4.57. They also lead the league in Red Zone TD% allowed at 35.7%. The Giants are the worst at 73.7%.
Similar to the 2015 season, the Bronco offense has been doing just enough to win, particularly in the 4th quarter. The Broncos are tied for 16th with the Eagles at 23.4 PPG. They are 7th in point DIFFERENCE at 65. What’s odd is that almost all of the point difference is from the 4th quarter.
Many of the seasons when the Bronco D didn’t allow many touchdowns, the Broncos made the playoffs and advanced. The 1982 team needs to be removed since...
