Mile High Report
The defense dominated and Bo Nix had himself a day
The Denver Broncos defense is currently third in points allowed per game at 15.0 just behind the second place Pittsburgh Steelers who have given up just one fewer point this season.
The Bronco defense is currently still leading the league in yards per play. They are second in sacks at 30, but the Giants, who are first, have not played yet this week. They currently have 31. With 30 sacks in 8 games, the Bronco D is on pace for 64 which would be a franchise record. This would be a new franchise record. The most sacks ever for a Bronco team was the 1984 team that had 57 (in 16 games). The NFL record is 72. That was also set in 1984, by the Bears. The 2022 Eagles came close to breaking that record by getting 70 sacks - albeit in 17 games. The most sacks by a recent Bronco D was 52 in 2015.
The Bronco defense has also now forced 12 turnovers in 8 games. That 1984 Bronco defense also forced what seems like an unreal number of turnovers, 55, in 16 games. The most forced by a Bronco D this century was 37 in 2001. The D is on pace to force 26 this season. That is pretty close to what the No Fly Zone forced in 2015 and 2016 (27 turnovers). The 2023 Bronco defense forced 26 with 16 of those coming during the five-game win streak in the middle of the season.
Last season had many games where the Bronco defense did not force any turnovers (five games). So far this season only two of eight games did not have a turnover forced by the defense and both of those were losses (PIT and LAC). The season high was three forced turnovers in a game (vs the Raiders). The next game might not feature any turnovers as the Ravens have only turned the ball over six times in eight games. The Chiefs have turned the ball over 11 times in seven games so the defense might be able to get some turnovers that game.
For the first time in his career Patrick Mahomes has more interceptions than turnovers this far into the season. He has 8 TD passes and 9 picks. His career high in picks was 14 last season. He looks to be on a pace to blow past that mark this season. The Chiefs are winning despite him, and not because of him, so far this season.
The 2024 Chiefs seem eerily similar to the 2015 Broncos. Both started the year 7-0 despite the play of the starting QB.
Compare the stat lines for Manning in his first seven starts in 2015 and Mahomes for his first seven starts in 2024
Manning threw the ball and more and was sacked 12 times to 4. Mahomes completed more of his passes, but I was surprised at how comparable their stat lines are through...
