January 6th 2025.
When Pat Surtain II heard that the Broncos defense had ended the regular season with a league-leading 63 sacks, he couldn't believe it and asked for the number to be repeated. "Did you say sixty-? That's incredible!" Surtain exclaimed. He gave credit to his teammates, acknowledging their ability to relentlessly pursue the quarterback. As a result, Surtain and the rest of the defensive backs had an easier time in coverage, knowing their front line was creating pressure and taking down the opposing quarterback.
The Broncos' dominant performance in their 38-0 victory over the Chiefs at home on Sunday added to their impressive tally of sacks for the season, bringing them to a total of 14th place in NFL history. This was the sixth game in which the Broncos achieved five or more sacks, a testament to their consistently strong defense. Last week, they set a franchise record for most sacks in a season, and this week, outside linebackers Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper contributed to the already impressive total. It was fitting that both players had standout performances, as they have been integral to the team's success this season.
Cooper's sack of Chiefs quarterback Carson Wentz in the second quarter resulted in a 4-yard loss, while Bonitto, who was recently named to his first Pro Bowl, recorded two sacks of his own. These sacks helped the Broncos secure their spot in the playoffs after an eight-year drought. Cooper ended the season with 10.5 sacks, while Bonitto was among the league's top performers with 13. This marked the first time since 2018, when Von Miller and Bradley Chubb were both on the roster, that the Broncos had two players with double-digit sacks in a single season.
In addition to the five sacks against the Chiefs, the Broncos also recorded 17 pressures, which contributed to their overall success this season. Safety P.J. Locke praised the defensive line, saying, "They were a difference-maker this season. These dudes are unbelievable and always hungry." This level of confidence was evident in defensive tackle Malcolm Roach's postgame comments about their upcoming Wild Card game against the Bills. Despite facing an MVP-caliber quarterback in Josh Allen and one of the best offensive lines in the league, Roach believes that the Broncos' ability to rush the passer gives them a chance to come out on top. "Whenever you can affect the passer and protect our passer, you have a chance," Roach said.
Defensive tackle Zach Allen, who ended the season with 8.5 sacks, also highlighted the team's success in getting pressure on the quarterback. He pointed out that six players on the Broncos' defense had five or more sacks, and a total of 16 players had at least a half sack. He emphasized the camaraderie and support within the team, stating, "They genuinely care about each other's success... It's not like that everywhere, so it's pretty special to be a part of a group like that."
On the offensive side, second-year wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. continued his impressive late-season surge. In their game against the Chiefs, Mims caught a 32-yard screen pass from rookie quarterback Bo Nix for a touchdown, and later added a 7-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter. This brings his total to 13 catches, 154 yards, and four touchdowns in the last two games alone. These two games alone tripled Mims' career touchdown total, from two to six. For the season, Mims had 39 catches for 502 yards, with all but seven of those catches coming in the final eight games.
Mims credited the team's hunger and determination for their success, saying, "We're young and we're hungry. As hungry as we are, we're willing to go anywhere to go get it. We've battled all year. What sense does it make to stop now?" With the playoffs approaching, the Broncos are showing no signs of slowing down, and fans can expect to see more impressive performances from this talented and determined team.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
