December 11th 2024.
The Denver Broncos' Week 13 win over the Cleveland Browns was full of thrills and excitement, but the team's defense is not letting that cloud their judgement. Despite playing a crucial role in securing the victory with three interceptions and two pick-6s, the defense holds themselves to a high standard and believes they did not meet that standard in the back-and-forth game. According to NFL's Next Gen Stats, the Broncos gave up a whopping 552 total yards, making it the third-highest yards allowed by any team this season.
With only four games left in the regular season and their postseason chances on the line, defensive lineman Zach Allen shared that the team has thoroughly analyzed both the good and bad from their game against the Browns. He believes that they have a solid plan in place to maintain their status as one of the top defenses in the league. "I think the guys came in with a great mindset on how to improve," Allen stated. "We have to give credit to Cleveland for having a strong game plan against us. However, a lot of it was also us not executing to our full potential. But we have discussed it and I feel confident that we have made the necessary adjustments."
Allen has been a key player in revamping Denver's defensive line after a tough season last year. According to Next Gen Stats, he has the most pressures and is ranked seventh in tackles among all defensive tackles in the league. As a team, the Broncos have generated the most sacks and pressures, making them a force to be reckoned with. However, Allen has noticed that opposing offenses are trying different strategies to prevent them from getting pressure on the quarterback.
In their game against the Browns, Allen was double-teamed on 38.3% of his pass-rush snaps, while defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers was double-teamed on 29.7% of his pass-rush snaps. According to Next Gen Stats, Allen has been double-teamed the sixth-most this season. "We have been successful, but in the past few weeks, we have noticed a lot of max protections, which is a testament to our skills," Allen acknowledged. "But we have to find a way to break through and get some pressure in those situations."
The secondary of the Broncos was perhaps the most frustrated after their previous game. They gave up a whopping 475 passing yards, which is the most in a single game in franchise history, according to Pro Football Reference. Miscommunication, a recurring issue for their secondary last year, led to frustration on the sidelines. However, cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian's pick-6 in the fourth quarter helped ease the tension.
In the last two games, the Broncos have given up an average of 387.5 passing yards, which is a concerning trend. Head coach Peyton believes that the key is to find ways to match their best players against the opposing team's top receiver. "There were a few things that we could have done better, not just on defense, but in all three phases of the game," Payton reflected. "We have to learn from our mistakes and improve."
Cornerback Pat Surtain II believes that the week off due to injuries to safety Brandon Jones and cornerback Riley Moss could be beneficial for the team as they enter a critical final stretch. If Moss, who sustained an MCL injury in Week 12, remains sidelined, rookie cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine could see more playing time after his impressive performance in the game against the Browns. Payton praised Abrams-Draine's effort and noted that he has become physically stronger since joining the team.
"We had a 13-week stretch without a bye week," Surtain shared. "It's important for us to get the rest we need and finish the season strong." In other news, the Broncos have signed 23-year-old linebacker K.J. Cloyd to their practice squad. Cloyd, an undrafted free agent, played three seasons at Louisville and one at Miami, where he recorded 44 tackles and two sacks in 13 games in 2023. For more updates on the Broncos, sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all the latest NFL analysis.
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