ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos have set a new franchise record with 58 sacks, leading the NFL in this statistic as they gear up for a game on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. In that matchup, Carson Wentz will step in for Patrick Mahomes, who is resting along with other key players as the Chiefs prepare for the playoffs.
This season, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has emphasized a more aggressive strategy, and the results speak for themselves, as the Broncos have achieved the highest number of sacks in their 65-year history. They are currently averaging close to four sacks per game, showcasing a formidable defensive unit.
Outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper expressed his surprise and humility regarding this achievement, especially considering the many outstanding defensive players who have played for the Broncos. He believes that the team’s best performances are still ahead, and they remain eager to continue their development as athletes. “I just feel like the sky is the limit and this has given us a lot of confidence moving forward,” he mentioned.
This season, 15 different Broncos players have recorded at least one sack, with outside linebacker Nik Bonitto leading the pack at 11 1/2 sacks. He has become the first Denver defender to surpass ten sacks since 2018, and Cooper could join him with a strong performance against Wentz. Defensive end Zach Allen is also closing in on a personal best, reaching 8 1/2 sacks after his standout game against Joe Burrow last week, where he achieved a career-high of 3 1/2 sacks.
Allen’s two consecutive sacks on Burrow in overtime included a shared sack with fellow interior lineman John Franklin-Myers, marking the Broncos’ record-breaking 58th sack of the season, surpassing a record that had stood for four decades.
Despite the impressive record, the Broncos were not in a celebratory mood after the previous week’s loss to the Bengals, where Burrow led his team back from a seven-sack performance to a 30-24 victory in overtime, costing Denver a chance to clinch a playoff spot. “Joe is elite for a reason,” noted Allen. “There’s a reason why he got to the Super Bowl a couple years ago; give him credit. He’s a gamer.”
While Mahomes sits out this week, the Broncos (9-7) look to capitalize on their matchup against the Chiefs (15-1) to end an eight-year playoff drought. Wentz, starting in place of Mahomes, is looking to make a statement for a potential starting job in 2025.
This situation feels reminiscent of the previous year when Wentz took over for Matthew Stafford in the Rams’ season finale while both teams were secure in their playoff positions. Despite being limited to 163 passing yards and facing two sacks, he led the Rams to a narrow 21-20 victory, completing two touchdown passes and executing a crucial 2-point conversion.
A victory or tie for the Broncos would secure their place in the playoffs for the first time since their Super Bowl 50 victory in the 2015 season. That team is remembered for its legendary defense marked by the formidable “No Fly Zone” and the quarterback duo of DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller, who were instrumental in a unit that recorded 52 sacks, regarded as one of the best in franchise history.
This season has also seen two rookie Broncos, Ellis and Tillman, both accumulating five sacks. While Ellis was a seventh-round draft pick out of Utah, Tillman went undrafted coming from Indiana after playing for the Birmingham Stallions in the United Football League. Additionally, safety Justin Strnad has three sacks to his name, including one against Aaron Rodgers in his first NFL start.
