The Denver Broncos' pass rush has been nothing short of relentless this season - and now, with just two games left on the schedule, they’re knocking on the door of NFL history. Denver leads the league in both sacks and quarterback hits, and they’re closing in fast on a record that’s stood tall since 1984: the single-season team sack record set by the legendary “Monsters of the Midway” Chicago Bears.
That iconic Bears defense racked up 72 sacks in a 16-game season - a mark that’s been untouched for over four decades. But these Broncos?
They’re sitting just 10 sacks shy of that number after dropping the Jaguars’ quarterback five times last week. And with two games left, Denver’s ferocious front has a real shot to etch its name into the record books.
The first opportunity comes on Christmas Day against the Kansas City Chiefs, who are down to their third-string quarterback, Chris Oladokun. With both Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew sidelined by knee injuries in consecutive weeks, Oladokun is expected to get the nod.
He was sacked four times in relief against Tennessee - and that’s worth noting, considering Denver has nearly double the sack total of the Titans (63 to 38). If Oladokun struggled to stay upright against Tennessee, Denver’s pass rushers are likely licking their chops.
Then comes Week 18 and a matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. Justin Herbert will be under center, but he’s been operating behind a patchwork offensive line that’s struggled to keep him clean.
Denver got to Herbert five times back in Week 3, and over the last month, he’s been sacked 14 times. For the season, he’s been taken down 49 times - the third-most in the NFL.
In other words, the Broncos won’t be short on chances to add to their sack total.
Now, it’s worth pointing out that the Bears set their record in a 16-game season, while Denver gets the benefit of a 17th game - a wrinkle that’s going to come up more often as modern teams chase down marks set in a different era. But regardless of the schedule, what Denver’s defense has done this year is impressive.
It’s not just one or two stars doing the damage, either. This is a full-squad effort: six Broncos have at least four sacks, and nine have three or more - both tops in the league.
This isn’t just a defense that’s playing well. It’s a unit that’s swarming, punishing, and dictating games. And with two more quarterbacks in vulnerable situations up next, the question isn’t so much if Denver will break the sack record - it’s when.