Broncos Defense Slipping-Again-and December’s Looking Familiar
It’s starting to feel like a rerun in Denver-and not the good kind. For the second straight year, the Broncos defense is faltering when it matters most, and the timing couldn’t be worse.
Last season, they were lights out early on. But after Thanksgiving, the wheels came off.
They gave up 32 to the Browns, 34 to the Chargers, 30 to the Bengals, and then 31 more to the Bills in a playoff loss. Fast forward to this December, and the same cracks are starting to show.
Let’s talk numbers. The Commanders dropped 26 on them-with a backup quarterback.
The Packers? Same story: 26 points.
And then came Sunday, when the Jaguars lit them up for 34.
Since their bye week, Denver’s defense has had just one solid outing-and that came against the Raiders, a team not exactly known for lighting up the scoreboard. That’s not the kind of resume you want heading into the most critical stretch of the season.
What’s more troubling is how these games are playing out. Washington’s Marcus Mariota led a late-game drive that nearly flipped the outcome. If not for a missed two-point conversion, the Broncos might’ve walked off with a loss to a team led by a backup QB.
Then in Week 15, Jordan Love came out firing. Green Bay scored on its first five possessions, and Denver’s defense had no answers.
The very next week? Trevor Lawrence followed the same script-five straight scoring drives after the Jaguars fell behind 10-7.
By the time Denver found its footing, Jacksonville had built a 34-17 lead.
This isn’t just a bad game or two. It’s a trend. And it’s one that’s all too familiar.
The Broncos’ inability to get off the field is becoming a serious liability. Jacksonville converted eight of 15 third downs.
Denver didn’t force a single turnover. No momentum-shifting plays.
No big stops. Just long drives and mounting pressure.
And that raises the stakes for what’s ahead. The regular-season finale against the Chargers could decide both the AFC West and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. But with the way Denver’s defense is playing, slowing down Justin Herbert and that high-powered offense feels like a tall order.
And if they make the postseason? It doesn’t get any easier.
Think about the quarterbacks they could face: Josh Allen, Drake Maye, Aaron Rodgers, C.J. Stroud, Herbert again, and Trevor Lawrence.
Most of those matchups would likely be on the road. That’s a gauntlet for any defense-let alone one that’s struggling to string together stops.
Vance Joseph has some serious work to do. The Broncos need answers, and they need them fast. Because if this defense doesn’t turn things around, it could cost them everything they’ve worked for-a division title, a first-round bye, and maybe even a chance to make real noise in the playoffs.
There is a short-term reprieve on the horizon. Denver gets a bit of a break on Christmas Day, facing a Chiefs team down to its third-string quarterback. Chris Oladokun isn’t exactly Patrick Mahomes, and that might be just what this defense needs to reset.
But that’s the last breather. After Kansas City, it’s nothing but contenders. And if the Broncos don’t tighten things up on defense, they’re not just risking a playoff letdown-they’re staring down another wasted opportunity.