The Broncos have the kind of defense that can make a team dangerous in January. They’re 6-2, sitting atop the AFC West after beating the Chiefs, and heading into Week 9 against the Panthers there’s plenty to like about Denver.
But there’s also one number Sean Payton clearly doesn’t love.
ESPN’s Jeff Legwold pointed to the Broncos’ defensive snap total as a real concern, calling it a “red flag” for a unit that has otherwise carried plenty of weight this season. Denver came into the week with 556 defensive snaps, which was the most in the NFL and 22 more than the next team.
“The defense has helped the team win five one-score games this season, but the workload is a bit of a red flag,” Legwold writes. “No team came into the week with as many defensive snaps as the Broncos (556) -- 22 more than the next team.”
That kind of usage is hard to ignore, even with a bye coming in Week 10. Alex Singleton has already logged 555 snaps, the most among defensive players this season, and that kind of pace is not something a team wants to keep asking for over a full year.
Payton didn’t sugarcoat it when asked about the stat.
"That's a stat I don't like. It's a stat that, on offense, we have to do a good job of possessing the ball. So that's something that we pay attention to."
And that’s really the heart of the issue. Denver’s defense has been on the field so much because the offense hasn’t held up its end nearly enough. Bo Nix and the Broncos offense have been underwhelming, especially when stacked against what they did a year ago.
If Denver wants to make a real push toward the playoffs, and maybe beyond that, the offense has to help change the equation. That could mean a move for Jonathan Taylor to give Nix a top-tier running back, or it could simply mean Nix takes a step forward.
Either way, the Broncos can’t keep leaning this hard on the defense forever. If the offense doesn’t start staying on the field, the wear and tear could catch up to a group that has already done a lot of heavy lifting.
Against a Panthers defense that has struggled this season, Week 9 gives Denver a chance to start easing that burden. The bye week should help, but the bigger fix has to come from the offense.
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