The Broncos have spent three weeks trying to sort out a messy start, but one defensive problem from last season is already looking a lot better.
Denver is 2-1 for the first time in the Sean Payton era after a rough opening stretch that included a loss to Kansas City in Week 1 before home wins over Jacksonville and Los Angeles in Weeks 2 and 3. The record is solid.
The process has been uneven. The defense has had trouble slowing the run, and the offense has been stuck in neutral in the first half.
It’s the kind of 2-1 that comes with plenty to clean up.
Still, there’s one clear bright spot: turnovers.
Through three games, Denver has forced four takeaways, and every one of them has been an interception. That already matches the Broncos’ turnover total from the first three games of 2025, but there’s a big difference.
Last year, the team didn’t pick off its fourth pass until Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys. This season, it got there immediately.
The Broncos have also forced a turnover in every game so far, something they managed in only four of their first nine games last year. Brandon Jones delivered the interception in Week 1.
Riley Moss got one in Week 2. Then Talanoa Hufanga came away with two in Week 3.
That production puts Denver at the top of the league with four interceptions, and it lines up with another encouraging number: opponents are posting just a 74.3 passer rating against the Broncos, which ranks third-best in the NFL.
There hasn’t been a fumble recovery yet, but the takeaway trend is exactly what Denver needed after last season’s struggles. The Broncos finished 2025 with just 10 interceptions, and they’re already nearly halfway to that total after three weeks. They’re on pace for 23 this year.
It’s still early, but the direction is obvious. Even if Denver gives up something with the departures of John Franklin-Myers and Jonathon Cooper, the defense may be making it back in turnovers. And if that keeps up through the toughest part of the schedule, the picture could look even better once the opponents get easier later in the season.
In Other News...
Broncos Could Get A Dangerous Weapon Back Just In Time
Marvin Mims Jr. was back on the practice field in full Wednesday, a welcome sign for a Broncos offense that has been waiting to get one of its more explosive pieces back in the mix. The second-year wide receiver missed the last two games because of a foot injury, and his return to full participation suggests Denver may be getting close to restoring a dangerous vertical threat just in time for a matchup with the 49ers.
The Broncos will still have to wait for the rest of the week before anything is official, but Mims availability is suddenly a storyline worth watching. If he can keep trending in the right direction, Denver could have a timely boost in a game where every bit of speed and spacing matters. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Get Early Injury Relief Before A Huge 49ers Test
The Broncos got a little encouraging injury news early in the week as they began preparing for a tough test against the 49ers. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was back on the practice field after previously being seen in a walking boot, and Marvin Mims Jr. also logged a full session after being limited and then inactive for a game. Running back J.K. Dobbins was another welcome sight, practicing in full despite the hip issue that had been hanging over him.
There were still a few spots to monitor, though. Edge rusher Dondrea Tillman sat out with a hamstring issue, even if he was around the team, and defensive lineman Zach Allen was limited as the Broncos managed his workload for rest. With San Francisco looming, Denvers early-week health picture is trending in the right direction, but the availability of a few key pieces will still matter as the week unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Week 4 Stock Report Reveals Who Denver Can Trust Right Now
With the Broncos sitting at 2-1 and coming off wins over a pair of teams that each won 12 games last season, the early-season picture in Denver is starting to sharpen. A Week 4 stock report before the matchup with the San Francisco 49ers gives a useful snapshot of where the trust level stands right now, spotlighting the players who have helped steady the offense and those whose snaps have been harder to forecast from week to week.
Tim Bryant, Jalen Moss and Courtland Sutton are among the names drawing the most attention, because each has shown enough positive play to matter in the bigger conversation about who Denver can lean on. The bigger issue for the Broncos is not just who has flashed, but who has done it consistently enough to earn a larger role, and that remains the question hanging over this group as the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]