The Denver Broncos didn’t just lose to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday - they got outplayed, outcoached, and out-executed across the board. The 34-spot Jacksonville dropped on them wasn’t just a bad day at the office - it was a wake-up call, and the Broncos defense knows it. Linebacker Nik Bonitto, one of the team’s most promising young pass rushers, didn’t sugarcoat his performance.
“I don’t think I played to my standard,” Bonitto admitted after the game. He’s now gone two straight games without a sack, and while stats don’t always tell the full story, his frustration was clear. “I can play much better.”
Bonitto’s not alone in feeling that way. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has done solid work over the course of the season, but Sunday was a different story.
The Broncos couldn’t generate consistent pressure on Trevor Lawrence, and the tackling in the secondary was a glaring issue. The Jaguars took full advantage, especially in the middle of the field - a soft spot that’s been exploited time and again this season.
Joseph acknowledged the challenge of defending this deep into the season, when every team has plenty of tape to study and weaknesses are no longer secrets.
“For all of us playing defense in the last month of the season, it’s tough because it’s 14, 15 games of tape out there,” Joseph said. “Everyone’s giving you their best stuff versus what you don’t do as well.”
That’s the reality of the NFL grind - if you don’t fix your flaws, opponents will keep hammering away at them. And for the Broncos, one of those recurring flaws has been defending tight ends and running backs over the middle.
It’s not a new issue. It’s been a problem since Week 2, when the Colts exposed it, and it’s lingered ever since.
The Broncos’ inability to create turnovers is another issue that’s starting to pile up. Sunday marked the seventh game this season without a takeaway - a troubling stat for a defense that prides itself on aggression.
As it stands, Denver sits 20th in the league in turnover margin. That’s not the kind of number that wins you games in December.
And then there are the penalties. Fifty defensive flags this season - most in the NFL.
That’s not just a discipline issue; it’s a momentum killer. When you’re already struggling to get off the field, giving away free yards only makes the hill steeper.
Head coach Sean Payton didn’t pull any punches in his postgame comments. He made it clear: this wasn’t a fluke. It was a full-blown letdown.
“I said this to the team: ‘Part of this process is not fooling ourselves,’” Payton said. “They beat us tonight. They beat us good in all three areas, and it starts with me.”
That’s a coach owning it, but also sending a message. The Broncos got handled - offense, defense, and special teams.
And now, with a short week ahead, there’s no time to sulk. They’ve got to regroup, reassess, and respond - fast.
“We have to coach better. We have to look at what we’re doing,” Payton added. “We have to make sure we’re not doing too much, and we have to do that all on a quick turnaround.”
For a team still trying to find consistency down the stretch, Sunday’s loss was a reminder of how thin the margin for error really is. The Broncos have shown flashes this season, but if they want to stay in the fight, they’ll need more than flashes. They’ll need answers - and they’ll need them now.