The Broncos’ defense is winning the turnover battle in a way it simply couldn’t last season, and Vance Joseph says the formula starts with confusion.
Through six games, Denver has piled up seven interceptions. At the same point a year ago, it had only one. That jump has helped carry the Broncos past their offensive issues and into Sunday’s road matchup with the Arizona Cardinals at 4-2.
The Broncos’ total puts them tied with Jacksonville and Seattle for second in the NFL, according to NFL.com’s defensive statistics. Only the Green Bay Packers, with nine, are ahead of them.
Joseph pointed to a mix of disguised coverages, quarterback pressure and defenders capitalizing when the ball is in the air. That blend showed up most vividly against Sam Darnold, whom Denver intercepted twice. The biggest takeaway came in overtime, when Ja’Quan McMillian picked off Darnold and set up Wil Lutz’s winning 53-yard field goal.
After the game, Joseph broke down the key snap for Emmanuel Acho.
"It was a Cover 2 trap; we showed him a single high, and rolled to a Cover 2 on the snap,"
The Broncos had spent much of the game using coverage built to slow Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. But once Seattle adjusted its passing game, Joseph shifted the look. Denver first presented a single-high safety shell, then rotated into Cover 2 at the snap, presenting Darnold with a picture that wasn’t really there.
McMillian recognized it and jumped in front of a pass meant for Rashid Shaheed, flipping possession into Seattle territory.
The pressure up front made life even harder for Darnold. Denver got to him five times and hit him 17 times, keeping him under constant stress.
McMillian’s playmaking has also become a real part of the conversation, with his impact strengthening the case that he deserves a contract extension.
For a Broncos team that is still trying to find its footing on offense, takeaways have become a major reason it keeps winning.
In Other News...
Broncos Suddenly Have A Week 7 Availability Problem To Watch
The Broncos' Week 7 prep against the Cardinals brought a little good news on the injury front, with running back Jonah Coleman and cornerback Riley Moss both getting full work in practice. Defensive end Zach Allen also moved up to full participation after a rest day, which at least gives Denver a cleaner picture on one side of the ball as it gets closer to game day in Arizona.
The bigger availability concern is starting to form elsewhere, where the Broncos are watching a growing list of defensive absences and near-absences develop around the matchup. Denvers injury report has shifted enough that the final Friday update now matters a lot, especially with a couple of notable names trending in the wrong direction as the Broncos try to avoid losing more depth before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Suddenly Have A Trade Deadline Question Fans Can't Ignore
The Colts front office shakeup has put one of the leagues more intriguing trade-deadline names back in the conversation, and it is the kind of development Broncos fans have learned to watch closely. With Indianapolis moving on from general manager Chris Ballard, there is suddenly more uncertainty around how aggressively the team might approach the deadline, especially if it chooses to reshuffle parts of the roster instead of riding out the season as-is.
Jonathan Taylor is the player drawing the most attention, but for now it remains only that - attention. Multiple teams are said to be interested, and Denver is one of the clubs being mentioned as a possible fit if Indianapolis decides to move him, yet no deal has been confirmed. Taylor, for his part, has said he is locked in on the season and has not given the rumors any thought, which leaves the Broncos and everyone else waiting to see whether this turns into a real deadline story. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos' 4-2 Start Can't Hide One Growing Problem
The Broncos have put together a 4-2 start, but the running game has remained a nagging issue through the first six weeks of the 2026 season. J.K. Dobbins has not matched the production the team needs, leaving Denvers offense leaning more heavily than it would like on the passing game while the ground attack searches for some consistency.
Help may be close at hand, at least from inside the building, with rookie Jonah Coleman expected back from injured reserve this week. Denver also has a ticking clock in the background with the trade deadline approaching, and if the rushing numbers do not turn quickly, the front office could be pushed to explore the market for a bigger swing at running back. [Read more 🡒]