Broncos' Defense Hits a Wall Post-Bye: Nik Bonitto Calls for Urgency as Struggles Mount
The Denver Broncos defense has been a tale of two seasons - and the split came at the bye week.
Before the break, this unit looked like one of the league’s most disciplined and opportunistic defenses. Since then?
The wheels have started to wobble, and now they’re at risk of coming off entirely. And to his credit, linebacker Nik Bonitto isn’t sugarcoating it.
“We haven’t been playing our type of ball,” Bonitto said after Denver’s latest setback against Jacksonville. “We’ve got to get better.”
That’s not just a vague locker room cliché. The numbers back it up - and they’re hard to ignore.
In the four games since the bye, the Broncos have surrendered an average of 25.8 points per game. That’s a steep drop-off from the 17.5 they allowed through the first 11 contests.
That’s more than a touchdown difference - and it’s showing up in the win-loss column.
It’s not just that the Broncos have played some tough teams. Sure, the post-bye schedule hasn’t been a cakewalk.
But it’s not like they’ve been getting carved up by MVP candidates every week either. Case in point: Marcus Mariota - yes, the backup QB for the Commanders - lit up this defense in what was arguably his best outing as a pro.
That’s the kind of performance that raises red flags.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a second-half slide from this defense, either. Go back to last season - December hit, and the wheels started to come off.
The Lions and Patriots exposed some of the same issues we’re seeing now: poor tackling, blown coverages, and a noticeable drop in energy and execution. Then came the playoff game in Buffalo, where the defense simply didn’t have answers.
Right now, it’s a familiar script. The Broncos had a brief spark in the second half against Green Bay, but even then, they gave up far too many yards and points for a defense that’s supposed to be the backbone of this team.
The standard in Denver is high - and it should be. This group has the talent.
But lately, they’re not playing up to it.
The issues are all over the tape. Missed assignments.
Free runners in the secondary. Sloppy tackling.
Penalties that extend drives. And perhaps most concerning - a lack of takeaways.
When this defense is at its best, it’s creating chaos and flipping the field. Right now, it’s just trying to stay afloat.
And the ripple effect is real. When the defense falters, the offense feels the pressure to compensate.
That was clear against the Jaguars. Denver’s offense has bailed them out more than once this season, but on Sunday, they didn’t have the magic.
And the defense didn’t give them much margin for error.
Looking ahead, the Broncos have a Thursday night matchup against the Chiefs. On paper, this could be a chance to reset - Kansas City is expected to start third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun with both Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew sidelined. But while that might look like a get-right opportunity, it’s no guarantee.
The real test may not come until Week 18 against the Chargers. That game could serve as a crucial tune-up before the postseason, especially if Denver locks up the AFC West and gets a home playoff game.
But they can’t afford to coast into that matchup. Not with the way things have gone since the bye.
Last year, the Broncos hoped a soft Week 18 matchup would help them turn the corner. It didn’t. They got punched in the mouth in Buffalo and never recovered.
This season, the stakes are just as high - and the margin for error might be even slimmer.
Nik Bonitto’s words weren’t just frustration. They were a challenge - to himself, to his teammates, and to a defense that knows it can be better. Now it’s time to prove it.