Broncos Defense Struggles Continue
NFL fans are criticizing the Denver Broncos defense for allowing high scores in their last six games: 27 points to Washington's backup QB, 24 to Seattle, 34 to Green Bay at home, 34 to Jacksonville, 20 to a weakened Chiefs team, and 19 to the Chargers' backups. The social media criticism highlights defensive consistency issues during their recent stretch. Chiefs fans are simultaneously reliving painful moments from recent games including muffed punts and fumbles.
- The defense is coordinated by Vance Joseph, who was re-hired by the team in February 2023 for his second stint in the role. - Deeper issues beyond the score count include a recent increase in missed tackles and communication breakdowns in coverage, leading to big plays for opponents. Players like Riley Moss, Alex Singleton, and Dre Greenlaw have been specifically cited as being at fault in recent weeks. - The defense leads the NFL in penalties, having been flagged 52 times, with 36 of those penalties resulting in an automatic first down for the opposing team. - While the pass rush has generated a league-leading 68 sacks on the season, the unit's effectiveness has dipped since their bye week, with the team averaging 1.5 fewer sacks per game. - Despite generating significant quarterback pressure throughout the season, the defense has struggled to create fumbles and takeaways, an issue that has persisted. - Defensive back Riley Moss was recently singled out for criticism by former Bronco and Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe, though statistics show Moss has allowed one of the league's lowest completion percentages when targeted this season. - The recent defensive collapse is a stark contrast to the unit's performance earlier in the 2025-2026 season, when they ranked third in the league for fewest points per game allowed and first in sacks.
