The Denver Broncos are proving that they are legit playoff contenders with each passing week.
Denver outlasted the rival Kansas City Chiefs 22-19 in Week 11, kicking a game-winning field-goal as time expired. It was the Broncos’ seventh one-score victory, pushing them to 7-2 in those games. The Chiefs are now shockingly 0-5 in one-score games.
The Denver coaching staff made that a huge deal for the players to focus on after struggling in those kinds of games last season.
“Denver was 1-6 in one-score games last season, and [Zach] Allen told me the coaching staff made that a key point all offseason,” ESPN’s Dan Graziano wrote Wednesday. “The staff told the team that a focus on details and situational football would turn that around. This season, they're 7-2 in one-score games and currently the 1-seed in the projected AFC playoff field.”
One key to winning one-score games? Phenomenal defense. That’s just what the Broncos have with their unit, and Denver’s defense made Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes uncomfortable all night long.
Even without two stud defenders in star cornerback Pat Surtain II and linebacker Alex Singleton, Denver’s depth has been on full display.
“Playing without Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II (pectoral) and leading tackler Alex Singleton (surgery for testicular cancer), the Broncos still played smothering defense against Patrick Mahomes & Co. -- and they could get those guys back after their Week 12 bye.
“‘We're just really deep at every position group,’ defensive lineman Zach Allen, who has six of the Broncos' staggering 49 sacks this season, said. ‘We just have a lot of confidence in whoever we put out there." Defensive coordinator and former Broncos head coach Vance Joseph is rolling, and the guys who have played in his system for three years now are executing it at a high level. Allen called Joseph, ‘the ultimate professional. Probably the most consistent person in football.’”
Unfortunately for the Broncos and their defense, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is gaining interest as a head coach candidate after this season because of his success coaching this impressive unit.
Heading into their Week 12 bye, the Broncos are tied with the New England Patriots for the best record in the National Football League at 9-2. Denver holds a commanding two-game lead over the Los Angeles Chargers for first place in the American Football Conference West division.
Denver’s next matchup will be against the 3-8 Washington Commanders on the road in Week 13.