Washington Commanders outside linebacker Von Miller joined 105.7 to talk about what sticks out about Denver, his days playing with the Broncos, what the issues with the 2025 season has been and why injuries "just took its toll on our team"
Washington heads into Sunday night as a 6.5-point home underdog with the first matchup between the two teams since 2023. There will be at least a bit of familiarity for the Commanders defense with outside linebacker Von Miller set to face the team he starred for 11 seasons where the former first-round selection went on to win a Super Bowl, become the Defensive Rookie of the Year selection and a three-time first-team All-Pro selection.
Miller admitted “I’d be lying and saying if I said I don't have a special place in my heart for the Denver Broncos” with familiar faces still inside the franchise.
“But I still love those guys over there. Courtland Sutton is one of my good friends, and Gary Bose is one of my good friends. Patrick Surtain [Jr.], I was there when he got drafted. So I still got a lot of connections over there,” Miller said on 105.7 on Tuesday. “I'm not about to cry and won't be able to play in the game because I'm so emotional. That's not gonna happen.”
Miller will have an additional chip on his shoulder with a chance to record his first sack against Denver, but the defense already has its work cut out for themselves. Washington ranks 31st in yards allowed per game (387), 29th in passing yards allowed (249.5) and 28th in points allowed (26.9).
Head coach Dan Quinn tried to jumpstart a change after the 44-22 loss vs. Detroit in a game the Lions didn't punt, but Miller admitted he “didn’t feel a difference” after the coaching shakeup.
“That's just my opinion. I feel like the problems that we're having is within the players and it's for us to figure out. There is no magic call. There is no magic scheme. I've always felt like [Dan Quinn] has done a great job coaching and coach [Joe] Whitt [Jr.] has done a great job coaching.”
“When he came down to the field, I didn't see a difference there. I didn't see a difference when he was in the booth. I don't think that that's where our problems lie, whether we had a defensive coordinator on the field or not, or whether DQ is calling to play. The problems that we're having are with within the players and it's us on the players to really figure that out.”
Miller pointed to inconsistency across the board amid the six-game losing streak, later noting the injury bug “just took its toll on our team.”
“That changes the way you call plays. It changes the schemes that you can put out there,” Miller added.
“I'm sure it's definitely mistakes, whether it's me on one play, and then the very next play, it's another guy, and then there's another guy on this play, there's another guy on this play. It’s kind of like that - we got to find ways to be solid for consistent plays on the football field. It's not a scheme thing, in my opinion. And I think the problems fall on the same thing is with the special teams, too, and the offense. Like it's this guy on this play, this guy on that play, instead of just having consistent plays where everybody is solid, I don't think - it's not a coaching call or play caller issue that we're having, in my opinion.”
Now, Washington will be tasked with slowing down a Denver team looking to become the second team to hit the ten-win mark in 2025. The Broncos enter Sunday with one of the NFL’s best defenses as one of three teams allowing under 90 rushing yards this season, but Miller knows the Commanders’ defense will have its hands full with second-year QB Bo Nix.
“Man, those guys are solid all over, and it's definitely led with Bo Nix. And I think guys really underestimated speed, man. He’s not like Lamar Jackson or anything like that but he's definitely up there. And he can throw, he can pass. He has moxie, as guys would say. He has this confidence about the offense, definitely runs through him. They got a solid run game. Offensive line is definitely a weapon for those guys, too. Courtland Sutton, he's playing - he's having an amazing season as well. So really, every single position group on their offense, they're doing a really good job.”