Broncos Defense Makes NFL History in London
There were a lot of superlatives being thrown around about the Denver Broncos defense after a 13-11 Week 6 win over the New York Jets in London. The type of things that might lead us to believe this group might be even more special than we already thought.
“The Broncos sacked Justin Fields 9 times and allowed just 9 completions,” The 33rd Team wrote on its official X account. “This was the 5th time since 2000 that a defense recorded 9+ sacks while allowing less than 10 completions.”
In a season full of stifling efforts, the Broncos’ defense still managed to somehow wow audiences with 9 sacks — including what proved to be a game-winning sack by Jonathon Cooper
That might not have even been the most impressive part of the day for the Broncos’ defense — that would be Denver cornerback and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year
Surtain held Jets star Garrett Wilson to just 3 receptions for 13 yards on 8 targets. Wilson entered the game leading the AFC in receiving yards.
“It’ss just knowing my assignments, knowing how to utilize what I do well,” Surtain told The NFL Network after the Broncos’ third consecutive win. “Garrett is a great player and I have respect for him, but I hold my own at end of the day. That’s what they pay me to do.”
The ninth(!) sack for the #Broncos defense is the one that seals it.
Broncos Stun Social Media With Stifling Defense
The Broncos allowed just 82 yards of total offense and the Jets went 2-of-15 on third downs. Denver’s 9 sacks upped their season total to an NFL leading 30.0 sacks through 6 games. The Broncos led the NFL with 63 sacks in 2024.
“The Broncos are the ninth defense in NFL history, and just the second since 2000, to record 30+ sacks through six games,” The 33rd Team wrote on X. “The 2013 Chiefs were the last team to reach that milestone.”
With the 9 sack for negative-55 yards, the Jets ended up with negative-10 passing yards.
“Broncos defense gave up -10 pass yards and had 9 sacks vs Jets,” former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel
“NINE sacks by the Broncos defense today,” Fantasy Pros’ Chase Workman wrote on X. “93 sacks since the start of the 2024 season 31 more than the next closest team in that time span.”
“The Broncos defense better get first class treatment the entire flight home,” Mile High Sports reporter Cody Roark wrote on his official X account. “They single handedly won this game. Held the Jets to eight first downs, 82 total yards, and 2-of-15 on third down and the offense and special teams nearly cost them.”
“Defense wins championships,” A to Z Sports wrote on its official X account. “What a day from (defensive coordinator) Vance Joseph and the Broncos D.”
Bonitto One of NFL Defensive POY Favorites
Headed into Week 6,
Bonitto signed a 4-year, $106 million contract extension on September 4 and was an NFL Defensive POY finalist in 2024.
Phillies had no answer as Dodgers managed their biggest weakness perfectly
The Philadelphia Phillies had a path to win the National League Division Series before it began. The Los Angeles Dodgers came in as the defending World Series champions, but they had holes in their roster as much as anyone else. They had a leaky bullpen going into the playoffs, but you wouldn't know it with how well the Dodgers managed their bullpen throughout the four games.
The Dodgers' bullpen was the part of the roster the Phillies' offense had to get to in order to succeed. As long as the Phillies could hang in against the Dodgers' starting pitching, they'd have a chance in the later innings. The Dodgers made adjustments with a shortened playoff series and outlasted the Phillies to win the series.
Dodgers managed their bullpen to perfection in NLDS to shut down Phillies
The top of the lineup had to apply pressure for the Phillies to have a chance in the series, but they instead made the eight runs they scored in Game 3 look more like a fluke. In Game 4, the top three hitters of Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper sang a familiar tune, going a combined 1-for-14. As a team, they only scratched across four hits total. The Dodgers' bullpen came out on top in the end.
In the regular season, the Dodgers' bullpen ranked 21st with a bullpen ERA of 4.27. Ironically enough, they finished tied with the Phillies. They also had a 10.38 ERA over the two Wild Card games against a Cincinnati Reds offense that didn't impose any substantial threat. The Dodgers learned from that and approached things differently once they played the Phillies.
The Dodgers barely used traditional relievers for the entire four-game NLDS. They leaned heavily on extra starters to get the job done, and unfortunately, it worked to perfection. The one thing that few teams in MLB can go toe-to-toe with the Dodgers on is the depth of their starting rotation.
Roki Sasaki, a rookie who sported a 4.46 ERA across 10 games (eight starts) this season, was moved to the bullpen for the playoffs. He proceeded to throw 4 1/3 shutout innings against the Phillies, including three perfect innings in the clinching Game 4.
The Dodgers also deployed Tyler Glasnow and Emmet Sheehan out of the bullpen, limiting any threat the Phillies thought they could muster late in games. The only real success the Phillies had against the Dodgers' bullpen was facing 37-year-old Clayton Kershaw when he was hung out to dry in Game 3 and against Blake Treinen, who they scored twice against in Game 2 but ultimately fell one run short of a comeback.
The beauty and agony of a short playoff series is that every moment is amplified. Every game means more, and as a result, teams manipulate their pitching staffs to minimize any weakness. The Dodgers did it well and showed the Phillies the door in another early playoff exit.
