In my opinion, the pass rush is far superior this season than in 2015 and I’d give the 2015 secondary the edge over 2025
In my opinion, the pass rush is far superior this season than in 2015 and I’d give the 2015 secondary the edge over 2025
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Not one bit, 2015 is the greatest D in modern NFL history.
I legit watched 2015 Super Bowl this morning lol. Almost impossible to comprehend that D. Just wow.
2015 defense put up points
Secondary and linebackers aren’t quite as good but with Greenlaw in there that could change
The 2015 secondary more than edges out the 2025. It allowed less yards per game albeit only 7 yards less per game but it was taking the ball away too. This year the team isn’t getting many turnovers at all comparative to 2015
2015 defense had a takeaway every game it felt like, not enough turnovers for them to even be close imo
2015 D and it’s not really close.
The 2015 team was fortunate to not have many injuries. We can only hope for the same this year. Both defenses were sparkling good.
Similar but 2015 have better coverage backers and overall secondary.
2025’s D wouldn’t be able to score more points than 2015’s D.
Also the only great QBs our 25’ D has faced have been Jalen Hurts and Justin Herbert imo. They did a great job keeping us in the game to get the offense and special teams in good positions. But 15’ would have so many fumble returns TDs and pick 6s against them on top of tackles/sacks that the offense wouldn’t be too relevant.
The 2nd half of the season will be a great test for our 25’ D. For how often I bash Mahomes, I think he is a good litmus test of what an elite D looks like vs a great D (pause). I’m hoping to watch myself eat my words soon.
Love hufanga and Jones but they aren’t TJ and Darian yet. Riley Moss isn’t Chris Harris. Bonitto and Coop aren’t on the level of Miller and Ware, and finally and most importantly our ILB unit is not in the same stratosphere as Marshall and Trevathan.
BUT I do think they have the potential to get there. There are two areas we are stronger: interior d line and a marginally more capable offense due to superior offensive coaching + Nix being athletic and a gamer
I know this is about the defense but the offense being better than the 2015 offense does help the defense
The best comp is our 2015 team when Osweiler was playing, except Nix has shown more potential to rise above the title of game manager
2015 played much *much* better QBs and was still superior.
2015 team created a lot of turnovers and scored a lot of defensive TDs, which carried them through a number of games that season.
It is hard to pick against a defense that we have seen win a Super Bowl while carrying an offense that gave the absolute minimum of help, while sometimes not giving any help at all.
This 2025 defense probably is a bit more deep on the DL, but the edges were better for 2015 with Von, D Ware and Shaq Barrett.
To me 2015 is the best defense I’ve ever seen for our team and def is an all time great defense. And I really started believing that when I saw Peyton throw a pick to the hapless Browns in OT about a couple yards away from fg range for them.
In 3 plays the Defense pulverized the offense so badly they had lost about 15-20something yards and were completely out of fg range. Offense got the ball back and we won.
Still one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen, regardless of how bad the Browns were
2015 team gave up fewer yards but more points. They also had a penchant for making big plays. They scored TDs on interception or fumble returns in 5 games (all wins), 4 of which were single-score games. In two of those games, the defensive score was the eventual game-winning score, and in one of the games, it came with a two-point lead late in the game and proved to the difference when the opponent scored later. In the other close game, the defensive TD came early in the game, but made up for some ass offense for most of the game, which the Broncos squeaked by with FG in OT to win.
2015 turnover machine 2025 sack machine
We had Ware and Von Miller. We had more power on the edge to go with our speed.
This D is near worst in the league at takeaways.
They both share the burden of carrying bad offenses. I think it’s hard to characterize, but there was an urgency with the 2015 defense that I don’t sense with the 2025 defense. Getting rings for Manning and Ware, the scars from consecutive disappointing playoff exits, the 2015 defense carried all of that, and it culminated in humbling a dominant Carolina team so soundly that their historic season is simply lost to history. The 2015 defense played like they knew the window was closing and they couldn’t waste it.
This 2025 defense is very reminiscent (for me at least) of the 2011 defense (granted a much better version of it). It’ll be interesting and easier to compare as this season plays out.
I think we’re about to find out this one is not on the same level. This defense has lapses in coverage on tight ends and running backs, and plays too soft a zone.
We have played very few quality quarterbacks and offenses so far this season. KC is about to be a serious litmus test, and I’m afraid it’s going to be a reality check.
I think the main knock on this unit is the lack of turnovers but i don’t think it’s entirely fair to compare them right now as we know the full story of the 2015 unit and this current team is in the middle of writing its own story.
The 2015 D was really good and I remember there being a bunch of games where it came up big in crucial moments, but it cemented its status and place in history in January. The Roby fumble against Pittsburgh, the Von Miller pick against NE and the overall destruction job in Santa Clara (where I think the Talib facemask was the key play as it set the tone) are moments that will stay with me forever and the current unit is lacking those, but I first want to see their story in its entirety before I make my call.
Overall, however, I think this current team reminds me more of 2005 than 2015. A good team that tends to come through when it matters, but yet it all feels a little fragile and nobody should be surprised if it all implodes at one point.
2025 defense is great at locking the opponent down and minimizing points. 2015 got after the ball and created lots of turnovers and defensive points.
I agree.
i’m starting to think half of you weren’t alive for 2015 🤣
2015 had less sacks but way more turnovers. It’s the turnovers 2025 needs to generate to be comparable to the 2015 defense.
2015 broncos were the best defense of all time so that’s a tough comparison. This team would need to start getting pick sixes and sweep the chiefs to compare
Pass rush slight better 2015. Secondary equal I’d say especially with surtain. We were more rounded 2015. This year gets it done but I feel like we have holes that could be exploited at some point.
The 2015 defense can force turnovers
The 2025 defense can force sacks and are on pace for a record setting season but can’t force turnovers
Season isn’t over. Slow your roll. The 2015 squad gets overlooked as a legendary defense.
No fly zone!!!!! Compared to give up a lot of yardage in this zone, 2015 produced turnovers 2025 are sacking machines
2015 defense spot the offense at least 7. The 2015 defense created turnovers. This defense is awesome but needs more turnovers
The 2025 dline is fucking filthy though.
The 2015 secondary is better by a wide margin. Talib, roby, CHJ were 3 starting caliber CBs. I’ll take them over anyone under PS2
Turn overs, 2015 defense was literally ripping the ball out of players hands
peyton that year had like 17 interceptions in what? like 8 games? to 9 touchdowns. that 2015 defense always got the shit end of the stick, and would still win the game for us. i know the broncos offense is under scrutiny right now, but they’re not half as bad as that offense in 2015. peyton provided great leadership, and made plays when it counted, but not much else. This 2025 team plays complimentary football for the most part. maybe like 60-40 defense to offense. that 2015 team was like 85-15 defense to offense
2015 defense could literally take over a game like the Super Bowl. 2025 team can dominate players but nit an entire team.
[The 2025 defense](https://www.nfeloapp.com/teams/den/2025/) has an EPA/play of -0.05 (more negative is better) which is only 9th best in the league this year. Although this doesn’t have the raiders game factored in yet so it will improve a bit. [The 2015 defense](https://www.nfeloapp.com/teams/den/2015/) was -0.15 which was #1 that year and a historically good number. Other efficiency metrics such as dvoa back up the 2015 defense being a top 5 all time defense.
https://preview.redd.it/ywsu4q5f150g1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=8805a777b7bd38d5e275574bdae8f6b0b38a4f00
Not even close
I think Allen is better than Wolfe was. The interior dline is better this year but Miller and ware were better. Surtain is better than any of the cbs 2015 had but as a group the cbs in the no fly zone were better than the current group. Hufanga and jones are about on par with ward and Stewart in 2015, hufanga might be the better. Haven’t seen enough of greenlaw to say anything about him but the linebackers were better in 2015. Singleton is a dawg but he’s not at their level. This year has decent depth and contributors like Ellis, but 2015 was a deep team.
2015 was just so dominant
Damn, you just made me think of the Roby scoop and score against the chiefs. That defense was truly unstoppable.
There’s no comparison. That 2015 defense was the greatest of all time.