Broncos Defense
Denver’s defense served as its calling card in 2024, allowing the third-fewest points per game (18.3) and the seventh-fewest yards per game (317.1). So far in 2025, the Broncos have allowed 22.0 points per game, good for 16th in the league, and are tied with the Bengals and Los Angeles Rams for the 10th-most takeaways (four).
The production starts up front, as Denver has posted the seventh-highest PFF pass-rush grade so far this season (75.4) and has 87 total pressures. The unit, headlined by edge rusher Nik Bonitto, is tied with the Rams for the most sacks through three weeks with 12. Bonitto has added three on his own, ranking in the top 10, and is 1.5 off the league leader Rashan Gary. On the other side, edge rusher Jonathon Cooper is right behind Bonitto with 16 pressures (Bonitto has 17). Both players rank in the top five of total pressures. The pass-rush group also added former 49er Dre Greenlaw in the offseason, but Greenlaw has yet to play this season with a quad injury.
Denver has allowed the 12th-most rushing yards per game so far in 2025 and gave up 165 yards to Colts RB Jonathan Taylor in Week 2. It also has 21 missed tackles in run defense over the first three weeks, including nine in last week’s loss to the Chargers, per PFF.
The secondary is anchored by 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II. Surtain has been targeted 15 times in the first three weeks and allowed 10 receptions after allowing 40 all of last season. When the Broncos came to Paycor Stadium last season in a Week 17 overtime thriller, Surtain held WR Ja’Marr Chase to three receptions for 27 yards on six targets.
In that same game, CB Riley Moss struggled to contain WR Tee Higgins, allowing seven receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns while covering the wideout, who scored three touchdowns in the win. The team drafted Texas CB Jahdae Barron in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but Moss has taken the majority of snaps early in the year, playing 133 coverage snaps to Barron’s 35.