Opposing quarterbacks rarely leave games against the Broncos with clean jerseys.<\/p>\n
If Denver is going to beat Buffalo on Saturday at Empower Field at Mile High and make a run toward the Super Bowl in the coming weeks, Vance Joseph\u2019s defense is going to have to do a lot right.<\/p>\n
The Broncos will have to continue to be excellent on third down and in the red zone. They\u2019ll need to avoid the field-flipping pass-interference penalties that have cropped up from time to time. They could stand to take the ball away more frequently.<\/p>\n
More than perhaps anything else, though, they\u2019ll have to build on their historic season of sacking the quarterback.<\/p>\n
Joseph\u2019s group racked up a franchise-record 68 in 2025, besting last year\u2019s mark by five.<\/p>\n
They did it in just about every way imaginable. A whopping 17 players recorded at least half a sack, including 10 with three or more.<\/p>\n
They racked up 36 sacks on third and fourth downs alone, more than 11 teams managed as their season total. They logged 22 in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n
They did it on seven-man pressure and three-man rushes. Effective cage rushes and dynamic one-on-one wins. Meet-me-at-the-quarterback races and long, determined pursuits.<\/p>\n
They essentially ended a pair of potentially game-winning or game-tying drives with sacks in Week 1 vs. Tennessee and Week 6 against the New York Jets and put multiple more on ice in the waning minutes.<\/p>\n
To first-team All-Pro defensive tackle Zach Allen, there are four particularly impressive buckets of sacks.<\/p>\n
1) When multiple guys hit the quarterback together<\/p>\n
2) When you beat a particularly talented player<\/p>\n
3) When defending the red zone<\/p>\n
4) When the game is on the line<\/p>\n
\u201cThose are the ones that, the next day, you\u2019re like, \u2018(expletive) yeah,\u2019\u201d Allen said.<\/p>\n
The Broncos had multiple of each this year.<\/p>\n
Below is every sack recorded and insight on ones Denver defenders took particular joy in.<\/p>\n
No. 1 \u2014 OLB Nik Bonitto<\/p>\n
Opponent: Tennessee<\/p>\n
QB: Cam Ward<\/p>\n
Situation: Red zone, third-and-3, first quarter from Denver\u2019s 3-yard line to force a field goal<\/p>\n
No. 2 \u2014 OLB Jonathon Cooper<\/p>\n
Opponent: Tennessee<\/p>\n
QB: Ward<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-10, second quarter back to Tennessee\u2019s 1-yard line<\/p>\n
On a straight four-man rush, Cooper blew off the line of scrimmage so fast that Titans right tackle JC Latham was immediately beaten. He barely laid a hand on Cooper, who bent inside and crushed Ward along the goal line. Cooper didn\u2019t get credit for a safety, but he helped set the tone for the season.<\/p>\n
Rookie OLB Que Robinson: \u201cYeah, that was a pretty good one for me. That\u2019s when I realized, (dang), I\u2019m in the NFL. \u2026 The first thing you notice is the physicality and effort. Then from that point on, it kind of set the standard for what the year was going to be. Watching from the Tennessee game on to now, dog, like, that\u2019s our standard. Physicality, playing smart, playing aggressive. Watching it from the sideline, you\u2019re like, (dang), this is what I\u2019ve got to keep up with and just try to imitate this season if I get the chance. And I did, but I didn\u2019t know I would at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Justin](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TDP-L-BRONCOS-TITANSAO2_4563x.jpg\")
Justin Strnad (40) of the Denver Broncos pressures Cam Ward (1) of the Tennessee Titans during the third quarter at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz\/The Denver Post)
\nNo. 3 \u2014 ILB Justin Strnad<\/p>\n
Opponent: Tennessee<\/p>\n
QB: Ward<\/p>\n
Situation: First-and-10, third quarter<\/p>\n
No. 4 \u2014 OLB Jonah Elliss<\/p>\n
Opponent: Tennessee<\/p>\n
QB: Ward<\/p>\n
Situation: Second-and-8, fourth quarter<\/p>\n
No. 5 \u2014 DT Zach Allen<\/p>\n
Opponent: Tennessee<\/p>\n
QB: Ward<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-24, fourth quarter<\/p>\n
The Broncos clung to a 13-12 lead early in the fourth quarter when Marvin Mims Jr. muffed a punt and set the Titans up at the Denver 24-yard line. After a 2-yard run, Elliss started a game-altering sequence by sacking Ward for a 16-yard loss. Then Allen sacked Ward again on third down. The combined effort not only kept Tennessee out of the end zone but pushed the visitors out of field goal range altogether and forced a punt. Denver went 80 yards in four plays on the ensuing possession to take a 20-12 lead.<\/p>\n
Allen: \u201cWe pride ourselves a lot on red zone. Houston, same thing. Those were big ones.\u201d<\/p>\n
No. 6 \u2014 CB Ja\u2019Quan McMillian<\/p>\n
Opponent: Tennessee<\/p>\n
QB: Ward<\/p>\n
Situation: Close-out sack on fourth-and-10 with :47 left, leading 20-12.<\/p>\n
No. 7 \u2014 Strnad<\/p>\n
Opponent: Indianapolis<\/p>\n
QB: Daniel Jones<\/p>\n
Situation: Red zone, second-and-11, second quarter<\/p>\n
![\"DJ.](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TDP-L-BRONCOS-CHARGERSAO2_9186x.jpg\")
DJ. Jones (93) of the Denver Broncos sacks Justin Herbert (10) of the Los Angeles Chargers during the first quarter at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz\/The Denver Post)
\nNo. 8 \u2014 DT D.J. Jones<\/p>\n
Opponent: Los Angeles Chargers<\/p>\n
QB: Justin Herbert<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-3, first quarter<\/p>\n
No. 9 \u2014 Bonitto<\/p>\n
Opponent: L.A. Chargers<\/p>\n
QB: Herbert<\/p>\n
Situation: First-and-10, first quarter<\/p>\n
No. 10 \u2014 Cooper<\/p>\n
Opponent: L.A. Chargers<\/p>\n
QB: Herbert<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-1, first quarter<\/p>\n
No. 11 \u2014 Bonitto<\/p>\n
Opponent: L.A. Chargers<\/p>\n
QB: Herbert<\/p>\n
Situation: First down, third quarter<\/p>\n
No. 12 \u2014 DL John Franklin-Myers<\/p>\n
Opponent: L.A. Chargers<\/p>\n
QB: Herbert<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-3, fourth quarter<\/p>\n
![\"Nik](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TDP-L-BRONCOS-BENGALSAO2_5959x.jpg\")
Nik Bonitto (15) of the Denver Broncos sacks Jake Browning (6) of the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz\/The Denver Post)
\nNo. 13 \u2014 Bonitto and Cooper<\/p>\n
Opponent: Cincinnati<\/p>\n
QB: Jake Browning<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-3, second quarter<\/p>\n
No. 14 \u2014 Bonitto<\/p>\n
Opponent: Cincinnati<\/p>\n
QB: Browning<\/p>\n
Situation: First-and-20, third quarter<\/p>\n
No. 15 \u2014 Franklin-Myers<\/p>\n
Opponent: Cincinnati<\/p>\n
QB: Browning<\/p>\n
Situation: Second-and-10, fourth quarter<\/p>\n
No. 16 \u2014 ILB Alex Singleton<\/p>\n
Opponent: Philadelphia<\/p>\n
QB: Jalen Hurts<\/p>\n
Situation: Red zone, second-and-7, first quarter<\/p>\n
No. 17 \u2014 DL Eyioma Uwazurike<\/p>\n
Opponent: Philadelphia<\/p>\n
QB: Hurts<\/p>\n
Situation: Second-and-10, second quarter<\/p>\n
No. 18 \u2014 Allen and Bonitto<\/p>\n
Opponent: Philadelphia<\/p>\n
QB: Hurts<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-13, second quarter<\/p>\n
![\"Denver](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TDP-Z-Broncos-Eagles-Football_241856166.jpg\")
Denver Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto (15) tackles Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo\/Matt Rourke)
\nNo. 19 \u2014 Bonitto<\/p>\n
Opponent: Philadelphia<\/p>\n
QB: Hurts<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-15, third quarter<\/p>\n
No. 20 \u2014 McMillian<\/p>\n
Opponent: Philadelphia<\/p>\n
QB: Hurts<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-13, fourth quarter<\/p>\n
McMillian\u2019s four sacks might include the most bang for the buck of anybody on the roster. The nickel snuffed Tennessee\u2019s final drive Week 1, sacked Hurts on a fourth-quarter third down that set up Denver\u2019s comeback win and then got Patrick Mahomes twice in Week 11 \u2014 once to end the first half, then to end the Chiefs\u2019 final possession. More on that one below.<\/p>\n
Safety JL Skinner: \u201cYeah, we\u2019re used to it now. I came in seeing J-Mac make plays, so it don\u2019t surprise me no more. If I came in from his rookie year from, I\u2019d probably be like, \u2018dang, that boy got good.\u2019 But when I came in, he was already elite to me. The plays he makes, it\u2019s only a matter of time until he makes one.\u201d<\/p>\n
No. 21 \u2014 Bonitto<\/p>\n
Opponent: Philadelphia<\/p>\n
QB: Hurts<\/p>\n
Situation: First-and-10, 1:06 remaining and leading 17-14<\/p>\n
No. 22 \u2014 Franklin-Myers<\/p>\n
Opponent: New York Jets<\/p>\n
Sack: Franklin-Myers<\/p>\n
QB: Justin Fields<\/p>\n
Situation: Second-and-13, first quarter<\/p>\n
No. 23 \u2014 Uwazurike<\/p>\n
Opponent: N.Y. Jets<\/p>\n
QB: Fields<\/p>\n
Situation: First-and-10, second quarter<\/p>\n
No. 24 \u2014 Cooper<\/p>\n
Opponent: N.Y. Jets<\/p>\n
QB: Fields<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-9, second quarter<\/p>\n
No. 25 \u2014 Bonitto and Allen<\/p>\n
Opponent: N.Y. Jets<\/p>\n
QB: Fields<\/p>\n
Situation: Second-and-5 with :44 left in the first half<\/p>\n
A rare four-man rush in which all four men for the Broncos touched Fields. Franklin-Myers got a paw on Fields up the middle, forcing him left and into the waiting arms of Bonitto. Allen and Cooper piled on for good measure.<\/p>\n
Allen: \u201cNik, Coop and myself all kind of at the same time smoked him. \u2026 That game was cool because everyone was hitting them together. Everybody was involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
No. 26 \u2014 S Talanoa Hufanga<\/p>\n
Opponent: N.Y. Jets<\/p>\n
QB: Fields<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-5, third quarter<\/p>\n
![\"Jonathon](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TDP-L-BRONCOS-JETSAO2_3800x.jpg\")
Jonathon Cooper (0) of the Denver Broncos sacks Justin Fields (7) of the New York Jets as Justin Strnad (40) closes in during the third quarter at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz\/The Denver Post)
\nNo. 27 \u2014 Cooper and Strnad<\/p>\n
Opponent: N.Y. Jets<\/p>\n
QB: Fields<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-6, third quarter<\/p>\n
No. 28 \u2014 Bonitto and Allen<\/p>\n
Opponent: N.Y. Jets<\/p>\n
QB: Fields<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-10, fourth quarter (4:19 to go)<\/p>\n
No. 29 \u2014 Strnad<\/p>\n
Opponent: N.Y. Jets<\/p>\n
QB: Fields<\/p>\n
Situation: First-and-10, fourth quarter (1:56 to go)<\/p>\n
No. 30 \u2014 S Brandon Jones and Cooper<\/p>\n
Opponent: N.Y. Jets<\/p>\n
QB: Fields<\/p>\n
Situation: Close-out sack on fourth-and-8 with 1:14 to go, leading 11-10<\/p>\n
The final of three fourth-quarter sacks and a whopping nine overall in London sealed the game for the Broncos. Denver\u2019s offense did almost nothing, but the defense made sure 10 points held up. The closer: An all-out, seven-man pressure. Cooper ripped past tight end Mason Taylor before he could get his head turned. Fields momentarily slipped out, but Cooper jumped on his back and Jones, blitzing from the same side, hit Fields in the front.<\/p>\n
A popular choice as a favorite.<\/p>\n
Allen: \u201cThat was pretty sick.<\/p>\n
Safety JL Skinner: \u201cYeah, bro, there\u2019s not much more you can do besides maybe get a pick-six to end a game. But that walk-off sack, that\u2019s up there for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hufanga: \u201cGame on the line. If they got the first down, it was first down and it was game over. They were going to kick the field goal and win. So for us to, excuse my language, nut up and get the job done, that was pretty cool.\u201d<\/p>\n
No. 31 \u2014 Cooper<\/p>\n
Opponent: New York Giants<\/p>\n
QB: Jaxson Dart<\/p>\n
Situation: Red zone, first-and-10, second quarter<\/p>\n
No. 32 \u2014 OLB Que Robinson and DL Malcolm Roach<\/p>\n
Opponent: N.Y. Giants<\/p>\n
QB: Dart<\/p>\n
Situation: First-and-10, third quarter<\/p>\n
No. 33 \u2014 OLB Dondrea Tillman<\/p>\n
Opponent: N.Y. Giants<\/p>\n
QB: Dart<\/p>\n
Situation: Second-and-10, third quarter<\/p>\n
![\"Denver](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TDP-L-broncosgiants101925-cha-5414.jpg\")
Denver Broncos Zach Allen (99) sacks New York Giants QB Jaxson Dart in the 4th quarter of the game at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. Broncos won 33-32. (Photo by Hyoung Chang\/The Denver Post)
\nNo. 34 \u2014 Allen and Cooper<\/p>\n
Opponent: N.Y. Giants<\/p>\n
QB: Dart<\/p>\n
Situation: First-and-10, fourth quarter (1:51 to go)<\/p>\n
No. 35 \u2014 Franklin-Myers<\/p>\n
Opponent: Dallas<\/p>\n
QB: Dak Prescott<\/p>\n
Situation: First-and-10, first quarter<\/p>\n
No. 36 \u2014 Allen<\/p>\n
Opponent: Dallas<\/p>\n
QB: Prescott<\/p>\n
Situation: First-and-10, fourth quarter<\/p>\n
On a four-man rush, Prescott felt pressure from Bonitto working around the offense\u2019s left edge. As he stepped up, a week-long plan came to fruition for Allen, working against a fellow All-Pro. Allen lined up on the outside shoulder of left guard Tyler Smith and gave him a couple of quick head-and-shoulders fakes. Broncos pass-rush guru B.T. Jordan likes to call it \u201cbasketball on grass.\u201d In a rare happening, Smith got off balance and had to lunge at Allen, who stormed through a grab and wrapped up Prescott.<\/p>\n
Allen: \u201cWhen you have a tough matchup and you get one, that\u2019s pretty cool. So for me, when we played the Cowboys. Tyler Smith, obviously, everybody knows how good he is. So to get one on him, that one was pretty cool. I\u2019ve got a lot of respect for him. To be able to, all week, work a plan and for it to work, that\u2019s a cool one.\u201d<\/p>\n
No. 37 \u2014 ILB Dre Greenlaw<\/p>\n
Opponent: Houston<\/p>\n
QB: C.J. Stroud<\/p>\n
Situation: First-and-10, first quarter<\/p>\n
No. 38 \u2014 Allen<\/p>\n
Opponent: Houston<\/p>\n
QB: Stroud<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-5, first quarter.<\/p>\n
From the 23-yard line, a classic Broncos rush. Stroud dropped back and surveyed, but found good coverage down the field. Then the pocket got crushed from all angles and when he tried to step up, it was right into Allen\u2019s waiting arms. A chip-shot field goal turned into a 51-yarder that Ka\u2019imi Fairbairn missed. The final margin of victory for the Broncos against a playoff-bound Texans team: Three points.<\/p>\n
![\"Jonathon](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TDP-L-BRONCOS-TEXANSAO2_6936x.jpg\")
Jonathon Cooper (0) of the Denver Broncos celebrates sacking Davis Mills (10) of the Houston Texans with Zach Allen (99) of the Denver Broncosduring the second quarter at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz\/The Denver Post)
\nNo. 39 \u2014 Cooper<\/p>\n
Opponent: Houston<\/p>\n
QB: Davis Mills<\/p>\n
Situation: Red zone, third-and-11, second quarter,<\/p>\n
No. 40 \u2014 Roach and Tillman<\/p>\n
Opponent: Houston<\/p>\n
QB: Mills<\/p>\n
Situation: Red zone, first-and-10 with :23 left in the second quarter<\/p>\n
No. 41 \u2014 Uwazurike and Allen<\/p>\n
Opponent: Las Vegas<\/p>\n
QB: Geno Smith<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-3, first quarter<\/p>\n
No. 42 \u2014 Bonitto<\/p>\n
Opponent: Las Vegas<\/p>\n
QB: Smith<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-12, second quarter<\/p>\n
No. 43 \u2014 Hufanga<\/p>\n
Opponent: Las Vegas<\/p>\n
QB: Smith<\/p>\n
Situation: Fourth-and-5, second quarter<\/p>\n
No. 44 \u2014 Roach<\/p>\n
Opponent: Las Vegas<\/p>\n
QB: Smith<\/p>\n
Situation: First-and-10, second quarter<\/p>\n
![\"Zach](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TDP-L-BRONCOS-RAIDERSAO2_4763x.jpg\")
Zach Allen (99) and Nik Bonitto (15) of the Denver Broncos sack Geno Smith (7) of the Las Vegas Raiders during the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz\/The Denver Post)
\nNo. 45 \u2014 Allen and Bonitto<\/p>\n
Opponent: Las Vegas<\/p>\n
QB: Smith<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-6, second quarter<\/p>\n
No. 46 \u2014 Franklin-Myers and Cooper<\/p>\n
Opponent: Las Vegas<\/p>\n
QB: Smith<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-8, fourth quarter<\/p>\n
No. 47 \u2014 D.J. Jones<\/p>\n
Opponent: Kansas City<\/p>\n
QB: Patrick Mahomes<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-1, second quarter<\/p>\n
Robinson, the rookie outside linebacker, got credit for his half-sack in Week 7 against the Giants, but he was in on this one, too. He came off Mahomes\u2019 right side unblocked on a third-and-short, got his hands up and forced Mahomes to double and then triple-clutch. Before he could decide what to do, Jones swallowed him up thanks to interior pressure.<\/p>\n
Robinson: \u201cThey gave it to D.J., but I don\u2019t care. To me, that\u2019s probably the coolest one because it\u2019s Patrick Mahomes and, shoot, I affected the play somehow. It\u2019s pretty dope, dog. You\u2019ve got to think about it. He\u2019s been a freakin\u2019 stud in this league for so long and he\u2019s been dominating the AFC for a good bit. So, like, just to be able to make a play on somebody who\u2019s been pretty good for a long and consistent time, that means a lot to me. If you love football, you know who he is.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Ja'Quan](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TDP-L-Broncos-Chiefs-RJS-14541.jpg\")
Ja’Quan McMillian (29) of the Denver Broncos, bottom, sacks Patrick Mahomes (15) of the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field at Mile High on Nov. 16, 2025. (Photo by RJ Sangosti\/The Denver Post)
\nNo. 48 \u2014 McMillian<\/p>\n
Opponent: Kansas City<\/p>\n
QB: Mahomes<\/p>\n
Situation: Fourth-and-6, second quarter<\/p>\n
A Joseph special, bringing nickel pressure on a Hail Mary attempt before halftime.<\/p>\n
No. 49 \u2014 McMillian<\/p>\n
Opponent: Kansas City<\/p>\n
QB: Mahomes<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-10, fourth quarter<\/p>\n
With 3:53 to play and the game tied at 19, Mahomes surveyed the defense and saw McMillian manned up on tight end Travis Kelce in the slot to his left. McMillian held his disguise as long as he could and timed Mahomes\u2019 snap-count based on when the future Hall of Fame quarterback started to raise his hands. He came free, leapt to make sure Mahomes couldn\u2019t get a quick throw to a hot route off, grabbed the quarterback as he landed and dragged him to the ground. The Chiefs punted and they didn\u2019t get the ball back. Bo Nix led a game-winning drive that ended in a walk-off, 35-yard Wil Lutz field goal. The win put the Broncos in firm control of the division and represented a changing of the AFC West guard.<\/p>\n
As if there\u2019d be any doubt about McMillian\u2019s favorite in his own right, he didn\u2019t hesitate. This is the one. \u201cWhere I flew in the air like Superman,\u201d McMillian said. A reporter posited that it might even be poster-worthy. McMillian laughed, reached into the empty locker next to him, and pulled out a large canvas print of himself, airborne, grabbing onto Mahomes.<\/p>\n
Skinner: \u201cThat one was nice.\u201d<\/p>\n
DL Jordan Jackson: \u201cI might take J-Mac\u2019s now that I\u2019m thinking about it. To seal a game like that? And it being J-Mac, another guy who works the way he works?\u201d<\/p>\n
CB Riley Moss: \u201cHe\u2019s got four of them, right? Yeah, that\u2019s a good pull right there.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Linebacker](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TDP-L-BroncosVsCommandersFB-113025-TH-15.jpg\")
Linebacker Nik Bonitto (15) of the Denver Broncos sacks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) of the Washington Commanders before Mariota fumbled the ball on an attempted lateral pass on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at Northwest Stadium in Landover, MD. (Photo by Timothy Hurst\/The Denver Post)
\nNo. 50 \u2014 Bonitto<\/p>\n
Opponent: Washington<\/p>\n
QB: Marcus Mariota<\/p>\n
Situation: First-and-10 strip sack, second quarter<\/p>\n
No. 51 \u2014 Tillman<\/p>\n
Opponent: Washington<\/p>\n
QB: Mariota<\/p>\n
Situation: Second-and-9, fourth quarter<\/p>\n
No. 52 \u2014 Roach<\/p>\n
Opponent: Las Vegas<\/p>\n
QB: Smith<\/p>\n
Situation: Second-and-5, second quarter<\/p>\n
No. 53 \u2014 Franklin-Myers<\/p>\n
Opponent: Las Vegas<\/p>\n
QB: Smith<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-8, second quarter<\/p>\n
![\"Nik](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TDP-L-BRONCOS-RAIDERSAO2_9275x.jpg\")
Nik Bonitto (15) of the Denver Broncos sacks Geno Smith (7) of the Las Vegas Raiders during the second quarter at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz\/The Denver Post)
\nNo. 54 \u2014 Bonitto<\/p>\n
Opponent: Las Vegas<\/p>\n
QB: Smith<\/p>\n
Situation: Fourth-and-3, second quarter<\/p>\n
No. 55 \u2014 Bonitto<\/p>\n
Opponent: Las Vegas<\/p>\n
QB: Kenny Pickett<\/p>\n
Situation: First-and-10, fourth quarter<\/p>\n
No. 56 \u2014 Elliss<\/p>\n
Opponent: Green Bay<\/p>\n
QB: Jordan Love<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-10, third quarter<\/p>\n
No. 57 \u2014 Tillman<\/p>\n
Opponent: Green Bay<\/p>\n
QB: Love<\/p>\n
Situation: Second-and-7, fourth quarter<\/p>\n
![\"Defensive](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TDP-L-BroncosVsPackersFB-121425-TH-111.jpg\")
Defensive end Zach Allen (99) of the Denver Broncos celebrates a sack of quarterback Jordan Love (10) of the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst\/The Denver Post)
\nNo. 58 \u2014 Cooper and Allen<\/p>\n
Opponent: Green Bay<\/p>\n
QB: Love<\/p>\n
Situation: Fourth-and-9, fourth quarter (2:33 remaining)<\/p>\n
If sacks could be divided into thirds, this would be a worthy choice. Love hit the top of his drop-back on a fourth down, 44 yards from scoring what could have been a tying touchdown. Cooper won around the right edge. Allen stormed up the middle. Bonitto was in the pile-up as well. The Broncos didn\u2019t sack Love on his first 31 dropbacks, but got him three times down the stretch and pressured him at the highest single-game rate of the quarterback\u2019s career so far.<\/p>\n
This one checked almost every box for Allen. Critical situation. He bulled right through a $19 million a year player in guard Aaron Banks. And he was joined by a pair of teammates at the quarterback.<\/p>\n
Allen: \u201cSame thing there. We kind of sealed it at the end.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Riley](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TDP-L-BRONCOS-JAGUARSAO2_4219x.jpg\")
Riley Moss (21) of the Denver Broncos tackles Trevor Lawrence (16) of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first quarter at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz\/The Denver Post)
\nNo. 59 \u2014 CB Riley Moss<\/p>\n
Opponent: Jacksonville<\/p>\n
QB: Trevor Lawrence<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-4, first quarter<\/p>\n
No. 60 \u2014 Franklin-Myers<\/p>\n
Opponent: Jacksonville<\/p>\n
QB: Lawrence<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-8, first quarter<\/p>\n
No. 61 \u2014 Roach<\/p>\n
Opponent: Jacksonville<\/p>\n
QB: Lawrence<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-15, second quarter<\/p>\n
Early in the second quarter, Denver and Jacksonville were tied at 7. Roach lined up well outside right guard Patrick Mekari. He powered off the line of scrimmage and put forth a vicious hump move. Roach, known earlier in his career as almost exclusively a run defender, rolled right past Mekari and sacked Lawrence.<\/p>\n
Jackson: \u201cHe killed the dude. Inside move. Oh my gosh, I\u2019ve never heard that stadium get that loud before. That was actually the loudest game.<\/p>\n
Jackson and Roach played together in New Orleans previously and Jackson said it\u2019s \u201camazing to see\u201d Roach\u2019s progress as a pass rusher. He also said Roach is liable to commandeer the clicker in the film room the next day after such a play.<\/p>\n
Jackson: \u201cIn the game, he\u2019s going to make sure you see it then, and then we get back into the film room and he\u2019s going to make sure \u2014 \u2018Hey, run that back one more time. Run that back one more time.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Allen: \u201cHe\u2019s been working that hump move. \u2026 Everybody knows the energy he brings, but it\u2019s a focused energy. It\u2019s not just, like, \u2018ahhhhh\u2019 or some craziness. He\u2019s been awesome for us. He\u2019s come in in some huge pass-rush situations and the standard hasn\u2019t dropped, obviously.\u201d<\/p>\n
No. 62 \u2014 Franklin-Myers<\/p>\n
Opponent: Jacksonville<\/p>\n
QB: Lawrence<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-10, fourth quarter<\/p>\n
No. 63 \u2014 D.J. Jones<\/p>\n
Opponent: Jacksonville<\/p>\n
Sack: Jones<\/p>\n
QB: Lawrence<\/p>\n
Situation: Second-and-6, fourth quarter<\/p>\n
No. 64 \u2014 Tillman and Elliss<\/p>\n
Opponent: Kansas City<\/p>\n
QB: Chris Oladokun<\/p>\n
Situation: First-and-10, third quarter<\/p>\n
No. 65 \u2014 Allen and Bonitto<\/p>\n
Opponent: L.A. Chargers<\/p>\n
QB: Trey Lance<\/p>\n
Situation: First-and-10, second quarter<\/p>\n
No. 66 \u2014 Strnad<\/p>\n
Opponent: L.A. Chargers<\/p>\n
QB: Lance<\/p>\n
Situation: Third-and-8, third quarter<\/p>\n
![\"Nik](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768586608_732_TDP-L-BRONCOS-CHARGERSAO2_3264x.jpg\")
Nik Bonitto (15) of the Denver Broncos strip sacks Trey Lance (5) of the Los Angeles Chargers during the fourth quarter of the Broncos\u2019 19-3 win at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz\/The Denver Post)
\nNo. 67 \u2014 Bonitto<\/p>\n
Opponent: L.A. Chargers<\/p>\n
QB: Lance<\/p>\n
Situation: Strip sack, first-and-10, fourth quarter, recovered by DL Sai\u2019Vion Jones<\/p>\n
A timely sack if ever there was one, not so much because of the game situation but because Payton spent all week harping on takeaways. The Broncos\u2019 defense, prolific in sacking and harassing quarterbacks, had not forced many turnovers. The defense hadn\u2019t forced a fumble since Week 1 until Bonitto roared around the left end, squared up Lance and knocked the ball out.<\/p>\n
Elliss: \u201cNik punching the ball out, that\u2019s what we had been lacking. We\u2019d been getting the sacks, but we hadn\u2019t been getting the ball out. That was kind of like a statement. When we get home, we\u2019re going to finish the play and get the ball. I think that was my favorite one. \u2026 V.J.\u2019s been preaching it to us. \u2018This is what we\u2019re missing.\u2019 He\u2019s just been preaching that and I think we\u2019ve started to take his coaching and apply it to the field.<\/p>\n
DL coach Jamar Cain: \u201cIt was so refreshing. You hear 68 sacks and we should have got the ball out more.\u00a0 \u2026 Our best players have to do the little things all the time for us to be successful. Nik is one of our better players on the front, so he\u2019s got to do the little things like get the ball out. That could have been a blow-up sack, but instead he was like, \u2018(forget) that, I\u2019m going for the ball.’\u201d<\/p>\n
No. 68 \u2014 Uwazurike<\/p>\n
Opponent: L.A. Chargers<\/p>\n
QB: Lance<\/p>\n
Situation: First-and-10, fourth quarter<\/p>\n
One final cage rush to cap off a historic regular season. Lance dropped back and was quickly swallowed up. Bonitto walked the left tackle into his lap. Cooper set the edge against the right tackle. Sai\u2019Vion Jones looped around Uwazurike, who walked center Andre James back and then discarded him to wrap up Lantz. From the first quarter of Week 1 to the fourth quarter of Week 18, the Broncos made life difficult on opposing quarterbacks and did it with players up and down the defensive depth chart. Now, the task is to keep riding the wave in the postseason.<\/p>\n
Allen: \u201cEni can do it, D.J. can do it. When you have all five guys who have some wiggle, it stresses out the offensive line so much because it\u2019s just coming in waves.<\/p>\n