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Broncos offense has struggled, but defense has shined

By Russell S. Baxter

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 25: Bradley Chubb #55 of the Denver Broncos and others tackle Jordan Mason #24 of the San Francisco 49ers at Empower Field At Mile High on September 25, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 25: Bradley Chubb #55 of the Denver Broncos and others tackle Jordan Mason #24 of the San Francisco 49ers at Empower Field At Mile High on September 25, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) /
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It hasn’t been pretty. But the Denver Broncos are 2-1 after three games. And one side of the ball has been decidedly better than the other.

Three games into the newest era in the Mile High City, things are not going as planned when it comes to the Denver Broncos and their new-look offense. Led by former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and new head coach Nathaniel Hackett, this was a team that figured to be much more efficient on offense.

Denver Broncos defense masking defensive concerns early on

Yes, there is plenty of blame to go around when it comes to the early failures regarding getting the ball in the end zone. In their first three games this season, Russell Wilson and company have scored a combined 43 points (second-fewest in the NFL entering Week 4) and managed only three offensive touchdowns.

And Hackett’s team has been limited to 16 or fewer points in each outing. A 17-16 loss at Seattle was followed by a 16-9 win over the Texans and then an 11-10 primetime victory over the 49ers. Those final scores are reminiscent of softball as opposed to football. But the bottom line is that the Broncos own a 2-1 record.

It’s the Denver defense that has come up big in the early stages of 2022. Only two teams in the NFL have allowed fewer total yards and only the Buccaneers (27) have given up fewer points than the Broncos (36). The club has given up just three offensive TDs – zero in the second half. Bradley Chubb leads the team with three sacks. And free-agent additions such as pass-rusher Randy Gregory, defensive tackle D.J. Jones and cornerback K’Waun Williams have all made their presence felt.

This is Denver’s first divisional game of 2022. A year ago, the team was 1-5 vs. their AFC West rivals – swept by the Raiders and Chiefs. Of course, Las Vegas is 0-3 heading into this showdown but has not had the same problems offensively as the Broncos. Can Hackett’s defense carry the club to a third straight win? Is this the week his offense has a breakout game? Or will the Denver defense have to come up big once again?

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