How physical was the game that Brian Dawkins, John Lynch, and Steve Atwater would have absolutely adored?
“After the game, Broncos coach Sean Payton remarked, ‘You could hear that game.'”
And the Broncos relished every bone-crushing minute of their fifth consecutive victory, the longest winning streak in these parts since the Super Bowl 50 champions were tormenting quarterbacks.
So, how did the Broncos transform their abysmal 1-5 start into a resurgence that has put them back in the AFC playoff picture at 6-5? Well, they discovered their true identity.
The Broncos are a group of formidable, intimidating individuals.
Especially on frigid days with temperatures in the 20s, it’s excruciating to face the Broncos.
“We’re aiming to instill fear in their hearts,” cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian shared with me on Sunday.
While this franchise turnaround was expected to be led by their $245 million quarterback, Russell Wilson, that hasn’t been the case. Russ has been decent. Not exceptional, not terrible, just decent, averaging 178.8 passing yards during the current longest win streak in the NFL. He only managed 134 yards on Sunday.
It’s the Denver ‘D’ that is once again haunting their opponents. The Broncos have forced three more turnovers, bringing their total to 15 over the past four games, the most in a four-game stretch since Atwater, Karl Mecklenburg, and Dennis Smith were delivering bone-jarring hits in 1989.
Some may argue that this level of performance is unsustainable, but I’m not entirely convinced. Have you noticed how opposing quarterbacks and receivers become increasingly jittery as the game progresses? Those punishing tackles have an impact.
“As the game unfolds, you can see their passes becoming less accurate. They start to feel anxious,” McMillian explained. “Our pass rush is doing their job, and that puts immense pressure on the quarterback to make precise throws.”
Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson learned the hard way that the Broncos’ defense will deliver punishing hits and deal with any fines later. Thompson-Robinson was forced out of the game with a head injury after Broncos linebacker Baron Browning leveled him with a powerful shoulder hit. Scenes like these are as much a part of Broncos games as the familiar “in-com-plete” chants.
After a few snaps, Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper had to leave the game due to a rib injury. Broncos opponents have been dropping like flies due to hard hits, including Commanders tight end Logan Thomas and Raiders wideout Jakobi Meyers. It looks like Browning will be receiving a call from the NFL office for his hit on Thompson-Robinson, but he doesn’t think it was dirty. Meanwhile, Broncos fans are ecstatic about the team’s recent success, even if it means the opposing team can’t hear themselves think. The Broncos defense continues to dominate, with the most fumble recoveries in the NFL and a strong performance from defensive lineman D.J. Jones.