The 2025 Denver Broncos defense are doing things their own way. Different from what Tom Jackson, Randy Gradishar, Lyle Alzado, and the “Orange Crush Defense” of the 70’s did by suffocating opposing run games. Different from what Demarcus Ware, Von Miller, Aqib Talib, Chris Harris Jr. and the “No Fly Defense” did by locking up opposing passing attacks.
How they are getting it done is getting to the quarterback at a historic rate. Their 68 sacks in the regular season rank 5th all time and only behind the 2022 Philadelphia Eagles this century. Their 44% pressure rate is T-2nd in the NFL since 2021.
Denver Broncos – Overall Pass Rush Tendencies
| Usage (Rank) | Success (Rank) | |
| 3-Man Rush | 5% (10th) | 27% (7th) |
| 4-Man Rush | 63% (30th) | 40% (1st) |
| Blitz | 32% (3rd) | 45% (9th) |
From a tendency perspective, one can see that they prefer to bring the blitz, doing so at the 3rd-highest rate in the league. However, what makes them different is that they like to bring the heat on early downs, specifically at a 34% clip that is the 2nd-highest in the league. This has resulted in the 6th-lowest success rate allowed. On late downs, they blitz only 28% of the time and are successful at the 19th-best rate.
No matter what the circumstance, the Broncos are having success with the four-man rush. On early downs, they utilize the four-man rush at the second-lowest rate but are doing so at the most successful rate in the league. The usage increases to the 12th-highest on late downs, but remains incredibly successful at the 2nd-highest success rate.
Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph is dialing up the right mix of bringing pressure and letting his four man front get to work. This keeps them unpredictable at the right times, keeping offenses on their toes when sorting out protection schemes.
This coordinated, team-based effort differs from deploying all-world pass rushers like the Myles Garretts and Aidan Hutchinsons of the world, but this front is still loaded with talent that rivals these two.
Nik Bonitto is the first name that comes to mind when you think of pure talent on this Broncos pass rush. His 74 pressures rank him 7th in the league and he has been able to bring down quarterbacks 14 times, good for 5th.
What is even more impressive is that he has a Pressure Above Expectation Rate at 5.6%, meaning he is getting to the quarterback more than average when factoring things like alignment, down, yards to go, etc. This rate is good for the 4th best in the league.
His go-to bull rush (73 snaps) has generated 1 sack on a 11.4% pressure rate, but his speed move is much more effective. On 71 snaps, he has generated 6.5 of his sacks on a 32% pressure rate. His quickness and bend around the edge certainly make this his most effective move.
His edge mate Jonathon Cooper has had a solid season with 8 sacks on 49 pressures and a 0.4% Pressure Rate Above Expectation. He is another speed and speed-to-power extraordinaire, as 7 of his sacks have come on these moves.
So Bonitto and Cooper have been good, but to be one of the best pass rush units of the century, there has to be more, right? Right indeed.
The interior push that the Broncos are getting is next level. Zach Allen, John Franklin-Myers, and D.J. Jones all rank in the Top 25 in Pressure Rate Above Expectation for interior defensive linemen as well.
Denver Broncos Interior Defensive Linemen – League-Leading Totals
| Stat | Total |
| Pressures | 139 |
| Sacks | 25 |
| Pressure Rate | 21% |
Zach Allen is having the best year of his career and it’s not close. His 65 pressures are tied for the most with Jeffery Simmons and his 7 sacks are good for 7th among interior defensive linemen. What might be the most impressive part of Allen’s game is his pass rush repertoire, where he has registered a half sack or more on 8 different moves! The all-around pass rusher is on the AP All-Pro First Team and is hunting more quarterbacks deeper into the playoffs.
Nose tackle D.J. Jones may have only 3 sacks, but he leads interior defensive linemen in Pressure Rate Above Expectation at 6.6%. This is also the 3rd highest since 2020, with Dexter Lawrence’s 2022 and 2023 campaigns resulting in a higher rate.
John Franklin-Myers is 3rd in sacks with 7.5 and 7th in pressures with 45. He has been able to generate pressures with a bull rush, swipe, stunt-loop, and rip moves primarily, boasting a pressure rate above 10% for each of them.
So as we head into Conference Championship Sunday, will the Patriots be able to handle this pass rush? They rank 2nd in Pass Blocking Total Points and are middle of the road in pressure percentage allowed at 37.5%. Over the course of the playoffs, Drake Maye has relinquished 3 fumbles and has been prone to do so all year.
The Broncos pass rush, even with all of the pressures and sacks they have generated, have forced only 5 fumbles and recovered 2 of them. With a backup quarterback, adding to those numbers could do them wonders in looking to find their way to Santa Clara.
