Bradley Chubb sacks milestone dampened by Broncos loss to 49ers
Dec 9, 2018, 8:37 PM | Updated: 9:07 pm
With two sacks on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, linebacker Bradley Chubb became the most prolific rookie pass rusher in Denver Broncos history.
However, celebration about the milestone fell by the wayside to the sting of a Broncos defeat suffered at the hands of the 49ers on the road, 20-14.
“Those records are important to those players. They work hard for those numbers. But, obviously, not winning the game takes the sting away a little bit,” Vance Joseph said after the game.
With the two sacks, Chubb has totaled 12 on the season, besting teammate Von Miller and former Broncos defensive end Rulon Jones by a half sack.
Chubb also became the second-fastest rookie to 12 sacks through 13 games in NFL history, trailing only former San Diego Chargers defender Leslie O’Neal, who had 12.5 sacks through 13 games in 1986.
After the game, Miller called Chubb’s milestone an “incredible feat,” especially for the history the Broncos have with young pass rushers.
“For Chubb to not only break the Broncos rookie sack record but have an opportunity to break the league record, Jevon Kearse with 14.5 sacks, is incredible,” Miller said. “I’ve said this since Day One, he’s a hell of a player.”
With three more sacks, Chubb would top Kearse, who set the rookie mark with 14.5 sacks in 1999.
But Miller downplayed his own milestone set Sunday, as he bested his previous sacks streak by extending his current streak to eight games. Also, Miller pulled within one of Broncos Ring of Famer Simon Fletcher for the most regular season sacks in franchise history.
“The only milestone that we’re concerned about here at the Denver Broncos is wins and getting back to the Super Bowl and playoff wins,” Miller said. “So, that’s where our mindset is.”
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
