Broncos defense dominant again versus run in win over Raiders

Oct 2, 2017, 12:00 AM Updated: 5:05 am

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 1: Defensive end Derek Wolfe #95 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after sacking quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

(Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

One of the Denver Broncos biggest question marks on defense heading into the 2017 campaign is quickly becoming one of the team’s best attribute.

Broncos defenders for a fourth-straight week stifled a Pro Bowl-caliber running back, and a potent overall running game, holding Raiders start rusher Marshawn Lynch to just 12 yards on nine carries.

On the day, the Raiders gained only 24 yards on the ground, scattered among six different rushers.

“Our run defense has been stout the entire year. So, I have been very proud of how those guys have played the run,” head coach Vance Josephs said after the game. “With a back like that and an offensive line like that, that’s really special, 24 yards.”

In the previous three games, the high-water mark for an individual against Denver happened in the team’s opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, when tailback Melvin Gordon dashed for 54 yards.

And during that stretch, the Broncos have held Buffalo Bills backs Mike Tolbert and LeSean McCoy to 41 and 21 yards respectively, along with Dallas Cowboys rusher Ezekiel Elliott to just 8 yards.

“That’s really four special backs and really four special offensive lines. Our run defense has been really stout,” Joseph said after the game. “Again, adding (Domata) Peko and (Zach) Kerr and Ahtyba Rubin now and obviously coaching it differently than it was coached in the past.”

Through the first quarter of the season, Denver’s the only team in the NFL that hasn’t allowed a touchdown on the ground while allowing opponents just 50.8 yards per game.

After the game, running back C.J. Anderson said he noticed through the preseason, and now the first four games of the regular season, that the Broncos defense has played the run “completely different” in 2017, which he said could be attributing to its impressive results of late.

“They’re playing the run game a lot different, way different than they have in the past, and I noticed that maybe the first three or four days in training camp because of the way they were making us cut and the put the ball in certain places,” Anderson said.

“That’s a good thing. Our defense is doing a hell of a job.”

However, when asked about it after the game, linebacker Von Miller said the early success against the run has probably more to do with a different “energy and culture.”

Domata is playing great for us. (Derek) Wolfe is playing great. Adam Gotsis is playing red hot right now,” Miller said. “When those three guys playing the way that they play, it makes everybody’s job easier, especially in the run.”

But linebacker Shaquil Barrett may have put it best after the game:

“Whatever we did today, we just need to keep on doing.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.