Broncos DC Vance Joseph breaks down challenges of facing Herbert, Chargers

The Denver Broncos had their hands full last week with a Colts offense that put up 473 yards and 29 points on a defense that was projected to be one of the best in the league. When the orange and blue travel to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers this weekend, the challenges aren’t going to get any easier.

The Broncos will be welcomed to town by Justin Herbert, who is playing like an MVP candidate through two games as he’s led the Chargers to a 2-0 record. He’s thrown for 560 yards, five touchdowns and zero interceptions to start the season while completing over 72% of his passes. No, the high completion percentage isn’t because he’s checking the ball down and throwing underneath a lot, as his average depth of target is 9.6 yards, the second-highest total in the league among qualified quarterbacks.

HERBERT TO JOHNSTON FOR THE 60-YARD TD 🎯 pic.twitter.com/39rFeL1wzu

— ESPN (@espn) September 16, 2025

His EPA (expected points added) is 31 through two games, second to only Josh Allen.

A POTENTIAL MVP CANDIDATE?

Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph knows that his defense is going to have its hands full with the 27-year-old gunslinger, and gave Herbert his flowers on Thursday.

“He’s a special athlete. He’s playing at a high level right now. He’s probably the MVP right now after two games. He is accurate. He’s obviously a big man, so he can see over the pressure. He’s escaping on major downs, second-and-long and third downs, keeps drives alive,” Joseph said.

After that, Joseph got into the details of what his defense needs to do to slow Herbert down, and it starts with the guys up front, not the defensive backs.

“So how we rush this guy is going to be key. How we cover the receiving targets and make him throw the ball is also going to be key. It’s a combination of rush and coverage to contain this quarterback. It’s a run first offense. The balancing act between stopping the run and defending the pass is going to be critical,” Joseph said.

Last week, the plan of attack for slowing down Daniel Jones was throwing pressure in his face as much as possible, which backfired. The Broncos blitzed Jones on over 71% of his drop backs, but he completed 16 of his 25 passes for 265 yards and a touchdown on those plays. Joseph didn’t specify on exactly how he’s planning on getting Herbert off his spot, but it’s clear that he knows that the rush is going to be important.

Last season, Herbert was not bothered when Joseph sent the house. In the two victories over Denver last season, Herbert threw for 521 yards and three touchdowns with just one interception. He completed 44 of his 65 pass attempts against Joseph’s unit.

Chargers try to sort out (another) 3rd down blitz from the Broncos, but there's still a free runner right down the chute.

Doesn't matter cause Justin Herbert. https://t.co/96lolLQIYC pic.twitter.com/9bUFcIYsM1

— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) October 15, 2024

GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN

It’s not just the spread passing that poses a challenge for Denver’s defense, which Joseph acknowledged. The Chargers utilize heavier personnel (more tight ends, fullbacks) a fair amount, but it’s not the running out of those heavy sets that makes them dangerous. Joseph was asked if their use of play action out of those heavy sets was unique to the Chargers.

“Yes. It is. That’s good football. Obviously, if they’re in big people, you’re thinking that they’re going to be heavy run, and they have a good play action pass game out of it. With the inserts we saw last week with [Colts tight end Tyler] Warren, they run those same kind of plays from the big groups. So, just having good eyes, having good calls off versus those groups is going to be key.

In Los Angeles’ Week 1 victory over the Chiefs, Herbert was 9-for-11 with 169 yards on play action passes. The Chargers don’t run the ball well, as their 85.5 yards per game is the seventh-worst mark in the league, but they do a great job at selling it, which is why communication is key for Joseph’s defense in this game.

This is not going to be an easy game for the Broncos, especially on the road. The key to victory will be for Joseph and the defense to get back to how they played to open the season against Tennessee (even though Los Angeles is a much more difficult opponent to face) and make the game difficult for Herbert and company.

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