Broncos Country needs to remember — The DEFENSE is king! | Stokley and Evans with Mark Schlereth
Everyone is talking about the Broncos offense — Bo Nix's Year 3 leap, Jaylen Waddle's arrival, Davis Webb calling plays. But Broncos Country needs a reality check. The defense is the bread and butter of this team, and it has been for two straight years under Vance Joseph.
The numbers speak for themselves. In 2025, the Broncos led the NFL with 68 sacks — a franchise record for the second consecutive season and just 4 shy of the all-time NFL record set by the 1984 Bears. They ranked 2nd in total yards allowed at just 278.2 per game, allowed only 187.2 passing yards and 91.1 rushing yards per contest, and finished 3rd in scoring defense at 18.3 points per game. They held opponents to 17 or fewer points in 9 games and recorded multiple sacks in 16 of 17 regular-season contests. That's dominance.
But can they sustain it? Denver lost John Franklin-Myers and Dre Greenlaw this offseason without making any obvious upgrades. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph says the challenge is "human nature" — not chasing what they've done but chasing the process that got them there. The Broncos are betting on internal growth from Eyioma Uwazurike, Malcolm Roach, Sai'vion Jones, and second-year edge rusher Jonah Elliss to fill those gaps.
On today's Stokley and Evans with Mark Schlereth on 104.3 The Fan, we break down whether this defense can stay at an elite level, what the key players need to do to sustain their dominance, and whether the 2026 group can be even better.
