Broncos defense has one rung left to climb

A minus-3 turnover margin survived a 14-3 season.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 81 min read

DEN

Denver BroncosNFL

Time for Vance Joseph’s #Broncos defense to take No. 1 ranking. It starts with taking the ball away, which should get Jo

What happened: Vance Joseph's unit enters 2026 aiming to move from second in total defense to first. More takeaways could complement a defense already built around pressure and red-zone stops.

Why it matters: Joseph earned 2025 PFWA Assistant Coach of the Year honors. A top-ranked finish would strengthen his candidacy for another head-coaching opportunity.

By the numbers: Denver led the NFL with a franchise-record 68 sacks, allowed the third-fewest points and ranked first in red-zone defense at 42.6%. The Broncos still finished ahead of only three teams in takeaways and posted a minus-3 turnover margin.

What to watch: Preseason possessions will offer the first test of whether Denver can create more short fields. The larger measure begins when the 2026 regular season opens.

Sources

@TroyRenck Aug 8, 9:47 AM ET

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Broncos defense has one rung left to climb

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