After defeating the New York Jets on Sunday, the Denver Broncos have officially gone 2-2 on the season. Although the offense didn’t play well in the game, it’s still a win because the defense is playing excellent football.
I enjoy it when the Broncos’ culture shifts. It’s different now than it was in the past when they would not have won such a game.
I also enjoy driving my ancient Jeep Wrangler TJ with the top down and thinking about life and sports! The outcome of those weeklong travels is as follows.
There’s no doubt that the Broncos defeated the Jets thanks to their defense. While the offense contributed, it was the defense that relentlessly pressured Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has been on a mission this season, achieving success almost every week.
From the very first play, the Broncos made Rodgers uncomfortable with their pressure. The defensive line did its job, while cornerback Pat Surtain effectively neutralized star receiver Garrett Wilson. Joseph’s aggressive play calling reflects the style of Wade Phillips.
Rather than relying on complex schemes to confuse opponents, Joseph has shifted to a more straightforward approach. He’s focusing on sending heavy pressure and trusting his players to make plays. This combination of aggression and simplicity has propelled the Broncos defense to one of the best in the league.
The Broncos’ defense is solid, and their performance will contribute to more victories than many anticipated. Joseph’s goal is to lead the Broncos to success, and his contributions could earn him another chance at being a head coach in the future.
We haven’t seen the true Javonte Williams in a couple of years. As a rookie, he was an exceptional tackle-breaker, and I was thrilled when the Broncos selected him in the second round after ranking him as the top running back in that draft. In 2021, Williams broke tackles once every six carries, leading the league and looking like a rising star for Denver.
Unfortunately, a severe knee injury early in the 2022 season derailed his progress. Although he made a remarkable return for the 2023 season, he didn’t play at the same level. Instead of consistently breaking tackles, he managed to do so only once every 20 carries—one of the lowest rates in the league.
This season, Williams had struggled like last year—until the game against the Jets. The wet field prevented him from being overly agile, allowing him to hit the hole quicker. Additionally, the Broncos utilized more zone plays, which suit Williams’ style, enabling him to rush for 77 yards on 16 carries against the Jets.
Justin Strnad has been a reliable special teams player for the Broncos in recent years, but expectations for him were higher. When the Broncos selected him in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Wake Forest, he was anticipated to address the team’s inside linebacker issues. Since Danny Trevathan left after the 2015 season, the position has struggled.
However, Strnad has faced injury challenges and hasn’t stood out during his chances to play on defense. As they approached Week 4, the Broncos needed him to step up following the season-ending knee injury to starting inside linebacker Alex Singleton in Week 3. Although the team brought in players like Kwon Alexander and Zach Cunningham, those additions weren’t prepared to play against the Jets.
Strnad was ready.
He tackled Rodgers on the opening play, and Strnad took most of the defensive snaps for the Broncos, wrapping up with four tackles. This marked his first game as a starting defensive player since 2021, and he delivered the best performance of his professional career.
Losing Singleton sucks but having a guy like Strnad step up and shine really helps this Broncos defense. It’s just further proof that players can change and improve at various points in their career.
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