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All stats taken from NFL.com
| OFFENSE | 2010 | |
| Category | Rank | |
| Points For | 21.5 |
19th |
| Total Yds | 348.9 | 13th |
| Pass Yds | 252.4 | 7th |
| Rush Yds | 96. 5 | 26th |
| Sacks Given Up |
40 | T-9th most |
| Fumbles Lost | 15 | 6th most |
| Penalties | 6.1 per Gm | 13th |
| 3rd Downs | 67/207- 32.4% | 28th |
After 3 games this year, things look like this:
| OFFENSE | 2011 | |
| Category | Rank | |
| Points For | 19.3 |
23rd |
| Total Yds | 286.3 | 27th |
| Pass Yds | 210.3 | 22nd |
| Rush Yds | 76. 0 | 27th |
| Sacks Given Up | 8 | T-10th most |
| Fumbles Lost | 4 | T-3rd most |
| Penalties | 6.0 per Gm | 18th |
| 3rd Downs | 19/40 - 47.5% | 7th |
Yeah I know. It doesn't look that promising does it. Even the vast improvement in 3rd Down conversions isn't enough to sweeten the taste. This is the current cause of the Bronco Blues. However, there are shades of improvement and there is proof. After years of neglect to the Defensive side of the ball, the Broncos drafted a slew of players on Defense and it is paying dividends. So far this year, the Broncos defensive rankings look like this:
| DEFENSE | 2011 | |
| Category | Rank | |
| Points Against | 20.7 |
13th |
| Total Yds | 334.7 | 16th |
| Pass Yds | 234.7 | 13th |
| Rush Yds | 100. 0 | 14th |
| Sacks | 5 | T-23rd |
| Forced Fumbles | 3 | T-10th |
| Interceptions | 0 | 31st |
| 3rd Downs | 14/40 - 35% | 12th |
Yes the Broncos need to get some Interceptions. That is a given. Now take a look at last years numbers and you will see that there is something to get excited about.
| DEFENSE | 2010 | |
| Category | Rank | |
| Points Against | 29.4 |
32nd |
| Total Yds | 390.8 | 32nd |
| Pass Yds | 236.2 | 25th |
| Rush Yds | 154. 6 | 31st |
| Sacks | 23 | 32nd |
| Forced Fumbles | 13 | 19th |
| Interceptions | 10 | 30th |
| 3rd Downs | 80/209 - 38.3% | 17th |
Those numbers should make Bronco fans happy. Should the Offense show the kind of improvement that the Defense has throughout this season, Denver will get close to .500. The fact that they are 1-2 and all 3 games have been decided by 3 points should be heartening also. Last year, the Broncos lost by at least one touchdown 8 times, two touchdowns six times and 3 or more on three occasions.
I would also like to point out that the (2-1) Oakland Raiders have the #1 ranked Rushing Offense, but only beat the Broncos by a Field Goal. Denver beat the (1-2) Cincinnati Bengals and their 3rd Ranked Dense by 2 points and the (2-1) Tennessee Titans and their #1 ranked Defense (and 2nd vs. the Pass) beat the Broncos by a mere 3 points.