Broncos' Ware named AFC Defensive Player of the Month

Another day, another defensive award for the Broncos, this time for outside linebacker and quarterback terrorizer extraordinaire, DeMarcus Ware.

The veteran edge rusher was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for September.

And it's no wonder - Ware has 3.5 sacks (tied for second in the NFL) through the first three games, and his 11 QB hits is tops in the league. Only J.J. Watt and Everson Griffen are close at 8 each.

Playing in his 11th NFL season, second for the Broncos, Ware is also the only NFL player to post a sack in each game this season, which has helped vault him to 13^th place on the NFL's all-time sack list with 130.5.

On this No. 1 Broncos' defense, the eight-time Pro-Bowler has been an absolute beast.

"The dude is playing like he still has hair and it's on fire," says MHR's own Pete Baron.

This award - the first time Ware has received it - also puts him in pretty good company with other Broncos who have earned it in the past:

Ware noted last week that sustaining this All-Pro pace this year has been a goal of his after wearing down early last season.

"I think it was like I had six sacks in six games last year and then didn't have many after that," Ware pointed out. "So I really pounded myself this offseason and told myself, ‘How consistent can you be?' That's what I really brought myself on through the offseason and now during the season week in and week out."

And consistency is going to be a key if the Broncos defense is going to sustain its No. 1 NFL ranking.

"Everybody's got to get out there and pick each other up. But when everybody plays well, that's when everybody gets a pat on the back," Ware said. "That's what we're trying to do. It doesn't matter who plays well. It's about the team picking each other up and getting the job done."