The Broncos defense must break through in Week 4

It’s a strange time in Broncos Country. Heading into a Week 4 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars, at 0-3 the Denver Broncos are in unfamiliar territory. It is such a different place compared to the last two seasons.

As Ian St. Clair mentioned on the MHR Radio Podcast (Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify), the Broncos started each of the last two seasons 2-0. After those hot starts, Broncos Country could only shake their heads as both seasons ended without a playoff run. Now, at 0-3, it isn’t hard to find fans so frustrated that they are already calling for Vic Fangio to be fired.

Let’s pump the brakes on that for a moment. It’s easy to point fingers, and play the blame game when things aren’t going well. Frankly, it hasn’t been a very smooth ride for the Broncos for awhile, and asking for patience might be too big a request for some. However, even Broncos players understand that fault lies with the players.

We started the podcast discussing Chris Harris Jr.’s quote about the defense. Essentially, Harris said blame for the issues on defense lie with the players. Fangio has been calling plays, and mixing it up. It is just time for the players to make their mark on the game.

So what is the problem? After 3 games, the defense has failed to generate a turnover or get a sack. It’s the first time that has happened in 50 years in the NFL. But is it really as bad as it sounds? The Raider game was the only game that the defense couldn’t seem to get off the field. The Broncos held the Bears to 16 points. They held Aaron Rodgers in check, and lost because of offensive turnovers.

So ask yourself, how different would things be if Von Miller or Bradley Chubb were able to generate just one sack? We wouldn’t be talking about some stupid record, but we would still probably be talking about 0-3.

As the Broncos prepare to play the Jaguars, you can bet that the defense is gearing up to get to Garder Minshew. If they don’t it’s possible that the entire city of Denver could collapse into the center of the Earth. But if the Broncos win, and fail to generate a turnover or get a sack, what then? Will it still be time to panic?

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