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Through their first 11 games of the 2025 NFL season, the Denver Broncos Defense has made a statement. And that statement is, we are coming for your Quarterback's soul.
Executive summary
Through 11 games the Denver Broncos’ defense is being widely described as a dominant, quarterback-harassing unit: multiple outlets note the team sitting near the top of the league in sacks (46 through 10 games with the team projected to reach historic totals) and weekly analytics praise an elite pass rush that generated a 48.6% pressure rate in a single game sample [1] [2]. Reporting also shows the pass rush produced game-changing performances — nine sacks in one game and repeated multi‑sack outings — while local coverage credited the defense with disrupting elite quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes [3] [4] [5].
1. The raw numbers: Denver’s sack surge and record pace
Statistics and league trackers put the Broncos near the top of the NFL in sacks and pressure metrics. NBC Sports reported the Broncos had 46 sacks through 10 games and calculated that pace would project to about 78 sacks for the season, a total that would break modern-era records; that same story highlighted individual sack leaders such as Nik Bonitto (9.5) and Jonathon Cooper (7.5) [1]. Another NBC item noted Denver’s 46 sacks led the league by a wide margin and said the team could join a short list of teams that reached 50 sacks in their first 11 games historically [6]. Advanced analytic coverage from PFF reinforced the narrative by showing elite single‑game pass‑rush output — 17 pressures on 35 dropbacks for a 48.6% pressure rate, six sacks and three quarterback hits in one week — and high pass‑rush grades [2].
2. Impact plays and standout performances that fuel the “soul‑taking” narrative
Game reporting supplies concrete examples that support the dramatic framing. Proximate game accounts and the Broncos’ season summary noted outings with massive sack totals — a nine‑sack game against a single opponent was flagged in season recaps — and local stories described specific game‑winning or stall‑the‑drive plays, such as Ja’Quan McMillian’s late-game sacks and a pick on Patrick Mahomes in the Week 11 win at Empower Field [3] [4]. After the Chiefs game, The Gazette emphasized that Denver entered that matchup averaging 4.6 sacks per game and still managed to pressure Patrick Mahomes heavily, recording eight quarterback hits despite only three sacks in that specific game [5].
3. Context and caveats: pace, sample sizes, and opponent variation
Contextual pieces and projection work advise caution before turning a hot start into a definitive label. NBC’s projections explicitly translate current sack totals into season paces, which depend heavily on future game flow and opponent protection schemes [1] [6]. PFF’s week‑by‑week grading highlights single‑game dominance but is based on specific opponents and short samples [2]. Analytics writers and preseason previews also noted turnover in personnel and dependency on certain front‑seven matchups — suggesting sustainability could hinge on health and snap distribution among key players [7] [8].
4. Contrasting viewpoints: praise, projection, and quarterback concerns
Multiple outlets praise the pass rush, but they offer different takes on broader implications. Pro‑analytics outlets (PFF, NBC) frame Denver’s front as historically productive and rising in the weekly defensive‑line rankings [2] [1]. Local beat writers and columnists point to the defense as the primary reason for recent wins while also emphasizing that offensive inconsistency — and quarterback Bo Nix’s development — remains a crucial variable for the team’s ceiling [5] [9]. Preseason projections and piecework from ESPN/Mike Clay and SI note that certain depth players and rotation snaps will determine longer‑term productivity, implying the pass rush’s current outcomes are influenced by roster context and usage [7] [10].
5. What “coming for your quarterback’s soul” means in evidence, and what it doesn’t
The hyperbolic phrase captures two provable facts in current reporting: Denver is creating pressure at an elite rate in several games and piling up sacks at a league‑leading clip, producing game‑defining plays [2] [1]. What the available sources do not confirm is that this will be sustained without variation — NBC’s season‑pace projections and PFF’s weekly grades both imply dependence on future matchups, rotations, and health [1] [2]. Sources also show the defense can be dominant even in games with fewer sacks because pressures and hits still disrupted quarterbacks [5].
6. Bottom line for readers and opponents
Based on the compiled reporting, the Broncos’ defense through Week 11 has earned a reputation as a premier pass‑rushing group, backed by high sack totals, elite pressure rates in sample games, and notable disruption against top quarterbacks [1] [2] [4]. Analysts and beat writers urge caution about extrapolating one‑month dominance into season‑long guarantees — they point to pace calculations, opponent mix, and roster depth as key uncertainties [1] [7]. Opposing offenses should take the “we’re coming for your quarterback” messaging seriously — the evidence shows the Broncos can (and have) turned that intent into decisive, game‑changing plays [3] [5].