The numbers at this point are well-established, but they jump off the page nonetheless.
In Denver’s first four games, opponents scored an average of 40 points per game. The historic blowout in Miami tilted those numbers, but even without that 70-point blight, still the Broncos ranked near the bottom of the NFL.
Over the team’s past three games — two of them against vaunted Kansas City — the performance has swung dramatically. Vance Joseph’s group has allowed just 15 points per game. A more manageable 331 yards per game allowed. The Chiefs and Packers scored just three red zone touchdowns in 11 trips, vaulting the Broncos to No. 11 in the NFL for the season at 50% touchdowns allowed.
Players have the ultimate say, of course, but they give ample credit to Joseph’s steady demeanor in helping engineer the turnaround.
“One thing about VJ, he’s always positive no matter what goes on,” cornerback Pat Surtain II said. “He’s very confident in us and in this scheme. We just rally behind him, hone in on the little things. He’s a great coach and a great players’ coach. When you’ve got a guy like that running the calls, you ain’t got nothing but to level up your game.”
Joseph acknowledged the start was poor — and exacerbated by blowing home leads and the debacle in Miami — but said he didn’t lose confidence that his group would come around.
“It was early still. It wasn’t good, obviously, but you can’t panic,” Joseph said. “You just keep coaching, and that’s what we do. It’s more about thinking than being emotional. And finding the reasons why we weren’t playing good. That’s my job.”
Joseph knew they had to find ways to improve quickly and they did make several moves — jettisoning veteran pass-rushers Frank Clark and Randy Gregory, inserting corners Fabian Moreau and Ja’Quan McMillian into the lineup and waiting out a rash of safety injuries among them — but also didn’t find it difficult to stay calm.
“I’m a guy that’s pretty laid back anyway,” he said. “As a coach, when things are not going right, it’s my job to kind of make it better and to try to explain vs. trying to dictate or coach with fear. That never works. Just taking our time and finding ways to improve the defense quickly. It’s happening. It’s not totally done yet.
“It’s going to be a nice challenge on Monday night, but it’s getting better.”
Diggs limited Friday. The Broncos again had every active player participate fully in practice. Buffalo, meanwhile, had All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs pop up with a back injury Friday that limited his participation.
Buffalo’s had a tough run of injuries but had S Jordan Poyer (shin) and DE Leonard Floyd (illness) returned to practice Friday.
Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.
