P.J. Locke shot out of a cannon, and Aaron Rodgers didn’t stand a chance.
Late in the fourth quarter of Denver’s 10-9 win over the New York Jets, the Broncos starting safety stormed into the backfield and sacked the star quarterback on a crucial fourth-and-10.
Pre-snap, the defense showed an all-out blitz. Inside linebackers Cody Barton and Justin Strnad lined up between the guard and center, with Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto at outside linebacker. When the ball was snapped, Barton and Cooper dropped into coverage while Locke came from Rodgers’ blind side and delivered a vicious tackle.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton said Rodgers’ quick release and pre-snap adjustments make him hard to sack. But Denver sacked him five times at MetLife Stadium. It was the first time a team recorded at least five sacks against Rodgers since the Carolina Panthers in 2020.
Denver’s pass rush has been a work of art, beautifully painted by defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. After an inconsistent effort last season, Joseph has his players locked in to start the 2024 campaign by keeping opponents off-balanced with different pressure looks.
“Not often you fool a guy like Aaron,” Payton said. “I think Vance has done a good job of picking those opportunities and frequently showing (blitz) and getting out into other looks. Certainly, it’s unsettling.”
Through four weeks, the Broncos have one of the best defenses in the league, and the numbers prove it. Denver blitzes more than any team, ranking second in sacks (16), third in pressures (57) and passing yards allowed (146 per game), and sixth in pressure rate (46.3%).
Against the Jets, Denver set the tone from the jump and didn’t let up until the clock hit zero in the fourth quarter. On the first play of the game, the Broncos rushed seven, including Strnad and Barton. Running back Breece Hall had to step in to block Barton, but Strnad snuck into the pocket, undetected by Rodgers to record his first sack of his career.
“It’s always important for us to start fast against all our opponents,” Cooper said. “Make sure we set that tone early for the defense and carry that energy throughout the game.”
It wasn’t the first time Joseph had his inside linebackers shoot through the A-Gap. In Week 3, Tampa Bay faced a fourth-and-3 in the fourth quarter when Singleton and Barton charged at quarterback Baker Mayfield — who attempted to scramble up the middle but was taken down by Bonitto.
The double A-Gap blitz is one of many looks Joseph has utilized early on this season. There are moments when Joseph has sent five-plus at the quarterback or disguised pressure and dropped players into coverage. In the second quarter on Sunday, Strnad dropped back while Barton and Bonitto brought heat from both sides, resulting in a sack by the latter.
The Broncos presented a similar look with 56 seconds left in regulation. It looked like Denver would rush six defenders, but Barton and Strnad dropped back and Cooper brought pressure from the right side to force an incomplete pass on third down.
“We can get after the passer with four people. When we can disguise that, drop more people in coverage, and still get pressure, that’s winning football,” Cooper said. “As long as you have a four-man rush that (puts) pressure on the quarterback, it makes the blitzes and everything a lot easier to go through because (the opponent is) constantly worried about something else.”
Denver’s front seven and secondary have worked hand-in-hand. The Broncos have provided solid coverage, allowing enough time for the players up front to get at the quarterback. During the two-minute mark of the second quarter against Pittsburgh, quarterback Justin Fields couldn’t find anyone open down the field, and defensive end Zach Allen had time to fight off a pair of offensive linemen to record a sack.
Joseph’s defense is about spreading wealth. The Broncos have 16 different players with at least one pressure, according to Next Gen Stats. Cooper, an unrestricted free agent in 2025, has 16 pressures and three sacks. Meanwhile, Allen has 21 pressures — fourth-most in the league. Allen leads all NFL defensive tackles in total pressures generated with 85 since the start of 2023.
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The former Arizona Cardinal signed a three-year deal last offseason before Denver added defensive linemen John Franklin-Myers and Malcolm Roach last spring to rebuild in the trenches. Those moves have paid off thus far.
“It’s been a combination of players that have been here and players that (general manager) George (Paton) and I felt like could help us win here,” Payton said. “Then (it was) getting the leadership and production from certain guys (who) were playing with energy.”
Perhaps the most impressive thing about Denver’s defense is how Joseph has found success without having many household names. Cornerback Pat Surtain II — taken ninth overall in 2021 — is the only first-round pick in the starting lineup. The next highest pick is Bonitto, a second-round draft choice in 2022.
The rest of the starting defense consists of three players taken in the third round and a fifth-, sixth- and seventh-rounder. Locke was an undrafted free agent in 2019. That’s a testament to Joseph putting players in a position to succeed and the organization’s ability to find talent that fits the vision of the defense.
“You could see how hungry this group is and how desperate we are (to do) the right things, ” Cooper said. “I love this defense.”
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