Linebackers Paul Posluszny and Telvin Smith
continue to play at a high level, while rookie
cornerback Jalen Ramsey continues to show
flashes of becoming a lockdown corner in the
NFL.
The defense, while playing well the majority
of the season, shows signs of having young
playmakers at each level, giving this unit an
opportunity to develop into an elite group in
the NFL in coming seasons.
THE BRONCOS
Even with an unsettled quarterback situation,
as the defending Super Bowl Champions
the Denver Broncos had the highest of
expectations at the start of the 2016 season.
Those expectations remain, but the clock is
ticking. The AFC West has become the most
challenging division in football with the
Oakland Raiders (9-2) emerging to lead the
way, and the Kansas City Chiefs (8-3) taking
a step ahead of the Broncos with a gamewinning overtime field goal as time expired
for a 30-27 win in Denver last Sunday night.
If the season ended after that epic finish, the
Broncos would be out of the playoffs, making
the December schedule vital for a team on
the outside looking in. The Broncos get backto-back road games in the AFC South; today
against the Jaguars, and next week against
the Tennessee Titans (6-6). The Broncos end
with a murderer’s row of opponents: home
against the New England Patriots (9-2), at the
Chiefs and home against the Raiders.
Defense still defines the Denver Broncos, as
they are the fourth-best overall unit in the
league, and the No. 1 defense against the
pass in the NFL. The heart and soul of the
defensive unit is outside linebacker Von Miller.
The reigning Super Bowl MVP signed a sixyear deal worth a reported $114.5 million and
$70 million in the offseason, and he has put
together an incredible 2016 season. Through
Week 12, Miller has 49 tackles and a leaguebest 12.5 sacks, including 3.0 sacks and four
tackles for loss in last week’s loss to the Chiefs.
Not only a rusher, Miller has the ability to
cover and tackle in space, making him Priority
No. 1 for the Jaguars offense this week.
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