Denver Broncos Defense Shames Jets D
Lets put things into perspective: the New York Jets have a top defense in the NFL but it’s not a dominating D. It is nowhere near comparison to the Denver Broncos. Here’s why.
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Defense’s big plays key Broncos victory in season opener vs. Panthers |
| Source: www.denverpost.com/2016/09/08/denver-broncos-carolina-panthers-week-1/ | |
The NY Jets have a hall of famer in Darrelle Revis and potential all-timers in Muhamad Wilkerson and Leonard Williams. As a unit, the defense recorded 39 sacks, 17 forced fumbles, and 18 interceptions in 2015; according to ESPN. What these stats prove, along with what most fans can see every game, is that the Jets defense is talented. What they don’t reveal, however, is that it isn’t a dominating defense.
By dominate I mean shut down opposing offenses and take control of a game. This is what the Denver Broncos have. We can compare stats between the Jets and Broncos but that doesn’t get to the point of what I’m getting at. By the way, statistically, the Broncos still beat the Jets last year with 52 sacks, 25 forced fumbles, and 14 interceptions; according to ESPN.
Cam Newton led the Panthers to a 15-1 record in 2015 and was favored to beat the Denver Broncos in the final game. Carolina was favored not only to win but to win by many points over the Broncos. Many reasoned that since Peyton Manning was past his prime and Cam was unstoppable, the Panthers would roll over Denver. But this never happened. Cam was stopped by the dominating Bronco defense.
I’ll disregard the stats again to emphasize my point. Cam wasn’t the same Cam. He was frustrated and didn’t make the plays he normally made during the season. Out of the top defenses Cam faced in 2015 (which include the Seahawks, Cardinals, and Texans) none made him look off as the Broncos did. Led by Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware, the defensive line pressured Newton all game throwing him off his rhythm. The quarterback that seemed like Superman appeared as feeble as Clark Kent with Kryptonite.
That’s a dominating defense. It wasn’t just Miller and Ware who stopped Cam but also DE Malik Jackson, CB Aqib Talib, and LB Brandon Marshall. The defense made a good QB like Newton look mediocre.
Can the Jets defense make a great QB look bad?
No.
At best the NYJ D stops runs, makes interceptions, and keeps the Jets offense close in the game. They haven’t embarrassed Tom Brady and made him look awful. They can compete with a star QB like Brady but there isn’t one moment when a Jet fan thinks the defense will shut out Brady.
And for all of you who may dismiss the Broncos D dominance as a one year fluke, look at the 2016 season opener where the Denver defense repeated its pressure on Cam and the Panthers. Sure the Broncos won by a small margin of 21-20 with Carolina being only a missed field goal away from winning the game. Looking at it in this way doesn’t say much.
Look again, though.
What the game really said is that the Broncos defense is so dominating it can make a previous third string quarterback, Trevor Siemian, compete and win over a MVP like Cam. In this era where most claim you need to have an elite QB to win, the Denver D is proving otherwise. Denver doesn’t even need a B grade quarterback to win. They’re settling for a C+ quarterback because their defense can lead the team to victory.
Siemian threw 2 interceptions and ended with a 69.1 rating and the Broncos were still able to beat Cam’s Panthers. It took until the second half for the Broncos defense to put pressure on Cam but when they did the game was over. Ware and Miller let their presence be known in the third and fourth quarters.
Most can agree that Siemian is not in the caliber of Ryan Fitzpatrick as a quarterback. Yet, with a better QB the New York Jets defense cannot beat out other good teams. They struggled even with beating a Texans team with T.J. Yates and a Buffalo Bills team with Tyrod Taylor.
Reason being that the Jets offense and defense are good; but not great. If the Jets defense was really great they can take a C+ quarterback and win over a team with a great QB like Brady or Cam. If they were great like the Broncos, the Jets defense would be able to win with Geno Smith over Brady, Cam, and Russell Wilson. Most especially over QBs like Yates and Taylor.
The Jets defense cannot replicate the Broncos’ Siemian with Geno Smith, though, because they’re in a different league.
Revis, Wilkerson, and Williams do not equal to Ware, Miller, or Marshall. I’m not complaining on the Jets defense. I’m just being realistic.
