The race is on now. What’s that? No, not a playoff race. The Broncos realistically haven’t been in one of those for a month or so.
I’m talking about the race to avoid infamy. To avoid being the team that allows the most points in AFC, if not the entire NFL.
The Broncos’ defensive issues are obvious on the field and even more obvious when you look at the “points for” and “points against” ledger in the standings.
Denver has allowed 367 points in 13 games. Two more and it would tie the 2000 team for the most allowed during the Mike Shanahan era. Only one AFC team, the one-win Dolphins, have allowed more points. The Phish are at 371 and counting.
Over in the NFC, the Lions are in their own little parallel universe, having allowed 390 points. But then, who’s to say the Broncos won’t have another 40-point meltdown in their next game? They play the Chargers in San Diego, where the Bolts hung 48 on them last season.
It appears as though the Broncos won’t “catch” the Lions, but in the end, does it really matter? Here’s what matters: They have to improve, dramatically and quickly, on the defensive side of the ball.
Follow Jim Armstrong’s daily Broncos commentaries on The Jimmy Page at 7 a.m. and noon, and read his columns on Sundays and the day after Broncos games at .
He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
