Broncos fans already knew it was bad.
Now the NFL stat page has confirmed it’s really bad. The worst defense in the NFL? Denver has it.
The Broncos have surrendered an NFL-high 32.5 points per game. Next worst is 0-6 Detroit, allowing 31.3 points per game.
“You make a mistake trying to find one thing,” Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey said. “It’s a lot of things, and we know that. We have to get better in every area of the game. Stopping the pass, stopping the run and we’ve just got to have a better attitude toward approaching this game and trying to get wins, and we just didn’t have that attitude (Monday).”
The Broncos are ranked 32nd against the pass in the 32-team NFL, allowing 255.5 yards per game. Yet, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said his biggest defensive concern after his team’s 41-7 loss in New England was stopping the run.
The Broncos have made stopping the run a priority this season, but they still rank 25th, surrendering 137.5 yards a game. And climbing. Patriots journeyman running back Sammy Morris had 138 yards by halftime Monday. In the second half, rookie BenJarvus Green-Ellis and veteran Kevin Faulk combined for 115 rushing yards on 17 carries.
The Patriots’ 257 rushing yards tied for the greatest game in their last 23 years. Ugh.
“Going into the game, we thought we had improved,” Shanahan said. “Obviously, they ran the ball very successfully on us.”
Not that the offense has helped. A high-scoring juggernaut through a 3-0 start this season has turning into a turnover machine. Their 17 turnovers have led to 54 points.
