Broncos linebacker Von Miller stares at the framed picture he’s holding and smiles. It depicts “his family,” featuring wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and quarterback Peyton Manning, among others, before boarding a charter flight earlier this season.
“He’s the dad,” Miller says pointing to Manning.
Miller laughs with respect. Then reconsiders the question. Were last week’s workouts his best of the season, leading to his two-sack breakthrough at San Diego?
“Hey Brandon (Marshall), how was I at practice last week? Was I still having fun with the guys?” Miller said. Marshall nods, admitting a few moments earlier that “Von is special, man. He’s an entertaining guy, but a (heck) of a player.”
Armed with ferocious leg strength, quick hands and spectacled eyes for the quarterback, Miller boasts uncommon talent in a league of athletic anomalies. The Broncos fashion themselves as a Super Bowl contender with a barb-wired defense. Only the Cincinnati Bengals have allowed fewer points than the Broncos.
Miller provides the pressure points. His two sacks Sunday against the Chargers left him with a team-best nine for the season, tops among all 3-4 outside linebackers. The Broncos own 99 quarterback hits. Miller has produced 25.
When teams enjoy special seasons, they receive unlikely contributions from unsung players. But the foundation of success hinges on their stars. And Miller has begun to glisten when it matters most. He boasts four sacks in his past five games.
“I don’t know if practice was different last week. I had my mind on work, helping this team, but I was still enjoying it,” Miller said. “The focus is there. Maybe it was more. But it’s always there.”
Miller harrassed Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. He explained that Rivers knew his cologne by game’s end. The stench of victory was strong. The Chargers never reached the red zone once against the Broncos. Their three points were a season-low by a Denver opponent.
“If not the best, he’s one of the best at rushing the passer,” Rivers said after the Chargers’ fifth consecutive home loss.
Named the Broncos defensive player of the week by the coaching staff, Miller forced and recovered a fumble. He broke out a new sack celebration, a dabbing robot. Or something like that. In the days leading up the game, Miller talked of dancing over, not trash talking with Rivers. Sacks get players paid. And Miller, who will be eligible for the franchise tag this offseason, remains a candidate for a huge contract along the lines of Kansas City’s Justin Houston. The Chiefs Pro Bowler signed a $101-million deal with $52.5 million guaranteed before the season.
Miller’s impact goes beyond the impact on the quarterback. He wrecks game plans, demands extra attention on blocks and help from running backs and tight ends to chip him. Opponents are forced to make uncomfortable choices. If they tilt the protection to Miller, it opens lanes for surging standouts Derek Wolfe and Malik Jackson. Jackson joked he rented a place in the Chargers backfield from Airbnb on Sunday, his stat sheet proof of his lease. Miller, Wolfe and Jackson have combined for16 hits on the quarterback during the Broncos’ three-game winning streak. DeMarcus Ware, his back injury improved, is set to join them Sunday against Oakland.
Miller’s teammates can already picture it.
“You add DeMarcus and that’s just disgusting,” said Wolfe. “That’s just gross. You just don’t see defenses like that.”
Troy E. Renck: trenck@denverpost.com or @troyrenck
Eye on …The Oakland Raiders
Raiders at Broncos, 2:05 p.m., Sunday, KCNC-4
For the record: After looking primed for a playoff spot, the Raiders have lost four of their past five games, including a 34-20 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday that dropped them to 5-7.
Who’s hot: Outside linebacker Khalil Mack made two sacks Sunday against the Chiefs. He also made two sacks the week before. Mack likely will be a nuisance to Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler all game.
Who’s not: Quarterback Derek Carr is having a great sophomore season, but he threw three interceptions Sunday that led directly to the Raiders’ loss.
Key stat: The Broncos’ have won eight consecutive games against the Raiders. Oakland’s last victory came Sept. 12, 2011 in John Fox’s debut as Denver’s head coach. Kyle Orton started at QB for the Broncos that game.
FYI: The ageless wonder, 39-year-old Raiders free safety Charles Woodson, made two interceptions of Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning the last time these teams played. He has five interceptions this season and had two fumble recoveries Sunday against Kansas City.
Injury report: Raiders’ starting center Rodney Hudson has missed the past two games with an ankle injury.
Coachspeak: “Certainly at the end, there were opportunities where it has to be different for him to be the player he wants to be and for us to be the team we want to be.”
— Raiders coach Jack Del Rio on Carr’s interceptions against Kansas City.
Cameron Wolfe, The Denver Post
