SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Broncos linebacker had two sacks in Sunday’s 20-14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers to set the franchise rookie record. Chubb has 12 sacks, ahead of (2011) and Rulon Jones (1980), the previous record holders with 11 1/2 sacks.
“For me to come in and do something that special is pretty cool,” Chubb said. “But I can’t really enjoy it because the outcome wasn’t what we wanted. Itap still a blessing to be in that position. I’ll celebrate some other time. Not today.”
Chubb, the fifth overall selection in last spring’s draft, started slowly, posting only 1 1/2 sacks in the first five games. But he has at least one sack in eight of the last nine games, including three multi-sack games.
Miller had one sack to run his total to 13 1/2 and his streak to eight consecutive games with a sack. As a tandem, Miller and Chubb’s combined 25 1/2 sacks lead the NFL and are second all-time in Broncos history.
“He was somebody I tried to model my game after,” Chubb said of Miller. “When I got the call on Draft Day, that was the first thing that came to my mind — ‘Now I get to play with somebody I look up to and one of the best in the league.’ Itap been a dream come true.”
Among all NFL rookies since 1982, when sacks became an official statistic, Chubb is tied with Carolina’s Julius Peppers (2002) for second behind San Diego’s Leslie O’Neal (12 1/2 in 1986).
Flag day. The Broncos were called for 11 enforced penalties (for 62 yards), their most since 13 penalties (for 120 yards) in a Week 3 loss at Baltimore.
Miller was called three times for a neutral zone infraction; he had only four penalties in the first 12 games. Two of the neutral zone penalties against the 49ers came on a touchdown drive late in the second quarter.
Asked if Miller needed to stop timing the snap count after the first penalty, coach said: “Absolutely you have to stop guessing. You can’t do that.”
Rookies galore. The Broncos tied a franchise record by starting six rookies in a game: Chubb, running back , cornerback Isaac Yiadom, linebacker Josey Jewell and receivers and . In 2008, the Broncos started six rookies for three games.
Footnotes. Announced with injuries but able to return to the game were Sutton (quad), Yiadom (shoulder) and defensive end (evaluated for a concussion)….Inside linebacker (bone bruise in knee) missed his fifth consecutive game. He was listed as questionable on Friday’s final injury report but has yet to be a full practice participant since being shut down at Kansas City in Week 8. … Brittany Bowlen, a daughter of Broncos owner , made the trip and was on the sidelines during pre-game warmups. In mid-October, Brittany Bowlen, 28, went public with her desire to be the team’s next controlling owner.
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