The Denver Broncos‘ defense ranks sixth in total yards allowed (295.2) and third in points allowed (17.9) per game this season. Denver’s 31 sacks rank third and the team’s 12 takeaways rank 12th.
The overall numbers are impressive, but the unit had a poor showing in a 41-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens last week. The Broncos’ defense will now aim to bounce back against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 10.
After signing a four-year contract extension, outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper said he believes the best is yet to come for Denver’s young defense.
“We have a lot of young, talented guys on this defense, and I think we’re only going to get better,” Cooper said Wednesday. “Even just moving forward, the way we’ve been able to accomplish things this year. I feel like we still haven’t played our best defense as a unit and as a whole. People have individual stuff, but I feel like just together we can grow and get even better.
“I feel like that just comes with more time because like you said, we have a lot of young guys. I’m just excited to be a part of it and definitely am going to do all I can to lead and help us get to wherever we need to go.”
Cooper ranks second on the team with 5.5 sacks this year, just behind Nik Bonitto’s 6.0 sacks. This week, they’ll look to build on those totals against Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has been sacked an average of two times per game this season.
