Heading into the season, Denver’s defensive line was one of the biggest question marks on the team
Denver Broncos defensive end Zach Allen (99) and Denver Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto (42), left, celebrate their sack against Cleveland Browns quarterback PJ Walker (10) for a safety in the fourth quarter at Empower Field at Mile High November 26, 2023.
In trench warfare against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon, the Broncos’ defensive line had the advantage.
The Broncos were well ahead, holding a 27-12 lead late in the fourth quarter, but defensive end Zach Allen wanted to add one more exclamation point.
With the Browns facing a third-and-10 at their 5-yard line, Allen bulldozed past two offensive linemen before teaming up with outside linebacker Nik Bonitto to sack quarterback P.J. Walker in the end zone for a safety.
Heading into the season, Denver’s defensive line was one of the biggest question marks on the team.
In the Broncos’ 29-12 win over the Browns, the unit stepped up, producing two of the team’s three takeaways while repeatedly disrupting Cleveland’s solid offensive line.
“It’s hard to have success if your guys up front on both sides of the ball — the trenches as we like to say — are not at least neutralizing or playing up to the level of your opponent,” head coach Sean Payton said. “I think we’ve gotten really good play from that defensive front.”
If it felt like every key player on the Broncos’ defensive line made an impact, it’s because they did. Nose tackle Mike Purcell recovered a fumble in the first quarter.
And when the Browns threatened to score a touchdown in the final seconds of the second quarter, he deflected quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s pass attempt. Thompson-Robinson threw another incomplete pass on the following play, forcing the Browns to settle for a field goal.
Defensive lineman Jonathan Harris made a big stop in the fourth. Browns quarterback P.J. Walker, who replaced Thompson-Robinson after he suffered a head injury, threw a screen pass to running back Jerome Ford before Harris quickly tackled him for a 4-yard loss.
“Those guys worked all game,” Bonitto said. “Being able to defend the run (and) being disruptive.”
Nose tackle D.J. Jones wasn’t pleased that he missed six tackles in last week’s win over the Vikings, but he made up for it with a clutch play against Cleveland.
As the Browns were down 17-12 at the start of the fourth, they attempted a reverse, but running back Pierre Strong Jr. couldn’t maintain control of the ball, and Jones recovered the fumble.
In recent weeks, Jones’ athleticism, which allowed him to quickly get into the backfield for the turnover, has been on display.
Against the Buffalo Bills in Week 10, quarterback Josh Allen threw a screen pass to running back Latavius Murray. Jones was out on the edge when he stopped Murray for a loss of three yards.
“[He has] good football instincts and is athletic for an inside tackle,” Payton said.
At the forefront was Allen, who has improved each week. Allen had four pressures and a pass rush win rate of 18.2% against the Browns, according to Pro Football Focus.
He’s tied for 14th in the league in quarterback hits with 16. Allen has seven quarterback hits in the last five games.
“(Allen) has that staying power, consistency and smarts,” Payton said. “It’s impressive. It’s hard to do when you’re in the trenches where he’s at. He’s been a great addition to our front.”
Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto has seven sacks and is projected to finish the year with 10. He would be the first Bronco since Von Miller and Bradley Chubb in 2018 to record a double-digit sack total in a single season.
“It would mean a lot to me,” Bonitto said. “I just gotta take it one game at a time and follow the pass rush plan every week.”
The Browns have one of the best pass rushes in the league, but the Broncos kept it in check.
Denver’s offensive line only allowed one sack and four quarterback hurries. Left tackle Garett Bolles neutralized star edge rusher Myles Garrett, who didn’t record a sack for the third time this season. Sunday marked the fourth time since 2022 that Garrett didn’t record a quarterback hit in a game.
Broncos running back Javonte Williams had 18 carries for 65 yards. Interestingly enough, Denver is 10-3 when Williams has 14 or more rushing attempts in a game.
The former North Carolina standout has recorded 14-plus carries in four games in 2023, and the Broncos have won each.
Denver cornerback Pat Surtain II continues to put the clamps on the league’s top wide receivers.
He held Browns star wideout Amari Cooper to one reception for 11 yards on four targets, according to Pro Football Focus. Surtain allowed two receptions for 20 yards on six targets for the entire game.
“He sees the best (opposing teams) have, and that’s not an easy task. He’s answered the challenge,” Payton said.
