Big plays by Broncos defense in late-game situations keying Denver's 7-2 start

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          Are the Broncos lucky or just good? (0:38)

          • Jeff LegwoldNov 11, 2026, 06:00 AM ET
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              Jeff Legwold covers the Denver Broncos at ESPN. He has covered the Broncos for more than 20 years and also assists with NFL draft coverage, joining ESPN in 2013. He has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors since 1999, too. Jeff previously covered the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills and Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans at previous stops prior to ESPN.
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          ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Since the start of the 2024 NFL season, no defense has created more sacks than the Denver Broncos (157, 32 more than the next-best team), scored more defensive touchdowns (seven) or been better in the red zone (46.4% touchdown percentage allowed). But the numbers aren't quite as dominant through nine weeks of the 2026 season, as opponents have moved at a quicker pace and attacked more on first down to keep the Broncos from revving up their pass rush.

          Still, the Broncos' defense might have carved out a new category of excellence this season.

          During the first half of the 2026 season, this Denver defense has made the plays in the biggest moments, helping the 7-2 Broncos win six one-score games and become the NFL's premier team in crunch time.

          "If you look at the sideline [in those moments], everybody knows it's time to make a play," Broncos edge rusher Nik Bonitto said. "... But I feel like we all think we have more work to do and we can be so much better because we don't step back in those times, we want to be there."

          Bonitto's strip-sack and fumble recovery at the end of Sunday's win over the Carolina Panthers -- the Broncos' fifth straight victory as they enter their bye week -- was the latest instance of Denver's defense shutting the door on its opponents. That work, in concert with quarterback Bo Nix's late-game offensive heroics, have the Broncos in first place in the AFC West and in prime position to be the AFC's No. 1 seed for a second straight season.

          Here's a look at some of the big moments that the Broncos' defense has mustered so far in 2026.

          Week 2 vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars (20-13 win)

          The Broncos trailed the Jaguars 13-6 with 1:40 left in the third quarter, with Jacksonville facing a third-and-6 from midfield. Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence tried to hit wide receiver Parker Washington up the left sideline, but Denver cornerback Riley Moss snatched the ball away at the Broncos' 33-yard line.

          The Broncos scored on the next possession to tie the game 13-13 and went on to win by a touchdown.

          "You could see it in our eyes," said Moss, who had dropped a potential pick-six earlier in the game. "... To be honest with you, it just felt good to come down with one."

          Week 3 vs. Los Angeles Rams (30-26 win)

          The Broncos trailed 19-16 with 5:01 left in the game and the Rams were driving, facing a third-and-6 from the Denver 38-yard-line. Under pressure from edge rusher Que Robinson, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford tried to get the ball quickly to running back Kyren Williams. Broncos' All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga undercut the route and took the interception 66 yards for a touchdown to put Denver ahead 23-19.

          After the teams exchanged touchdowns, with Denver going ahead on a Nix 1-yard run with 47 seconds left, Hufanga intercepted Stafford a second time. This pick came in the Broncos end zone on the last play of the game to preserve a victory on a night in which the team erased a 16-point, third-quarter deficit.

          "I really just came out there and felt like it was just a kids' game ... in a high school game, and it felt like a super real feeling," said Hufanga, who also had a sack against the Rams.

          Week 5 at Los Angeles Chargers (23-17 win)

          This was more about the total body of work. Down 17-10 to start the fourth quarter, the Broncos held the Chargers to 19 net yards on their last five possessions.

          On the Chargers' first four possessions of the fourth quarter, the Broncos' defense forced a punt, turned L.A. over on downs by snuffing out a fourth-and-1 Justin Herbert quarterback sneak, recovered a fumble on Zach Allen's strip-sack and had an interception via safety Brandon Jones. Cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian called game on the fifth possession with a fourth-down sack of Herbert at the Broncos' 46 as time expired.

          Week 6 vs. Seattle Seahawks (17-14 win in OT)

          The Seahawks were six plays into their drive to open overtime and had a third-and-7 at their own 28-yard line. Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold tried to push the ball up the left sideline to wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, but McMillian, in a zone look, flashed in front of the receiver and notched the interception to give the Broncos the ball at the Seahawks' 43.

          "He kind of just threw the ball up in the hole shot," McMillian said. "He thought he had the hole shot."

          Denver went only 8 yards on the next three plays, but that was plenty for kicker Wil Lutz, who kicked a 53-yard field goal for the walk-off win.

          Week 8 vs. Kansas City Chiefs (28-24 win)

          The Broncos packed a game's worth of clutch plays into the final three minutes of the fourth quarter. The Chiefs, who beat the Broncos in Week 1, led 24-21 and had a third-and-2 at the Denver 30 with 2:44 to play. But linebacker Alex Singleton sacked Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for a 6-yard loss, forcing Kansas City kicker Harrison Butker into a 54-yard field goal attempt that he missed.

          The Broncos scored two plays later to take the lead, but the Chiefs pushed themselves into a first-and-goal from the Broncos' 4-yard line with 35 seconds left. But two run stuffs -- from cornerback Pat Surtain II and safety JL Skinner -- sandwiched around a Mahomes incompletion forced by Robinson, put the Chiefs in a fourth-and-goal from the Denver 1.

          A false start nullified a game-winning touchdown and knocked the Chiefs back to the 6-yard line for another fourth-and-goal. Defensive tackle Malcolm Roach then sealed Denver's comeback win with a sack of Mahomes as the clock hit zeros.

          "I think sometimes, we might be more comfortable down there than in the open field," Singleton said about being backed up in a goal-to-go situation. "... Crazy at that sounds, it might be true."

          Week 9 at Carolina Panthers (26-21 win)

          Before Bonitto's heroics, the Panthers led 14-13 with a first-and-goal at the Broncos' 1-yard line with 1:35 left in the third quarter. Panthers quarterback Bryce Young tried to squeeze a pass to tight end Tommy Tremble in the back left corner of the end zone. Linebacker Justin Strnad broke up the pass as he and Tremble crashed to the ground. The ball bounced off Tremble's right forearm as he hit the ground, with Broncos safety Devon Key snatching the ball mere inches from the turf for an interception. (Denver successfully challenged the play, which was initially ruled incomplete.)

          Denver scored two touchdowns to seemingly take control of the game, but the Panthers responded with a touchdown of their own and were driving when Bonitto became the latest Broncos defender to be a late hero.

          "We never flinch when those situations are upon us," Key said. "... I wouldn't say it's luck."

          The Broncos have defied percentages over the past season and a half, winning 22 of 28 games -- including 16 straight one-score regular-season games. They choose to think of it as the intersection between preparation, coordinator Vance Joseph's knack for the right calls at the right time and an unwavering willingness to be at their best in those moments.

          "It's just fighting, competing," Singleton said. "... I don't know why anybody expects anything different."