ENGLEWOOD, Colorado: Myles Garrett, an edge rusher, is just the start for the Cleveland Browns defense, which for the past ten games has been among the best in the NFL since the Broncos’ 2015 Super Bowl-winning “No-Fly Zone” defense.
Out of the 68 quarterback hits for the Browns, 45 come from players other than Garrett, accounting for nearly two thirds. Furthermore, Garrett’s teammates are responsible for more than 75% of their pressures (147 out of 195, according to data compiled by Pro Football Focus).
This season, Dalvin Tomlins, Maurice Hurst, Ogbo Okoronkwo, and Za’Darius Smith have all had at least 15 quarterback pressures. The Browns give up 4.8 yards per pass play; the only team that gives up less than that is the Ravens.
The Broncos only managed 169 passing yards overall in two games against the AFC West leaders, the Kansas City Chiefs, the last team they faced this season that allowed fewer than 5.0 yards per pass play. Against Kansas City this season, the Broncos only managed 3.31 yards per pass play on average.
Denzel Ward, a two-time Pro Bowl cornerback, will now miss Sunday’s game for the Browns. However, their pass rush is pure.
This is the biggest test Mike McGlinchey and the Broncos offensive line have faced to date.
“You have to beat the man in order to be the man,” McGlinchey recalled saying about Ric Flair. “And it would be a great step forward for us if we could accomplish that up front and answer the bell with this challenge.”
The two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward will now miss the Browns’ game on Sunday. Their pass rush is pure, though.
The Broncos offensive line and Mike McGlinchey are up against their toughest test yet.
McGlinchey remembered saying, “You have to beat the man in order to be the man,” in reference to Ric Flair. “And it would be a great step forward for us if we could accomplish that up front and answer the bell with this challenge.”
