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Miller & Ware: The Broncos’ ‘Outsiders’

By Ian St. Clair

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Oct 19, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos defensive end DeMarcus Ware (94) reacts after a sack in the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

There is nothing like the magic of a great duo.

Abbott and Costello.

Simon and Garfunkel.

The Bushwhackers.

Batman and Robin.

My wife and me.

And the most underrated duo ever: Martin and Lewis. The comedy magic of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis revolutionized the art form.

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In relation to sports, there are plenty to choose from but some stand out over the others.

Madden and Summerall.

Montana (or Young) and Rice.

An overlooked duo is one Denver Broncos fans know well: Neil Smith and Derrick Thomas.

But Broncos Country has a few of its own: Randy Gradishar and Tom Jackson, Simon Fletcher and Karl Mecklenburg, and Dennis Smith and Steve Atwater.

The best defensive duo in the NFL was unveiled Sunday Night (Oct. 19) at Mile High. That’s the first time Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware took over a game and dominated in every way possible.

The two combined for five of the Broncos six sacks. As it stands now, Miller leads the NFL with eight and Ware is second with seven. At this pace, the two would combine for 40 sacks.

Oct 19, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) in the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Sure, Denver had Miller and Elvis Dumervil two seasons ago. But Dumervil can’t touch Ware.

Prior to the season, all we heard is this is the best Ware’s felt in two years. You pair that with the return of a healthy, slimmed down and motivated Miller, and the AFC West, AFC and NFL were on notice. They all got the memo after the way they played against the San Francisco 49ers.

The next special duo is here.

It’s perhaps the best pass rushing duo in the history of the NFL. At this rate, you cannot argue that. That’s what Miller and Ware want from this season, and if both remain healthy and produce at this clip, they will be.

That’s the power of a great duo.

What will help them is the best offense in the NFL led by Peyton Manning. Any doubt as to which offense is the best ended after the San Francisco game.

The Broncos had the best offense in the history of the league last season and this offense is better … as long as the running game continues to produce and remain effective.

That means points, and lots of them. That means the Denver opposition plays from behind. That means a plethora of chances for Miller and Ware to ring up the sack totals. Not to mention the rest of the defense – as seen Sunday.

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    • The Denver defensive line is as deep as it’s been in a long, long time.

    The linebackers are the surprise of the team at this point.

    And the secondary is both deep and talented, though it had arguably its weakest game of the season against the 49ers.

    That means a plethora of chances for Miller and Ware to hit quarterbacks and shoot up the sack totals.

    In terms of pass rushing duos, off the top of my head a few come to mind.

    I mentioned the best pass rushing duo I’ve ever seen with Smith and Thomas in Kansas City.

    There was Dan Hampton and Richard Dent with the Chicago Bears.

    Most recently, there was Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis with the Indianapolis Colts. Who was their quarterback?

    I didn’t include the New York Sack Exchange with the New York Jets or the Fearsome Foursome of the Los Angeles Rams because that was four guys.

    When it comes to hyperbole, sports today is loaded with it thanks to sports talk radio and numerous blogs that exist for click bait. So I when I say Miller and Ware will become the best pass rushing duo in the history of the NFL, there is a skosh of hyperbole behind it. But where they stand now, it’s hard to argue because they will only get better. And if both get close to or top 20 sacks, they’re the best ever.

    I know it puts me out there for scrutiny. But when it comes to this special duo, it’s worth it.

    Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio saw what this dynamic duo is capable of when it takes over a game. That is what Miller, Ware and this defense need as the season goes on.

    Miller and Ware have been special up to this point by themselves. But just like the great duos of the past, the magic happens when they’re together.

    Hopefully, they equal or pass Martin and Lewis.

    The only thing left to do is create a nickname.

    How about “The Outsiders?”

    Oct 12, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) is sacked by Denver Broncos defensive end DeMarcus Ware (94) during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game at MetLife Stadium. The Broncos defeated the Jets 31-17. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

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