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Can the Broncos’ Defense Break the NFL Single-Season Sack Record?

By Kyle Sumner McKinnon

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A record that has stood for over 30 years might finally come tumbling down in Denver.

It would take a monumental effort, but the Denver Broncos’ defense has the personnel to break the NFL single-season team sack record.

Back in 1984, the Chicago Bears fielded one of the greatest defensive units the League had ever seen. Buddy Ryan and the Bears’ infamous 46 defense racked up a whopping 72 sacks in regular season play alone. That seemingly insurmountable mark has stood the test of time ever since.

This season, the Broncos have the rare chance to make history by breaking the Bears’ hallowed sack record.

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Under former defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio in 2014, Denver’s defense compiled a total of 41 sacks. It was good for ninth best in the NFL and is a number that the Broncos could shatter this upcoming season.

Del Rio is now coaching up the rival Oakland Raiders, replacing him is defensive guru Wade Phillips.

Phillips brings along a new 3-4 scheme. He’s a coach that likes his defenses aggressive and loves getting after opposing quarterbacks.

The Broncos’ current personnel fits this new philosophy like a glove and they should be able to make a realistic run at the Bears’ 31-year-old sack record.

Veteran DeMarcus Ware was brought in last offseason to pair with Von Miller to improve Denver’s lackluster pass rush. Ware and Miller did just that, forming one of the most feared edge-rushing duos in the League. The two alone combined for 24 sacks.

The amount of pressure the Broncos’ defense was able to create still plummeted mightily as the season wound down, though. This was no more apparent than in their divisional playoff loss to quarterback Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts.

Luck was barely breathed on as he was hit just four times, not even one sack to speak of.

With this problem in mind, general manager John Elway decided to shake things up a bit on the defensive side of the ball. He started by hiring Phillips and dropped another bombshell on the NFL when he traded up in the draft for polarizing defensive end Shane Ray.

While at Missouri, Ray absolutely terrorized the rest of the conference. The SEC Defensive Player of the Year recorded 13 sacks in 2014 and capped off his dominant junior campaign with a cringe-inducing hit on Alabama signal-caller Blake Sims.

Ray brings a rare combination of power, quickness, and versatility to the Broncos’ defense. He likely won’t start come the season opener, but plan on him getting significant time when rotating in for Ware, Miller, and others.

Dec 28, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) pass rushes at Oakland Raiders tight end Mychal Rivera (81) in the second quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

As expected, Ware and Miller should greatly build on their productive 2014 seasons. Phillips is known for getting the most out of his pass rushers and there’s no reason to believe that won’t continue.

Underrated lineman Malik Jackson is a major breakout candidate as well and is primed for big 2015 in what would be his first season as a starter. Fellow veteran Derek Wolfe has been flying under the radar for some time and is due for a nice year playing opposite of Jackson.

Add in offseason free agent additions Antonio Smith (well, maybe) and Vance Walker, and the Broncos may realistically be able to average around four to five sacks per game.

Don’t count out nose tackle Sylvester Williams, either. The former 2013 first-round pick has been dubbed a bust up to this point but looks ready to take center stage as the anchor of the defensive line. Williams is reportedly having a “really good offseason” thus far and could finally prove himself worthy to the Broncos.

On the back end of things stands a stout secondary, led by top-flight cornerback Chris Harris Jr. With Harris and Co. taking care of business, Phillips will be able to rush the passer on a consistent basis.

Also lurking in the secondary is T.J. Ward. The hard-hitting veteran graded out as the second best pass-rushing safety last season. Ward should have more opportunities to increase his 2014 two sack total with Phillips now in charge.

Denver’s defense has all the makings of a record-breaking unit. If nothing else, it’ll be fun to watch them wreak havoc on opposing offenses week after week.

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