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Daniel Jeremiah says Denver Broncos are a top 4 defense in the NFL

By Sayre Bedinger

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 02: NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah (L) and SiriusXM host Adam Schein attend SiriusXM at Super Bowl LII Radio Row at the Mall of America on February 2, 2018 in Bloomington, Minnesota. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 02: NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah (L) and SiriusXM host Adam Schein attend SiriusXM at Super Bowl LII Radio Row at the Mall of America on February 2, 2018 in Bloomington, Minnesota. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM) /
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NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah thinks the Denver Broncos have a top-four defense in the NFL for the 2019 season.

The Denver Broncos had the fourth-best scoring defense in the NFL in 2015 and 2016 when they won a total of 21 regular season games, three playoff games, and Super Bowl 50.

They also had the fourth-ranked scoring defense in 2012, a team that is considered the best Peyton Manning-led Broncos team to not win it all (even ahead of the 2013 group).

That team won 13 regular season games and had a first-round bye in the playoffs before Joe Flacco…well, you know the rest.

So, in this decade, when the Broncos have the fourth-ranked defense in the NFL in terms of points allowed — which again has happened three separate times — good things tend to happen. Wins tend to happen.

That’s one fun reason why it’s significant that NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah, who evaluates from the front office perspective, believes the Broncos have the fourth-best defense in the NFL heading into the 2019 season.

Those defenses were not always supported by great offenses, either. The 2012 group had the second-ranked offense in the NFL, and on top of that, the Broncos had one of the best return specialists in the league in Trindon Holliday who added to their playmaking weaponry.

The 2015 crew that won the Super Bowl, however, was a hodge-podge of offense mixed with Peyton Manning on his way out and playing the worst ball we’ve seen since he was an NFL rookie and Brock Osweiler pulling off some Bubby Brister type of stuff. That unit ranked 19th in points scored, and if we’re being overly honest here, the defense contributed quite a bit to that scoring total.

Brandon McManus was the offensive MVP while Ronnie Hillman led the team with seven touchdowns. The defense scored five and Omar Bolden had a punt return touchdown.

In 2016, the fourth-ranked defense in the NFL carried the Trevor Siemian-led Broncos offense (which ranked 22nd) to nine wins and a near playoff berth despite the offense’s predictability and ineptitude.

On a three-game losing streak near the end of that season, the Broncos’ offense put up just 23 points total.

The Broncos won every game but two that year when they scored at least 20 points.

What does this all mean?

If you have a top five defense in the NFL, your offense merely has to be average in order for your team to be in playoff contention. If the offense is too far below average, your defense can only carry you so far.

Imagine with me for a moment that the Broncos have the 16th-best offense in the NFL this year and the 4th-best defense.

Next. Broncos position groups ranked top to bottom. dark

The probability — if that is the case — is that this team makes or seriously contends for a playoff spot.

Here’s hoping.

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