Denver Broncos: How new-look defense could match Vic Fangio’s 2018 Bears
The secondary
The Bears ranked No. 7 in defending the pass in 2018 and with the additions of Darby and Fuller, the Broncos will hope they have recreated the ‘No Fly Zone’.
The secondaries of these two teams will look very similar, partly because they are. Both Fuller and Bryce Callahan were part of that 2018 Bears defense and both flourished. Darby is potentially an upgrade over the other starting cornerback that was on that Bears squad, Prince Amukamara.
At safety, the Bears had Adrian Amos and Eddie Jackson, who had a career year in 2018. Jackson had six interceptions and may have been the best safety in football that season, which ended with him in the Pro Bowl.
The Broncos have what could easily be an even better safety combination in Simmons and Kareem Jackson. The Broncos got a huge boost when Jackson signed a new one-year deal with the team last week after the Broncos had initially declined the option on his contract.
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How good can this defense be?
The 2018 Bears allowed just 17.7 points per game, the best in the league. They won 12 games with Trubisky at quarterback.
These Broncos arguably have better talent and personnel for Fangio’s defense. Can this tame win 12 games with Drew Lock? That sounds like a lot to ask for a team that has missed the playoffs in each of the last five years, but Paton has built a defense that fits what Fangio likes to do and it is the kind of unit he has had plenty of success with before.
There is no offense that is going to look at these Broncos and be excited to go against their defense.