The Denver Broncos are on a historic pace. Through eight games, the Broncos are the only team in NFL history to compile 35-plus sacks and allow 10 or fewer sacks. Specifically, the Broncos’ defense has totaled 36 sacks while the offensive line has allowed just eight.
Broncos Defense Makes NFL History Behind Key Contributors Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper
A split graphic featuring OLB Nik Bonitto and OT Garett Bolles went viral, boasting the outstanding feat on both sides of the Broncos’ ball. Denver is the first team in NFL history with 35-plus sacks and 10 or fewer sacks allowed in its first eight games of a season.
The Broncos are the 1st team in NFL history with 35+ sacks and 10 or fewer sacks allowed in its first 8 games of a season. 😤 pic.twitter.com/mdB5X0O325
— PFSN (@PFSN365) October 27, 2025
Key contributors to the Broncos’ 36 sacks are the aforementioned Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper. The former sits at No. 4 in the league with eight sacks. Cooper, meanwhile, is tied for No. 7 with six sacks. Additionally, Bonitto and Cooper are back-to-back at No. 22 and No. 21 in PFSN’s EDGE Impact Score. Elsewhere on the sack total, Zach Allen and John Franklin-Meyers each have four sacks, while Justin Strnad has 3.5.
Eyioma Uwazurike and Ja’Quan McMillian each have two sacks as well, while Alex Singleton, Dondrea Tillman, Jonah Elliss, D.J. Jones, and Talanoa Hufanga all have one sack. Que Robinson, Malcolm Roach, and Brandon Jones all have half a sack. Add it all up and you get 36 sacks. No, really, count it and take it in, Broncos Country.
The Broncos are doing this by having DC Vance Joseph implement the fourth-highest blitz rate. Doing this forces the offensive line to not double-team Bonitto and settle for one-on-one matchups. It’s a strategy that’s worked up until Patrick Surtain II getting injured. Now, the Broncos likely switch from primarily man coverage to zone. There’s no other lockdown CB on the defense. Surtain II is No.4 in PFSN’s CB Impact Score.
Case and point: The Broncos’ pass rush win rate is No. 8, while the run stuff win rate is No. 10. It’ll be interesting to see if the Broncos trade for a cornerback before the deadline, so they can continue to excessively blitz out of their 3-4 base defense disguised as big nickel.
On the offensive side of the ball, it’s simple. The Broncos’ O-line is first in pass block win rate. The result is allowing fewer than 10 sacks through the first eight games of the season.
