The Lead
In taking a closer look at the top players from around the league in Week 3, Pro Football Focus has highlighted two Broncos whose performances shined in Denver's 26-0 win over the Jets.
Veteran safety Justin Simmons earned a spot on the PFF Team of the Week, as his 91.3 overall defensive grade led all players at his position in Week 3. Simmons recorded his first interception of the season on Sunday as he helped ensure a shutout.
Joining Simmons in the PFF spotlight is DL Dre'Mont Jones, who had a hand in several big plays for Denver. Though he didn't get a sack or force a turnover, his performance earned him a 90.0 grade by Pro Football Focus, and their pick as "Secret Superstar of the Week."
"Jones was constantly involved in plays during the Broncos' shutout victory over the New York Jets," Pro Football Focus' Anthony Treash said. "He earned a 90.0 PFF grade, anchored by seven pass-rush wins on 34 opportunities and three key run disruptions on four such snaps, one of which was a seven-yard tackle for loss."
Now in his third season with the Broncos, Jones continues to emerge as a weapon for the Denver defense. According to Treash, Jones has big things on the horizon in 2021.
"Jones has flashed this level of play in the past and could be in line for a Year 3 breakout campaign," Treash said.
Denver's defense is packed with playmakers, and their shutout win over New York on Sunday could be just the beginning for Jones and the rest of the defensive unit.
"Even with edge defender Bradley Chubb out for an extended period of time, this Broncos defensive front led by veteran Von Miller and Jones is going to be a force to be reckoned with," Treash said. "Pair that with a stellar coverage unit, and Denver is fielding arguably the best defense in the NFL."
Below the Fold
In recent weeks, Denver's defense certainly has played like the best unit in the league, as Treash wrote. Even without several starters, it continued to show a level of dominance that few defenses have matched so far with a smothering performance vs. the Jets.
"For the second time in as many games, a Broncos opponent didn’t take a single snap inside the red zone," the Athletic's Nick Kosmider said.
Denver's defense terrorized Wilson, with four different defenders recording a total of five sacks on the rookie QB. OLB Von Miller, OLB Malik Reed and DE Shelby Harris each got a sack, while LB Alexander Johnson had two. Miller, who owned all three of Denver's sacks this season prior to Sunday, was more than happy to share the wealth.
"It's fun when everybody makes plays," Miller said. "You don't want just one guy making plays. It's fun when everyone gets sacks."
The sack on Wilson was Miller's fourth of the season through three games — another resounding statement that the 32-year-old is far from past his prime. In fact, Miller is playing some of the best football of his career.
"If there was any doubt about whether Miller could produce like the Pro Bowler he's been eight times in his career," Kosmider said, "it has been erased by the 32-year-old's blistering start. His sack of Wilson on Sunday was a reminder that even in a league featuring gifted pass rushers who are six, seven and eight years his junior, Miller's athletic talents are still a rare sight to behold."
The Broncos will face their toughest test yet as Lamar Jackson and the Ravens come to town next week. So while they're enjoying this undefeated start, the Broncos aren't getting caught up in 3-0 — the focus is on 1-0 each and every Sunday.
"We put in the work for the start that we've had right now, but that's why 1-0 is such a good thing we have going on and that we're preaching," Simmons said. "In this league, you can never get too high and you can never get too low. The next week is always coming up."
