A relentless defense is the backbone of Denver’s midseason surge.

The Denver Broncos have turned defense into their defining language. Thursday night’s 10-7 win over the Raiders wasn’t pretty, but it was proof of who they’ve become — a team that wins on grit, field position, and an attitude that travels.

Through 10 games, Denver’s defense has forced more punts, recorded more sacks, and held more opponents under 20 points than any Broncos unit since 2015. The 8-2 record — built on seven straight wins — isn’t about flash. It’s about resilience.

“When you play a divisional opponent, those games can go a lot of different directions,” head coach Sean Payton said. “Our defense was fantastic.”

Defense First

Payton’s group has quietly become one of the league’s most complete defensive fronts. Denver leads the NFL with 46 sacks through 10 games, the team’s best mark since 1990. Outside linebackers Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper have emerged as bookends of the pass rush, combining for relentless pressure that’s helped the Broncos go seven straight drives Thursday without allowing a first down.

“It’s a competition,” Cooper said. “Everybody’s got goals in the room — and we’re chasing them.”

“We don’t care where the offense gets the ball,” Bonitto added. “We’re going to get stops wherever we can.”

From the line to the secondary, the defense has leaned on trust and communication. Safety Talanoa Hufanga, acquired in the offseason, said it best: “There are no nerves when you line up here. Everyone around you is doing their job.”

A Culture of Accountability

The defense’s rise is also a reflection of Payton’s larger rebuild. Inside linebacker Alex Singleton called it “a race to 10 wins,” and the tone inside the locker room reflects a belief that the standard hasn’t yet been met.

“We have to take the ball away more,” Singleton said. “We shouldn’t let that team score. We put that on our backs.”

Defensive lineman Zach Allen echoed that mentality. “It all comes in ebbs and flows,” he said. “Everyone forgets now — against the Chargers and Colts, they picked our butts up. We’ll be fine.”

This complementary football — defense setting the tone, offense protecting the ball — has become the team’s blueprint. Even quarterback Bo Nix, after another grind-it-out win, pointed directly back to the defense: “You’ll win a lot of games with a defense playing like that.”

The Turning Point

If there was a snapshot of this defensive transformation, it came when JL Skinner broke through to block a punt in the second half — the kind of play Denver hasn’t consistently made in years. “I just wanted to make a play, change the game a little bit,” Skinner said. “We worked on that technique all spring.”

That special teams spark symbolized what this defense has become: aggressive, opportunistic, and prepared to win any way necessary.

What’s Next

Now sitting at 8-2 entering a mini-bye before Kansas City, the Broncos are in a position few predicted. They’ve won seven straight, own one of the league’s most feared defenses, and have built a foundation on accountability and toughness.

“We’re never comfortable as coaches,” Payton said. “We’re constantly looking internally… but we’ll enjoy the win.”

It’s not the same high-scoring offense Payton once engineered in New Orleans — but it might be the most balanced team he’s ever coached. Denver’s defense has turned a once-volatile franchise into a contender again.