The Denver Broncos have a fantastic record despite let’s call it some uneven offensive play so far. The defense has been terrific (3rd in the league in yards and points allowed per game, and just on pace to set the league’s single-season sack record), which has invited plenty of comparisons to the last great Broncos defense, the 2015 unit that propelled the team to the championship in Super Bowl 50.
It’s a fun comparison to make. Recently my oldest son and I watched a really nice recap of that team’s AFC Championship game, historically significant as the last matchup between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. My memory of the game is that Brady just kept coming back despite our defense knocking the crap out of him. He was already considered one of if not the greatest QB by then, but it’s one of my favorite Brady games because of how he never gave up.
Anyway, this was the recap, which I highly recommend if you have 20 minutes or so:
I’d forgotten just how physical that 2015 team was. I’d say the 2015 team was more physical, and maybe the 2025 team is more skilled or technically sound or something, but you can’t say the 2015 team wasn’t skilled, or the 2025 team isn’t physical. For now, not having won any playoff games this year yet, obviously you have to say the 2015 defense is better. I think they really were better, too, and watching this was a good reminder of just what a tough defense they were. Your memories fade, but it’s great to watch the old teams in action.
Postscript: over the last week, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by just how many classic games are on YouTube, including the entire 1997 and 1998 Broncos seasons. I recently watched one of my favorite moments from that year, the end of the 1998 game against the Chiefs where Shannon Sharpe goaded Derrick Thomas into multiple personal fouls on a fourth-quarter drive, supposedly by reciting Thomas’ girlfriend’s phone number.
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