ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Nine weeks into the 2025 season, the Denver Broncos' defense is the NFL's leader in hitting quarterbacks, affecting them and generally making their lives miserable. The Broncos have sacked opposing signal-callers 40 times, 12 more than the next-best team, putting them on pace to break the NFL's single-season record of 72 set by the 1984 Chicago Bears.
Nik Bonitto, a fourth-year edge rusher, leads Denver with eight sacks. And the 2024 second-team All-Pro is one of the league's most dynamic rushers and the leader of the NFL's best pass rush because, more often than not, he wins the first step.