Denver Broncos defensive lineman Zach Allen believes his defense will not only build on last year's performance but also become a historically good unit in 2026.
"In this league you've kind of always got to keep on finding ways to get better and adjusting and all that," Allen said, according to the Denver Post's Parker Gabriel.
"It also helps when you've got 'V.J.' (defensive coordinator Vance Joseph) dialing stuff up that helps us get one-on-ones. We've got a lot of good guys, and that's going to create a lot of opportunities for people. We came close to the sack record last year, and we fully expect to break it this year."
The Broncos' defense recorded 68 sacks last season, four shy of the NFL record set by the Chicago Bears in 1984. It was also the second-most since 2000, two away from the 70 the Philadelphia Eagles posted during the 2022 campaign.
Denver's unit was ferocious all year and played a crucial role in the team's run to the AFC Championship Game. On top of leading the league in sacks, the unit ranked first in quarterback pressures (285), sack percentage (9.7%), and yards per play allowed (4.5), according to Next Gen Stats.
Allen was among the best defensive linemen, posting 73 pressures, seven sacks, and a league-leading 43 quarterback hits. He earned a first-team All-Pro nomination, the first time he's received that honor during his seven-year career.
"It's definitely nice to get it. Obviously, growing up as a kid, you dream of stuff like that," Allen said about his Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods. "The cool thing, too, is we have a lot of guys, and it's really a cohesive group, and everyone helps everyone. That's why you saw so many guys get recognition on the team. With team success comes individual awards."
Denver is returning many key players from last season's defense, including Allen, pass-rusher Nik Bonitto, and star cornerback Pat Surtain. The club will report to training camp on July 28 and face off against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1 on Sept. 14.
