Just how important is the return of Aqib Talib this weekend? Well, how important is the best cornerback in football?
Even with him having missed three games, Talib has been as impactful as just about any defender in the NFL this season, and Pro Football Focus has called him their best cornerback in the NFL through 11 weeks.
“Aqib Talib has long possessed one of the most impressive skill-sets in the league among cornerbacks, flashing the ability to shut down any receiver, but 2016 has been a career year for him, as it’s the first season he has done it consistently week-to-week, with no real lapses to date. Talib has allowed just 9.3 yards per reception, 53.7 percent of the passes thrown his way to be caught, and opposing QBs have a passer rating of just 37.0 when throwing into his coverage. That’s 2.6 points lower than if those quarterbacks just threw the ball out of bounds every snap, thanks to three interceptions and no touchdowns surrendered this year. Aqib Talib has been the league’s best corner this season.”
And what’s even more impressive is that it doesn’t stop there. PFF has Chris Harris Jr. as their third best cornerback in the league (Malcom Butler is No. 2).
“There is little doubt at this stage that Chris Harris Jr. is an excellent corner, even if he doesn’t have the same responsibilities as some other players on this list. Harris will play outside and in the slot, and does go up against legitimate No. 1 receivers when Denver elects not to track them; more often than not, he does just as well against them as anybody else. This season, Harris has allowed under 10 yards per reception, and just 53.8 percent of passes thrown into his coverage to be caught.”
There’s a reason why the Denver Broncos have a historically great pass defense, and it’s not just because they have a historically great secondary or a historically great pass rush; it’s because they have both. And together, Denver leaves offenses grasping for answers.
The Broncos have given up three of their five best passing performances in Talib’s three weeks of absence, and they went 2-1 in that stretch. Expect them to have a big-time performance on Sunday night.
