In the same week that he was selected to his sixth career Pro Bowl (fourth in a row), the Denver Broncos’ franchise pass rusher Von Miller had one of his best games of the season. Unfortunately it came in a 27-11 loss.
Washington entered Week 16 with one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, ranking 23rd in the NFL in sacks allowed per game. Quarterback Kirk Cousins entered the game having taken an absurd 38 sacks through 15 games. With Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams lost for the season with a knee injury, it appeared to be an opportunity for Miller and the rest of the Broncos defense to display the team’s elite pass rush.
Lined up primarily against right tackle Morgan Moses, Miller was close to unstoppable rushing from the outside and making life in the pocket very difficult for Cousins. Credit Cousins, who was up to the task and passed for three touchdowns including one to former Broncos tight end Vernon Davis under intense pressure from Miller.
Miller’s beautiful array of pass rushing moves were on full display Sunday afternoon, making quick work of whichever offensive linemen was attempting to block him. Miller applied consistent pressure to Cousins — especially in the first half — giving the quarterback very little time to survey the field and make decisions on which receivers were open. Cousins completed just one pass in the first quarter.
Miller and the rest of the Broncos’ pass rush cooled off significantly in the second half, though, as Washington focused on a run-first attack that kept the ball carrier away from Miller. Miller would finish the game with four total tackles (three solo and one assist) not able to notch a sack on Cousins despite dominating both sides of the offensive line. Even without registering a sack, Miler made his presence known, recording two quarterback hits on Cosuins to go with one tackle for loss.
Miller’s pass-rushing excellence wasn’t his only contribution to the Broncos’ defense, as he was equally impressive against the run. Late in the fourth quarter, while Cousins was attempting to run out the clock, Miller relentlessly chased down Samaje Perine and stripped the ball from the running back’s arms — Denver’s second takeaway of the game. Miller then alertly pounced on the ball to recover the fumble in Washington territory. The forced fumble was Miller’s second on the year.
Miller’s natural athleticism has always been a key reason to his success in the NFL, but as Miller has continued to grow as a player his awareness on the field has continued to be a special asset for the Broncos’ defense. Miller is consistently double-teamed coming off the line, yet he continues to produce game-changing plays that has earned the respect of his NFL peers.
An all-around disappointing 2017 season has been especially difficult to endure, considering the Broncos have had a top-5 defense all season led by another Pro Bowl season from Miller. At 28, Miller is still in the prime of what is shaping up to be a Hall of Fame career. He continues to perform at a Pro-Bowl level even through the adversity of the Broncos’ worst season in seven years.
