Earlier this week, Broncos safety T.J. Ward told the Denver Post there’s no comparing last year’s team to this year’s team. Ward was speaking in response to last week’s overtime loss to Kansas City, in which Denver failed to stop a 75-yard drive at the end of regulation. Kansas City tied the game with a touchdown and two-point conversion and went on to win in overtime.

Last season the Denver defense was apt to force a turnover or land a drive-ending sack to seal games in those kinds of situations. And while the Broncos have had their share of late wins this year (Carolina, New Orleans), the loss to Kansas City was a sobering reminder that this is a different team than last year that will have to win in different ways.

Still, despite losses of key contributors on defense like Malik Jackson, Danny Trevathan and David Bruton, this year’s Denver defense is actually not far behind the 2015 team in terms of raw numbers. The guys at 120 Sports took a look at the similarities and the difference from last year to this year.

“We saw the defense bail them out time and time again [last year],” retired NFL cornerback Bryant McFadden says. “But it’s a lot different when you’re the returning Super Bowl champions, because you will receive every opposing team’s best effort.”

The Broncos are only allowing 1.4 more points per game and only 30.8 yards per game more than in 2015, but Denver has already amassed as many losses through 11 games as they did all last year. With an improved AFC West to battle, Denver currently sits on the outside looking in at the playoffs.

Things won’t get any easier for the defense down the stretch. They’ll be trying to keep Jacksonville at bay on Sunday, as Denver sends rookie Paxton Lynch into battle for only the second start of his career. Trevor Siemian‘s timeline for return from a foot injury is to be determined. After Jacksonville, Denver travels to Tennessee before hosting New England. They close out the season at Kansas City and then at home against Oakland.

This year’s defense may not be last year’s, but it’s going to need to start playing more like it (especially late in games) for Denver to have a chance at defending their Super Bowl crown.