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The defense had become Orange Mush. Pulp and purée. Fluffy like cotton candy. Velvety as chocolate pudding.
Through seven games, the Broncos' defense was a moveable feast and a permeable indulgence for opposing offenses. Before Sunday, the Broncos were ranked 32nd against the pass and 30th overall.
The Broncos had a hypersonic, scramjet offense and a septic tank defense. And it was beginning to seem that the Broncos couldn't make it to the Super Bowl, or even into first place in the AFC West over the Chiefs if they couldn't stop a runny nose.
On a resplendent Sunday afternoon, the Broncos scored 45 points and a team-record 31 points in the fourth quarter. But guess who won this game?
The Crush Crew.
The Broncos' defenders got five turnovers in their past five games. On Sunday, they produced five turnovers, including four interceptions, against Washington.
Robert Griffin The Third was harassed like Henry The Seventh, completing only 15-of-30 passes for 132 yards. He was sacked three times and hit 13 more times. Peyton Manning is all about "Hurry, hurry." RG3 was getting hurried, hurried.
He picked up only 7 yards in five running attempts.
The return of coach Mike Shanahan was ruined. His offense scored only 14 points on the Broncos' defense. (The other touchdown came off a Manning interception.)
"Without a doubt this was our best defensive outing. We challenged our guys all week," the Broncos' current coach, John Fox, said. "(Washington) came in here with the No. 4 offense in the NFL ... so I thought (the defense) responded great."
The Broncos' former coach also was impressed, saying "people will find out that Denver's defense is better than people think they are."
The Broncos' defense is not the people's choice yet.
"They got it done, and we didn't, so credit to Denver's defense," said Shanahan.
Broncos 45, Washington 21
- Analyze the WAS-DEN boxscore.
- Evaluate the latest team numbers on the Broncos Stats Page.
- Evaluate Washington Stats Page.
- Find analysis, notes and buzz on First-and-Orange Broncos blog.
- Contribute to The Bronco Bus fan forum.
- Ask Mike Klis about the game in the Broncos Mailbag.
- Scan Broncos 2013 schedule.
The Broncos are without Champ Bailey, again, and Robert Ayers is limited, and several players were banged up. Chris Harris intercepted a pass, but had to leave later with wooziness. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was hurt, but went back out to pull off a pick-six of 75 yards. Safety Duke Ihenacho was injured, too.
But, as Fox accurately pointed out, middle linebacker Wesley Woodyard returned from injury and played exceptionally well. "He's our defense's quarterback," the coach said.
And, it took half a season, but Von Miller finally made a big play when he mauled Griffin and caused a fumble. Derek Wolfe and Malik Jackson were in the backfield early and often, and Shaun Phillips had another interception.
Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio had worn a sad-sack expression much of the season as the Broncos were giving up 48 in Dallas, 39 in Indianapolis and enough tonnage to sink a ship. But he had on a happy face Sunday and was slapping guys' backs and behinds.
Miller, who seemed re-energized, said the defense "can definitely get better. I don't think we've remotely scratched the surface of what we can be."
Manning kept praising the defense afterward. That's because the Broncos' offense dug itself into a 21-7 deficit with a couple of major mistakes. And the defense pulled out the offense, for a change.
Everybody is aware that the Broncos can score points at a historic pace. But the Broncos' defense will be needed after the heavy-sighing bye week. Three of the next four are on the road. There are no gimmes at San Diego, New England and Kansas City, with the only home game against the still-undefeated Chiefs. Those buffoons in Denver who believed K.C. would be a pushover in 2013 are eating candy corn.
The victory over Washington, Woodyard said, proved that "if we put our mind to it, we can come out and dominate."
The Broncos went from lower case to capital D in Denver on Sunday.
Woody Paige, wpaige@denverpost.com