London Game Turns on Defensive Mastery as Broncos Edge Jets 13-11
The matchup between the Denver Broncos and the New York Jets in London produced a game defined by defense and field-position battles, not fireworks. Denver emerged with a 13-11 victory, improving to 4-2 and extending New York’s winless streak to 0-6. Offense was scarce in the second half, and the Broncos’ relentless pass rush was the headline that carried the day.
Broncos’ defense sets the tone
Denver entered with one of the league’s stingiest defenses, leading the NFL in sacks. That unit didn’t just behave like a top-tier defense; it bullied the Jets into one of their most anemic offensive performances of the year. New York finished with negative passing yards and was held to just 32 total yards in the first half, including two net passing yards—the lowest by any team in a half this season.
The Broncos collected nine sacks on the day, spreading pressure among linebackers, defensive linemen, and even safety Talanoa Hufanga. The constant pressure disrupted Jets quarterback Zach Wilson throughout, culminating in a game-ending sack by Jets-killer-for-the-night Jermaine Johnson in his return from an ankle injury. Denver’s ability to generate pressure without blitzing loudly showcased why its pass rush has been a season-long weapon.
Jets’ offense stalls in hostile environment
For New York, the afternoon was an exercise in avoiding mistakes rather than building momentum. Zach Wilson faced constant heat, was sacked nine times, and the Jets managed only two net passing yards in the first half and zero in the second. The approach suggested by head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand leaned toward keeping play calls short and protecting the ball, but that strategy didn’t translate into sustainable drives.
The Jets’ best moments came from special teams and timely defense, not from sustained offensive success. A controversial fourth‑down punt fake near halftime briefly gave New York life and a lead as the clock wound down, but it wasn’t enough to spark a late surge. New York did hold a lead entering the fourth quarter, yet the offense could not capitalize when it mattered most, and the hoped-for spark from a cleaner, more aggressive passing game never arrived.
Broncos’ offense fights through a rough day without Powers
Denver’s offense faced its own tribulations, especially on the left side of the line without veteran Ben Powers. Matt Peart, starting in Powers’s stead, struggled with penalties and consistency, and the unit as a whole produced its least productive rushing effort of the season, tallying just 47 rushing yards on 18 attempts. That wasn’t the story the Broncos wanted, but their defense carried the load as Bo Nix managed a modest stat line of 19-for-30 for 174 yards and a touchdown, a 16-yard connection with tight end Nate Adkins that capped the first quarter.
Denver still found a way to emerge with a win, aided by a late first-quarter score and a stubborn defensive stand that stifled New York after the Jets briefly moved into field-position range. The Broncos also benefited from a few costly Jets mistakes in the second half, with Denver’s special teams playing a role in the outcome despite the offense’s struggles.
Takeaways and what it means going forward
In a game defined by the dominance of defense, Denver’s ability to pressure the quarterback neutralized New York’s best playmaker, Garrett Wilson, who entered the week atop the AFC in receptions and receiving yards. Wilson finished with just three catches for 13 yards, a far cry from his typical volume, and his three-game receiving touchdown streak came to an abrupt halt. The Jets’ plan to control the clock and limit mistakes unraveled as the offense could not translate field position into points, leaving the defense to pick up the slack until the final, decisive sack.
Denver, meanwhile, weathered a difficult day on offense and remained steadfast on defense, preserving a hard-earned win that keeps them in playoff contention while sending the Jets to an uneasy stretch of uncertainty. With both teams improving or stagnating at different ends of the spectrum, the London result underscored how a dominant defense can tip games even when the offense struggles and how the NFL’s strangest venue can host a battle of attrition like no other.
Postgame reflections
Broncos beat writers highlighted the defense as the narrative, praising the pass rush’s depth and timely sacks. Jets reporters pointed to the offense’s reluctance to push the ball downfield and the early game-set-skip on offensive rhythm, noting that a missed opportunity or two might have changed the outcome. The Week 6 takeaway: defense won the day, and Denver took full advantage of its disruptive unit to slow a once-formidable Jets attack.
