The Broncos are about to face the NFL’s most dominant rushing attack, and they’re getting their defensive anchor back just in time.
The timing couldn’t be more clutch
Denver’s defense just got some desperately needed reinforcement. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, one of the Broncos’ marquee free agency acquisitions from last offseason, returned to the practice field Tuesday and is tracking toward playing in Saturday’s divisional round matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Empower Field at Mile High. The timing feels almost scripted the Broncos are preparing to face the NFL’s top rushing team, and suddenly their biggest defensive investment is ready to step back into the lineup after an injury-plagued season that’s tested the entire organization’s patience.
Greenlaw’s return represents more than just having another body on the field. The three-year, $31.5 million contract Denver signed him to last March was supposed to add that physical, aggressive edge to a defense that struggled containing explosive rushing attacks throughout the 2024 season. That mission became even more urgent when you consider what happened in the playoffs last January the Bills absolutely demolished Denver with 210 rushing yards in a humiliating 31-7 wild-card loss, accumulating 79 of those yards in just the first quarter. It was the kind of statement victory that left scars on the Broncos’ defensive psyche heading into this season.
A season riddled with setbacks
Before Tuesday’s practice, Greenlaw had missed eight games due to injuries plus one additional game for a suspension essentially missing nearly 40 percent of the regular season before the playoffs even began. Most recently, he missed the final two games of the regular season nursing a hamstring injury. The injury itself occurred during Denver’s Dec. 21 loss to Jacksonville when he attempted to chase down running back Travis Etienne Jr. with just over two minutes remaining. Earlier in the season, a thigh injury had already cost him six games, creating a frustrating pattern of setbacks that undermined Denver’s defensive cohesion.
The suspension added another layer of frustration. Greenlaw was benched for Denver’s Oct. 26 win against Dallas following a postgame confrontation with referee Brad Allen after the Broncos’ victory over the New York Giants. The NFL’s official statement said Greenlaw “chased after referee Brad Allen and verbally threatened him as he tried to leave the field.” It was the kind of emotional outburst that, while understandable given the intensity of professional football, carried a penalty that Denver couldn’t afford to pay.
The Bills’ rushing machine awaiting Denver
Understanding why Greenlaw’s return matters requires context about what the Bills represent. Buffalo led the entire league in rushing with 159.6 yards per game, establishing themselves as perhaps the most physically dominant offensive unit in football. James Cook III, who actually paced the league in rushing yards with 1,621 total, averaged an impressive 5.25 yards per carry the second-best rate in the NFL. In that aforementioned wild-card playoff game last January, Cook finished with 120 yards on just 23 carries, demonstrating the efficiency that makes Buffalo so dangerous.
Denver’s defense actually finished the regular season ranked second overall in run defense, allowing just 91.1 rushing yards per game while maintaining the league’s highest rate of run stops at or behind the line of scrimmage at 30.3%. Those are elite numbers the kind of statistics that should theoretically prepare Denver for Saturday’s challenge. Yet statistics rarely capture the psychological component of facing an opponent that embarrassed you in your house just one year prior.
Accountability and preparation
Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto didn’t sugarcoat the memory, bluntly stating, “Obviously they whupped our butt last year.” Coach Sean Payton echoed that sentiment while emphasizing the importance of tactical preparation, noting that stopping Buffalo requires understanding both the scheme and the personnel executing it. Payton specifically referenced the need to be ready for what the Bills attempt to accomplish with their power running game a challenge that becomes considerably more manageable with Greenlaw anchoring the defense from the middle of the field.
The ultimate question heading into Saturday becomes whether Greenlaw’s presence, combined with Denver’s statistically elite run defense, translates into the kind of performance that prevents a repeat of last January’s embarrassment. For a Broncos team fighting to advance through the playoffs, Greenlaw’s return might prove to be the difference between an early exit and a legitimate championship run.