Vance Joseph sees Christian McCaffrey as being a problem on third downs
DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 25: Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph of the Denver Broncos looks on against the New England Patriots during the fourth quarter in the AFC Championship Playoff game at Empower Field At Mile High on January 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. The New England Patriots defeat the Denver Broncos 10-7. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesThe San Francisco 49ers present a unique challenge for the Denver Broncos defense and it is on defensive coordinator Vance Joseph to figure out how to overcome that challenge. One of the keys to that offense is how they use running back Christian McCaffrey and when Joseph was asked about him he identified the biggest challenge they'll face against him.
He is a Hall of Fame player, and he's still playing really well, not just in the running game, but in the passing game," Joseph said. I think the third downs, he's the leading receiver in the first couple breaks. So that's always tough to have a plan to cover a runner on third downs. Again they do a great job with scheme to free him up and to get him on those matchups they like. So it's our job to kind of find the right matchup and have the right calls intact to leverage him."
Any of us who have watched Broncos' football is probably aware that the defense often struggles with two things: pass catching tight ends and pass catching running backs. Both have been able to torch VJ's defenses at times, though to his credit he often finds ways to adjust in those games to right the ship. This could be another one of those games where Joseph has to weather the storm early and adjust to fill the holes and keep the defense winning the battle overall.
Do you think he can do it again vs. the 49ers?
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Talanoa HufangaOn how he's able to stay calm in high-pressure moments
Well honestly I think the huddle's calm. We just have a very calm huddle. Smooth in and out, we don't panic. Nobody really has to say much, but we're all just motivating each other and encouraging each other. We just have [a] good calmness in the huddle when its in that situation. I'll give it to the huddle for keeping everybody else calm. I think once you do it a few times, you just know you can do it. We all just get in the huddle like, This is our time, guys. This is what we've built and what we've managed to become.' I think it's a really good huddle, and obviously, those guys help me stay calm throughout the game. At the end of the day, it's just doing it over and over and knowing I have the guys to go out there and go on a game-winning drive because we've done it against many, many good teams."
On if he knows 49ers QB Brock Purdy and how much he keeps up with what other guys are doing around the league
Just a little bit. I met him for the first time last year when we joint [practiced] with them. I hear really good things about him, and I know he's a great guy from what I've heard. He does a great job with his witness as well. I just appreciate that and admire that most about him. I think he uses his platform for much bigger things, as I like to do. Obviously he's playing really good right now. He's one of those guys, he's been to a Super Bowl, he's played in a lot of big games. He's a really good quarterback in our league, probably a little bit underrated. I think it's always just really cool when you're watching around the league and you're seeing different teams play and all that kind of stuff. The appreciation level is really high, and we respect each other and we know what each other goes through. At the end of the day, he's playing really good."
On how important the run-pass balance is to have for him as a quarterback
It's important. I've been in times where you throw the ball too much, and you feel like that's all you can do. Then I feel like running the ball a lot, and you want to throw it and stretch them downfield. At the end of the day, it's what is the defense giving us? How can we attack them? How can we be threats? How can we get our guys in space? At the end of the day, if you run the ball down the field and you go score, nobody's going to say anything. If you throw the ball down the field and go score, nobody's going to say anything. It's finding that happy medium of doing it well balanced and just being able to go down the field and sustain drives. I think a lot of it right now is just first and second down run-pass, first and second down early success, having good runs and really trying the best we can to stay out of third downs because that's how defenses get off the field obviously."
On what the team is talking about and working on to prevent slow starts
I think we know we're going to be able to always be in the football game and always be able to come back. That's one of our strengths. We're never out of the game. I do think starting fast is key, and it always is. The really good teams that win the whole thing, they have games where they start fast and they don't just rely on getting to the second half. At the same time, I think it's just all about execution right now. Like the other day, it just felt like we didn't have many plays. So we have to sustain drives, we have to get the first, first down. Typically once we do that, we have good success. I think we just have to stay on the field longer. It's just early-down success right now, execution."
On 49rs LB Dre Greenlaw and LB Fred Warner
They've played in tandem for a while. They're really good. They're a really good duo. They play with really good vision, really good in space. They fit their defense really well, and they have for years. They've been there for a really long time playing at a high level. I got to know obviously [49ers LB] Dre [Greenlaw] last year. He's a really good player, a really good guy. I know he's going to be really excited about this game, and [49ers LB] Fred [Warner] has just been one of the best linebackers in the league forever. It's going to be a tough task for us. We're going to have to block them up and get hats on hats and just hopefully not let them wreck the game."
On if they are looking at technical or schematic things to try to start games faster
I think all of the above as an organization. You look at all of the above. Obviously, as players we look at technique and we look at execution. Coaching staff, they're looking at gameplan and all that. So we're all looking at ways that each of us can get better and have a faster start. I don't think we're further off than what everybody's exaggerating it, but I do think it's going to be a play here, a play there, a third-down conversion, one drive in a first quarter and then all of the sudden we catch rhythm a little bit faster. I just think it all goes back to what are we doing on first down to get us to second and third down? Are we getting first downs early in drives, or are we having to go first down, second down, third down? That's just exhausting as an offense in general. So the best teams that start fast, they typically just stay out of third down."
On if he puts pressure on himself to be the solution to starting faster
Not really because honestly it could lead to like a couple of plays I did the other day, pressing, and then you just make it worse. My job is just get the ball to where it's supposed to get to, and not force anything, take what the defense is giving me and just as an offensive group, we have to rely more on the run game, and completions and create more explosive plays and I think all of that will just help over time. No one person can change the fast start. That's a collective thing, and we all know it. We're all doing things individually to make it a collective effort."
On facing a lot of 2-high safety looks and staying patient to hit long plays
For some reason that's just been the league and football over the last couple of years. We've gone back to a lot of two-high zones and a lot of coverages and a lot of shell. As a quarterback, it is what it is. Obviously we'd love to just get man-to-man, or get low safeties and throw it over their head, but at the same time, that'd be really bad defense and there's no bad defense in the league. We just have to take our matchups, find matchups, find ways to scheme things open and find ways to use their coverage against them. I think we've been able to do that a few times. We've had some good open shots over the last couple games that has kind of lead to our success in the second half. We've really opened receivers up in their zones and all that kind of stuff. We haven't gotten a whole lot of man, and so I just expect to continue to get 2-high zone and really frankly until we start running the football, and establishing it and getting some yards on the ground. Because once we start doing that, they have to change. That helped in the second half the other day."
On how he thinks he's grown in handling defensive pressure
Well you can always improve just by seeing it. I think we've done a great job of picking it up. We very rarely have free blitzers. Sometimes they bring the house, and you know you're going to have one extra. We've gotten to our blitz answers. We've seen the blitzes, and I feel like we've actually done a really good job of not letting the blitz sort of hurt us. We've, I think, been not at our best when we get just soft coverage, and they just play us, and line up and make us do some things. I think when they get aggressive, we're responding well. Over time, I think it's just seeing it and reacting. I think that's the best way to grow with it."
On his relationship with Commanders WR Luke McCaffrey from the 2024 Senior Bowl and getting to know 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey and their father former Broncos WR Ed McCaffrey
That was really the first time I was around him and really anybody from the family. Obviously being here, I've been able to meet their parents. Great family. Obviously you can tell why the sons are the way they are. I think they have great parents and they were raised right and all that kind of stuff. It was fun to be with [Commanders WR] Luke [McCaffrey]. I really just got to know him. All the buzz and all the things coming off the family, you'd think like you could just be a hotshot and just think everybody knows who you are. But he just put his head down and he worked. I think if I remember correctly, he probably played the majority of the Senior Bowl, which is rare because a lot of guys just pull themselves out, but he played the whole entire time. If I remember, I don't remember him complaining about it, and him just loving it, and going out there and doing what's best for the team on a week-old team. So that was impressive to me, and that in my opinion sort of represented him and his family really well. I have great respect for the McCaffreys. Obviously they're really important to this town. It'll be exciting to play against [49ers RB] Christian [McCaffrey] this weekend."
Pat Surtain II
On winning AFC Defensive Player of the WeekI was kind of shocked. It is my first time, so I'm very blessed. Obviously it's a great honor to just be recognized, but at the end of the day, it doesn't really mean anything going into this week. Not really because at the end of the day, you have to go do it again. I'm excited to be healthy with the team and go play against a good San Francisco team."
On how cool it is to receive AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors
It was cool. It's funny because it's one of those recognitions... It's a personal award, but at the same time there are things that go into it. You don't get the sack if VJ' (Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph) doesn't dial it up the right way. You don't get the game-winning [interception] if everybody isn't on the same [page] of what we are designed to do. As much as it is an individual award, it does feel like when you have a player that can get that award on your defense-as a defensive player. Offense is cool, too, but defense is a team award. It's guys putting me in the right position too. I'm super thankful for that."
On the work he put in this offseason to help create more turnovers
I can't say [I worked with anyone]. I think everyone talked about it in general. That is more of a self-reflection. I went back and watched every single snap of every single game. I left a lot out there last year, so for this year it was a real attack on what I wanted to get done. I spent a lot of time on the JUGS [machine] out here and inside, and I've still dropped a few. It's not the most exciting part when you have two that you think can really change the game early on and not put us in that spot. But to be able to finish it out during a time where I haven't really caught anything yet as a Bronco, it definitely felt pretty good."
On if he will talk to any of his former 49ers teammates before this week's game
I probably will say, What's up?' before the game. It's kind of cool. More of just a hello, and then we play the game and then you get to talk after. I think that is when you get to catch up with some guys. At the end of the day, they understand what it is. Everyone is trying to compete, and everyone wants to win. It's not like there is a time for just catching up, that is usually after the game and once the clock hits 0:00."
Courtland SuttonOn S Talanoa Hufanga winning AFC Defensive Player of the Week
I thought he had a great shot at it. It was well deserved. He came up with two clutch plays throughout the game that we very much needed, and that is what he does. Just makes big-time plays week-in and week-out."
On the emphasis on creating turnovers this year
It all starts with what we do out here on this practice field. Being intentional with getting the ball when the ball is in the air. We believe it's ours or nobody's. That is the mindset. But it is also guys doing their jobs. When you do your job in this defense, you end up making the play. That is what everyone is doing. They're buying into the system, and process and making it work."
On San Francisco's offense
They have a good thing going. They're off to a hot start offensively. I think they lead the league in third-down percentage. They throw a lot of stuff at you offensively. It starts with [49ers RB Christian] McCaffrey in the backfield and what he is able to do not only in the run game, but in the pass game as well. He's definitely a threat coming out of the backfield. Then you have [49ers TE George] Kittle, and [49ers WR] Deebo [Samuel Sr.] and all of those guys making plays for them. They also have good perimeter players. It will be a good challenge on the horizon for us. It's the same system that we've been facing these past two weeks, that same [49ers Head Coach Kyle] Shanahan and [Rams Head Coach Sean] McVay system. We just have to be ready and understand how they will try to attack us."
On the way Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph involves the defensive backs in the pass rush plan each week
I think it's unique. [Defensive Coordinator] Vance [Joseph] makes things very complex for the opposing offenses. He can do one thing, and then do another thing. It's good when we have guys who are able to do that, blitz, cover, and do all of those things because it builds value within the defense when you have guys that can go out there and be versatile in the back end. I think it definitely makes it a dangerous defense when you have guys who can blitz, cause havoc and also cover."
Under the radar
On the team's slow starts in gamesObviously, we want to be able to start faster and be able to put together four quality quarters of football. We are working on trying to be better in that aspect. With today being an emphasis of base down and making sure we understand staying ahead of the chains and staying on schedule. It starts at practice and starts with understanding what they are going to give us in those base down situations and understand what we are being handed in those beginning parts of the game so we can play in the first half how we play in the second half. I feel like we are a really strong finishing team, but if we can pair together a fast start plus finishing strong, that is where I think the magic is going to come from."
On if he thought on Sunday that S Talanoa Hufanga would become AFC Defensive Player of the Week
It was just fun watching him have the success that he had during the game. You never know who is going to wind up getting those awards at the end of the week, but he definitely was well-deserving the way that he performed. He had a heck of a game [with] the sack, a couple of [tackles for loss] and obviously the two interceptions were huge. His pick-6 was a turning point in the game in terms of momentum. Then for him to seal the game with the interception at the end, it only speaks testaments to the type of player that he is and the way that he works and the way that he comes into the building every day to be the best leader that he can and pushing everybody to be their best. To see him have the success was a lot of fun. He's been working his butt off on maximizing his interception opportunities. It was fun to watch it pay off for him."
On going against 49ers LB Dre Greenlaw and the 49ers defense this week
It'll be fun going against [49ers LB] Dre [Greenlaw]. Dre was one person over from me when he was here in the locker room. That dude loves football. I'm happy that he is healthy and is able to go out there and play. Watching him and [49ers LB] Fred [Warner] in the middle of that field, that is a really good duo they have in the middle of the field. When you have two [linebackers] like that, it allows the rest of the defense to play fast. Those guys play fast and play physical. They know where they are supposed to be at. They know how to get there and it will be on us to make sure when we find the holes to maximize them. Then protecting the ball and being able to maximize those opportunities. It'll be fun to get a chance to see him and go against him because he is a hell of a football player."
.@EliManning drops QB knowledge to @colincowherd explaining why Bo Nix has so much success in 4th quarter compared to rest of the game pic.twitter.com/Yth49DvDC4
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How often teams get to the red zone and what happens when they get there: pic.twitter.com/XFP91UfTRP
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The FeedDown 8 or fewer in the 4th, Bo Nix has led 31 drives and 16 have ended with a score (FG or TD) by DEN. Denver is 12-5 in those games. Last loss in one of those games was 9-21-2025 https://t.co/C8cpWpcbR9pic.twitter.com/7Dd5ObDyUi
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