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Denver Broncos third-year rush linebacker Nik Bonitto has been a nice surprise during the team’s 5-3 start. Due to Baron Browning’s early-season injury, Bonitto was thrust into the starting lineup. He has more than lived up to the hype, racking up six sacks to lead the Broncos.

At this point, Browning is unable to snap edgewise. Bonitto has carved out a niche for himself in Broncos lore. His current six-game sack run ranks third all-time for the Broncos and is the longest active streak in the NFL.

Two of the longest sack streaks in Broncos history are owned by the legendary Ring of Famer Simon Fletcher. With eight games in 1991, the second-longest streak was also that year. During the 1992 and 1993 seasons, the longest one lasted for ten consecutive games.

It would take two sacks by Bonitto—one against the Baltimore Ravens and one against the Kansas City Chiefs—for him to tie Fletcher for the second-longest run in NFL history. So far in Broncos history, eight players have shared Bonitto’s six-game streak.

It has been remarkable to witness the former Oklahoma Sooner, who was selected in the second round, disrupt quarterbacks and contribute to the Broncos’ second-highest sack total in NFL history. As of Week 9, Denver had 30 sacks, second only in the NFL to the New York Giants’ 35.

Vance Joseph, the Broncos’ defensive coordinator, gets a hint from Bonitto. However, Bonitto owes a debt of gratitude to Jamar Cain, who coached the defensive line, and Michael Wilhoite, who coached the outside linebackers.

“Just keep following the game plan that ‘VJ’ gives us,” Bonitto stated following last Sunday’s win. Every week, Coach Wilhoite and Coach Jamar offer us a rush strategy; you should keep to it. I just want to confirm that everyone is in a rush. As long as we’re not slacking off or deviating from the game plan, the DBs will do their jobs alongside us.

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The Broncos’ travel schedule is jam-packed with games against teams that can be considered contenders for the Super Bowl. The Broncos’ success on their recent back-to-back East Coast road swing, according to Bonitto, proves that they can handle these challenging opponents and maintain their relevance in the AFC.

“We are excited about the challenge because we have been performing well away from home this year,” Bonitto stated. “We are prepared because we know it will be an exciting matchup between these two teams.”

Props to the youngster. With 11.5 sacks between Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper, Browning is no longer a factor. Although Bonitto’s pass-rushing skills was usually on point, he struggled mightily to build the strength and NFL-ready physique necessary to defend against runs.

So far, that’s been going swimmingly as Bonitto keeps up his enlightening adventure in Year 3. With 12 or 13 sacks on the books for the year, he would become the first Bronco to reach double digits since 2018’s Von Miller and Bradley Chubb.