EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Defense travels.

The past 10 days, Denver’s defense traveled a lot.

From Denver to Florida to West Virginia to New Jersey.

And now back home to the Front Range with a road sweep in the bag after a second straight dominating performance delivered a second straight upset win on the East Coast, this one a 10-9 Vance Joseph master class against the New York Jets.

“I thought Vance called a great game as he’s done all year,” inside linebacker Justin Strnad said after making his first start of the season. “He prepared us so well for this game and I can’t thank him enough.”

Joseph’s group was humming from the first play and came through just about every time Denver needed it on a rainy, offensively challenged afternoon at MetLife Stadium.

Strnad came free and logged the first of five sacks against future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers on the game’s first play. That drive ended in a turnover when safety Brandon Jones punched the ball out from receiver Garrett Wilson on a short completion.

Neither team logged a first down until the second quarter, but the Broncos defense generated a decided edge in big plays, which helped tilt the field position in their favor. They sacked Rodgers three times in the first half and two more in the fourth quarter while protecting a 10-9 lead.

The last of the quintet was the biggest.

Joseph sparred with Rodgers from the sideline on the Jets’ penultimate drive, blitzing him on the first two plays after the two-minute warning — both incompletions — before showing pressure but only rushing four on third-and-10.

Rodgers, out of rhythm, threw another incompletion.



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