One of the NFL's two remaining undefeated teams just got significantly more formidable.
The Denver Broncos welcomed All-Pro linebacker Von Miller back from his six-game suspension Monday.
If the Broncos have a weakness, it's in defending the pass. They rank first in the league against the run and last against the pass.
That's partially attributable to tempo and game momentum as the flip side to having the highest-scoring offense in NFL history through six weeks, but that factor can be minimized with the returns of Miller and Champ Bailey.
Adding one of the most transformative defensive players in the NFL will go a long way toward upgrading a sack ratio that currently ranks 22nd in the league. J.J. Watt's chief competition for Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2012, Miller has recorded 30 sacks in 31 career games.
The question isn't whether Miller will make an impact, but how quickly it will happen.
"I still move like a wildcat," Miller said Monday, via The Denver Post. "I'm still quick. I'm still going to cover guys. I'm in the best shape of my life. Emotionally I'm in a very good place.
Coach John Fox agrees with Miller's assessment and expects him to be a factor in Sunday's showdown at the Indianapolis Colts.
"Obviously, I think he's a terrific player," Fox said, via the team's official website. "He looks in terrific shape ... He's a dynamic rusher and we're excited to get him back."
In the "Around The League Podcast's"AFC West preseason preview, we predicted the Broncos would have little trouble taking the division crown if they managed a .500 record during Miller's absence.
Now that their defensive fulcrum returns to an undefeated team, the better question is whether Denver can remain unbeaten over the final 10 games after winning 17 consecutive regular-season affairs.
The latest "Around The League Podcast" recapped every Week 6 game.
