Bradley Chubb explains what teams are doing to negate the Broncos' pass rush

Bradley Chubb has an explanation for why he and Von Miller have been held without a sack for two-straight games. But does it hold water?

In the Denver Broncos' 16-14 heartbreaking loss to the Chicago Bears, Bradley Chubb and Von Miller were complete non-factors. Week 2 marked the second-consecutive game in which the Broncos' lead pass-rushing duo were held without a sack. 

In fact, as a team, the Broncos are yet to notch a single sack in 2019. 

After the game, Chubb was asked why he and Miller aren't getting home to the opposing QB. 

“Watch the film," Chubb said from the locker room following Sunday's loss. "They’re getting the ball out fast and chipping us. A whole bunch of stuff is going on. We can’t control everything. We’re just trying to play to the best of our abilities. That’s the one thing that me and Von come in every day and do, just be the best us and don’t try to count sack numbers like you all do. Just go out there and play football.”

I err by saying that Chubb and Von were non-factors. In the strictest sense, that's untrue. 

On Chicago's final possession in which the Bears trailed by one point with half a minute to go on their own 25-yard line, Chubb was flagged for roughing the passer. It was a ticky-tack call, in Chubb's defense, and I'm sure the Broncos will be sending the play into the league office, but it gave the Bears 15 additional yards. 

“Down seven, came back and scored, got the extra point (two-point conversion)," Chubb said. "Go out there and get a call like that, and we ended up losing the game.”

On that final drive, in which the Bears drove 40 yards in six plays to kick the walk-off game-winning field goal, Chubb and Miller were unable to affect the outcome. It's in situations like that, where a team is forced to throw the ball with time running out and trailing, is where elite pass rushers the league over make their money. 

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It was nothing doing for the Broncos, though, and that really disappointed head coach Vic Fangio that his high-profile edge rushers couldn't make a play in the clutch. 

“It wasn’t frustrating or surprising up until the end there when we needed some," Fangio said from the podium post-game. "At least you guys can’t get on me for rushing three there at the end. We rushed four a couple times and we rushed five a couple times. We could have used a little better rush there at that time.”

This loss really was gut-wrenching because, despite three-and-a-half quarters of offensive ineptitude, Joe Flacco and company did enough at the end to win the game. The Broncos' defense, on the other hand, couldn't close. 

For his part, Von Miller recognizes that he's not come through for his team in two-straight games to open the season, and now the Broncos are set to go on the road at 0-2 for the first time since 1999. 

“We’ve just got to keep playing," Miller said post-game. "I’ve got to find a way to do my job. No matter how fast they throw it. It’s a double loss for Von today.”

A 'double loss' in that the Broncos lost and Miller was unable to notch a sack. Chubb claims opposing teams are scheming he and Miller out of the game, getting the ball out quick and chipping them. As if 2019 the first time in Miller's illustrious eight-year career he's been double-teamed. 

“Just got to triple down," Miller said. "Try three times harder this week and get back in the lab and keep practicing.”

Often times, sacks come in bunches for the NFL's elite pass rushers. With Aaron Rodgers and arguably the best left tackle in football next up on the docket, it won't get any easier for Miller and Chubb. 

At some point, something's got to give or this season is going to quickly spiral out of control. 

Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen and @MileHighHuddle.