Justin Fields, Denver Broncos
Getty
Justin Fields #7 of the New York Jets runs on the field during introductions before facing the Denver Broncos.
The Denver Broncos, and specifically their defense, had a historic day in Week 6 against the New York Jets. However, Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper is asserting that there was no personal motivation against Jets quarterback Justin Fields.
The Broncos sacked Fields 9 times during the contest.
It was a strong effort from Cooper and the Broncos’ defense when the offense did not have its best at different points.
Jonathan Cooper Gets Real About Justin Fields After Broncos Beat Jets
Jonathon Cooper and John Franklin-Myers
GettyDenver Broncos defensive ends Jonathon Cooper and John Franklin-Myers.
One fan asked Cooper on X what Fields had done to him, since the Broncos star and Jets QB were college teammates at Ohio State for two seasons from 2019 through 2020. The two reached the CFB National Championship in their final season together.
Naturally, Cooper expressed his affinity for Fields, citing their last campaign in Columbus.
“Lead me to a national championship,” Cooper posted on X on October 13. “I love him fr forever my brother.”
In addition to the Broncos snapping droughts of various lengths through different combinations of metrics, they held Fields to 45 yards passing on 52.9% completion. The passing yards are his fewest in a game that he finished as a starter.
Moreover, the Jets lost 55 yards on those sacks, giving them a net loss of 10 yards in the game.
That is the fewest passing yards allowed in Broncos history, the first time a team has been held to negative passing yardage since 2023, and the fewest in the NFL since 1998, per Stathead.
Notably, the Broncos also own the NFL record for fewest passing yards in a game, finishing with a loss of 53 yards against the then-Oakland Raiders in a 51-0 shutout during the 1967 regular season campaign.
Jonathon Cooper Helps Tide Star Take Down Former Buckeyes Teammates
Justin Fields, Jonathon Cooper, Denver Broncos
GettyJustin Fields #1 and Jonathon Cooper #0 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after defeating the Clemson Tigers during the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
Cooper and Fields’ Buckeyes lost that National Championship Game 52-24 against the Alabama Crimson Tide
Eight Broncos players recorded at least one half-sack in the game.
Cooper, who signed a four-year, $54 million contract extension last November, led the Broncos with 2.0 sacks on Fields in the win over the Jets. In a twist of fate, Cooper is now teammates with Pat Surtain II, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and a star for that Tide team.
Surtain drew attention in this game for helping limit Jets star wideout Garrett Wilson, who was Cooper and Fields’ teammate on that Buckeyes National Championship squad.
Up next, Cooper and the Broncos return home to face the New York Giants in Week 7.
Former Broncos QB Russell Wilson, who was also Fields’ teammate on the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, is now with the Giants, and would have been a good matchup for the Denver defense to pad its sack totals.
However, he ceded QB duties to rookie first-round pick Jaxson Dart in Week 4. Wilson is now a backup who has been mentioned in trade speculation.
Justin Fields Accepts Blame for Jets Passing Game Woes vs Broncos
New York Jets, Denver Broncos
GettyJustin Fields of New York Jets is tackled by Eyioma Uwazurike of Denver Broncos.
Fields came under intense scrutiny during and after the game. However, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn pushed back against a question about whether the coaching staff was considering benching the former No. 11 overall pick (2021, Chicago Bears) after falling to 0-6.
“Come on, man. What kind of question is that?” Glenn said in response, after acknowledging that Fields’ numbers were poor in the game. “Sometimes this league is [up and down], and there’s a number of guys that have bad games. That doesn’t mean you just bench them. Come on. You know better than that.”
Fields, who has a 799-4-0 line on 65% completion this season, accepted blame for the Jets’ passing game woes against the Broncos, saying, it “starts with me.”
Glenn defended Fields again on Monday after the loss to Cooper and the Broncos.