OLB Bradley Chubb

Last week:

Six combined tackles, one sack, three tackles for loss

Season stats:

Eight sacks (first among rookies, tied for sixth in the NFL)

Nine tackles for loss (first among rookies, tied for seventh in the NFL)

30 tackles (tied for 18th among rookies)

The NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month in October, Bradley Chubb has been dominant over his past four games, racking up 6.5 sacks. His eight sacks this season are twice what the second-leading rookie — New Orleans' Marcus Davenport and Indianapolis' Darius Leonard — have recorded. Though it's his sack total that will garner the most recognition, he has made strides in all facets of his game as he's gotten more comfortable and experienced at the NFL level.

"Every week he improves on something," Head Coach Vance Joseph said last week. "Whether it's coverage or rush or just playing the run, he's been obviously a good player for us from Day 1. He has improved weekly. I'm not surprised he was named player of the month as far as rookie defenders."

Chubb's rise has coincided with the Broncos' defense getting back into form, too. The Broncos have allowed just 3.0 yards per carry over the past three weeks, the best mark in the NFL.

"I'm just trying to go out there and not think as much as I was in the beginning of the season, just being the player that they drafted," Chubb said Sunday. "That player wasn't thinking, that player wasn't doing all this, he was just out there playing, having fun and that's what I'm trying to do now. I feel like it's been successful."

With Chubb on one side and Von Miller on the other, the Broncos' pass rush has wreaked havoc on opposing offenses. The Broncos' 28.0 sacks are tied for second in the NFL. If Chubb continues to play like he has over the past few weeks, he has a chance to break Jevon Kearse's rookie-season record of 14.5 sacks, set back in 1999. And he could be named Defensive Rookie of the Year after the season.