81.   The defense has played better the last two weeks than anyone would have imagined, so the offense, naturally, has played worse.

82.   The defense is playing wonderfully in front of him, affording him the luxury of having to be merely steady and not summarily spectacular.

83.   The defense played hard, but the mistakes overrode everything else.

84.   The defense played well enough to win.

85.   The difference for the Broncos yesterday was the way their defense played when the Falcons crossed midfield.

86.   The defense had played an excellent game.

87.   The defense has been playing real hard.

88.   The defense is playing great.

89.   The defense played a punishing game that forced three crucial turnovers and sacked Browns quarterback Vinny Testaverde in the end zone for a safety.

90.   The defense played so well that it dictated everything to its opponents, confusing quarterbacks from Mark Brunell to Dan Marino to Kordell Stewart.