Rookie quarterback Bo Nix has his Denver Broncos on the cusp of a playoff berth after Monday night time’s win over the Cleveland Browns. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
The final time the Denver Broncos made the playoffs was the top of the 2015 season. That was Peyton Manning’s final season, and the final time the Broncos had a viable quarterback.
Bo Nix helps finish each of these droughts.
Nix wasn’t good on Monday night time however he was fairly good. For a nationwide viewers who may not have seen a lot of Nix this season, it might need been a revelation. The collection of Nix at twelfth general within the draft was criticized by some, however the Broncos need to really feel nice about it. Nix led a go-ahead drive within the fourth quarter after a feisty Cleveland Browns workforce took a fourth-quarter lead, and the Broncos improved to 8-5 with a 41-32 win after the protection lastly obtained a cease within the last two minutes after giving up greater than 500 yards. Ja’Quan McMillian picked off Jameis Winston on a leaping interception, obtained up and returned it 46 yards for a game-sealing rating. Winston had 497 passing yards, 235 of which went to former Broncos receiver Jerry Jeudy (essentially the most receiving yards in NFL historical past for a participant in opposition to his former workforce, by way of ESPN), however his two pick-6s had been the distinction within the sport.
Nix threw a pair interceptions, but additionally had 294 yards and a landing. And his workforce obtained a giant win. The Broncos haven’t clinched a playoff spot, but it surely is perhaps coming quickly. Even larger than that, the long run seems to be vivid as a result of Denver has lastly discovered its quarterback drawback.
Big performs for each groups
Browns vs. Broncos wasn’t the kind of Monday night time matchup that was going to have everybody buzzing all afternoon, but it surely turned out to be an entertaining sport.
The Browns (3-9) haven’t been in a position to get a lot going within the working sport currently, so they only had Winston air it out. He was nicely over 300 yards throughout the third quarter, with former Broncos receiver Jerry Jeudy passing 200 yards early within the fourth quarter. There was a sequence by which Marvin Mims Jr. obtained previous the Browns secondary deep down the center and Nix hit him with a terrific go for a 93-yard landing. Then, on the subsequent offensive play, Jeudy beat the Broncos’ secondary for a 70-yard rating.
Winston made massive performs, however he’s all the time a menace to present some again. He did so within the second quarter, telegraphing a brief go that Broncos exterior linebacker Nik Bonitto stepped in entrance of for an interception and returned it 71 yards for a landing.
The Broncos had been scoring fairly simply, however the Browns wouldn’t go away simply, even when their playoff hopes realistically ended just a few weeks in the past.
Browns take 4th quarter lead
Nix made a mistake early within the fourth quarter. He threw deep however Mims was nicely lined and Browns cornerback Denzel Ward made a pleasant catch downfield for an interception. The Broncos led 31-25 however the door was open for the Browns to take again the lead. Jeudy made a pair extra massive performs, together with a 17-yard catch on third-and-10. With 8:57 left, Winston hit Nick Chubb for a landing and the Browns led 32-31. Winston went over 400 yards on that drive, and it was his fourth landing go.
For the previous eight seasons, the Broncos wouldn’t have had a lot likelihood at rallying after shedding the lead. They hardly ever had a quarterback able to main a game-winning drive. Nix didn’t look nervous in any respect. He hit a few massive third-down passes to get the Broncos downfield, displaying off his arm energy on every of them. With lower than three minutes left, the Broncos confronted a fourth-and-1 nicely inside subject objective vary. Head coach Sean Payton regarded like he was going for it, however then referred to as timeout, modified his thoughts and Wil Lutz kicked a go-ahead subject objective.
The Broncos’ protection had given up greater than 500 yards at that time, however wanted one cease to get an enormous win. The possession began with a sack, however Winston rallied to hit Elijah Moore for a primary down. The Broncos wanted a giant play, and McMillian obtained it. He obtained in entrance of a go to Moore and ended up taking it in for a landing. Winston threw a 3rd interception within the closing seconds of the sport on a desperation drive. Despite all his passing yards, Winston’s three interceptions had been pricey. That’s the story of his profession.
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Broncos win, get the total Jameis Winston expertise
Jameis Winston set a profession excessive and a brand new Browns report with 497 passing yards. Former Bronco Jerry Jeudy secured 9 catches for 235 yards and a landing, setting a brand new NFL report for many receiving yards in a sport in opposition to his former workforce.
And it wasn’t sufficient. Winston countered his massive night time with a pair of choose 6s that doomed the Browns in Denver in a 42-31 Broncos win. He capped the night time together with his third choose in the long run zone, permitting the Broncos to take over in victory formation. It was the very best of Jameis Winston and the worst of Jameis Winston multi function sport.
The win was aided by a 93-yard landing go from Bo Nix, who overcame his personal pair of interceptions to assist lead Denver to victory. The Broncos enhance to 8-5 and enter their bye week in agency management of their path to the playoffs.
Jameis Winston’s third interception places becoming exclamation level on Broncos win
And there’s Jameis Winston’s third interception, a becoming cap to a wild Broncos win.
Jameis Winston throws one other choose 6
Jameis Winston has been good tonight. Except for 2 throws.
Winston simply threw his second choose 6 of the night time contained in the two-minute warning. Ja’Quan McMillian jumped the route within the flat an intercepted the go close to midfield. He then took it to the home for a 46-yard interception return. Denver leads 41-32 inside the ultimate 2 minutes, and the Browns want a miracle.
Browns overcome sack, keep alive at 2-minute warning
Jameis Winston took a sack on first down. But the Browns picked up 20 yards on two passes on second and third and have a primary down on the Cleveland 42-yard line with 2 minutes remaining and a 34-32 deficit. A subject objective would win it.
Broncos suppose twice, kick go-ahead FG as an alternative of going for it
With a chip-shot subject objective for the lead, Sean Payton despatched out his offense on fourth-and-1. But he had second ideas. The Broncos referred to as timeout and despatched kicker Wil Lutz again out for the 27-yard try. Lutz was good, and the Broncos have a 34-32 lead with 2:54 remaining.
Can Jameis Winston and the Browns reply?
Browns convert Nix interception into lead
The Browns are again on prime. Cleveland marched 67 yards on eight performs after the Bo Nix interception to take a 32-31 lead on a five-yard landing go from Jameis Winston to Nick Chubb. Jerry Jeudy caught two passes for 52 yards to arrange the rating.
Winston’s as much as 446 yards with 4 touchdowns on the night time. A powerful Denver protection has had few solutions for this passing assault.
Jerry Jeudy’s over 200 yards
Jerry Jeudy’s having a profession night time in opposition to his former workforce. A 35-yard catch on one other massive reference to Jameis Winston places him at seven catches for 202 yards with a landing. Why is not Patrick Surtain shadowing Jeudy?
Bo Nix’s second interception offers ball proper again to Browns
Denzel Ward compelled the primary Bo Nix interception of the night time. He simply hauled in Nix’s second. Nix regarded deep to Marvin Mims on the primary play of a possession. Ward stayd with Mims stride-for-stride and got here down the ball for an interception. Cleveland’s again in enterprise with a 28-25 deficit early within the fourth quarter.
Browns punt after sack of Jameis Winston
The Broncos swarmed Jameis Winston for a sack on second down and a 14-yard loss. The Browns punt the ball again, and the Broncos have the ball and a 31-25 lead.
Browns catch a break
The Browns simply caught a giant break. Right guard Wyatt Teller jumped early on a fourth-and-1 sneak by Jameis Winston, and the officers did not catch it. Winston adopted Teller and dove by means of the precise facet of the road for a primary down.
Jaleel McLaughlin powers Broncos FG drive
Jaleel McLaughlin ran 5 time for 43 yards to assist get the Broncos into field-goal vary. Denver opts for the kick as an alternative of going for it on fourth-and-2. Wil Lutz is sweet from 36 yards to increase the Broncos result in 31-25 late within the third quarter.
Browns get the ball again with likelihood to take a lead
Denver simply went 3-and-out, and the Browns have the ball again with a 28-25 deficit halfway by means of the third quarter.
Jerry Jeudy strikes again
It took the Browns all of 1 play to reply Bo Nix’s landing go to Marvin Mims. And former Bronco Jerry Jeudy was on the receiving finish of it.
On the primary play of the following Browns possession, Jameis Winston regarded deep to Jeudy on a go route down the center. Jeudy broke free excessive of the Denver protection and hauled within the go for a 70-yard landing catch to chop Denver’s result in 28-25.
Jeudy’s as much as six catches for 167 yards and a landing. And we have got a shootout on our fingers in Denver.
Bo Nix hits Marvin Mims for 93-yard highlight-reel TD
Here’s one for the rookie spotlight reel. Facing third-and-11 in opposition to their very own finish zone, the Broncos regarded primed for one more punt. Bo Nix had different concepts.
Nix discovered Marvin Mims streaking down the center and hit him in stride over a pair of Browns defenders close to midfield. 93 yards later, Mims was in the long run zone for a 28-17 Broncos lead. What a throw from Nix, who’s been one of many largest surprises of the NFL season.
Broncos get one other cease
The Broncos compelled the second Browns punt in two second-half possessions and have the ball again at their very own 8-yard line after a punt. Denver leads, 21-17 early within the third quarter.
Broncos fail to transform 2nd-and-short
The Broncos had second down and fewer than a yard to go and ended up punting. Jaleel McLaughlin misplaced a yard on second down, and Bo Nix’s third-down go to Devaughn Vele was damaged up by Greg Newsome. Broncos punt, main 21-17. Nix is 9 of 19 for 110 yards in opposition to a Browns protection that is not giving him simple seems to be.
Browns stall out close to midfield
Cleveland’s opening drive stopped wanting the 50-yard line, and the Broncos have the ball inside their very own 20 after a punt.
Second half is underway
The second half is underway. The Browns have the ball first after a touchback on the second-half kickoff.
Broncos 21, Browns 17: Key hafltime stats
Denver’s vaunted protection largely struggled in opposition to the Browns earlier than halftime, however made up for it partly with a choose 6 of Jameis Winston. The Broncos offense, in the meantime, has scored two touchdowns behind Bo Nix, however failed to maneuver the ball on its different 4 possessions.
Bo Nix: 9 of 18 for 110 yards, zero touchdowns, 1 interception Jameis Winston: 18 of 31 for 245 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception (choose 6)
Jaleel McLaughlin: 5 carries for 20 yards Javonte Williams and Michael Burton: Each with a 1-yard TD run Jerome Ford: 6 carries for 39 yards Nick Chubb: 6 carries for 11 yards
Courtland Sutton: 3 catches for 43 yards Jerry Jeudy: 5 catches for 97 yards David Njoku: 5 catches for 32 yards, 2 touchdowns
The Broncos knelt with 13 seconds remaining within the second quarter and enter halftime with a 21-17 lead. The Browns may have the ball first within the third quarter.
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