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Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior Writer
DENVER — In the tip, even a coach with a résumé so long as Sean Payton has as an NFL head coach may solely voice a fast sigh within the aftermath of the Denver Broncos’ wild 41-32 win over the Cleveland Browns Monday evening in Empower Field at Mile High.
“Holy cow,” Payton stated as he stepped to the rostrum.
Payton had simply seen his Broncos win a recreation regardless of surrendering 497 yards passing and 4 touchdowns to Browns quarterback Jameis Winston to go together with 235 yards receiving from former Broncos’ first-round choose Jerry Jeudy as Cleveland completed with a staggering 552 yards of offense total. But within the swirl the Broncos’ protection additionally produced three interceptions — two returned for touchdowns — and Denver moved to 8-5 to maintain itself within the No. 7 spot within the AFC’s playoff race.
“Some video games go in a path you suppose they will go, clearly that recreation went in a a lot completely different path, we made sufficient performs to win,” Payton stated. ” … We acquired that subsequent win and that was most essential. It wasn’t good by any means, however we have been in a position to end.”
Said Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix: “Really it is simply occurring to that subsequent drive, not worrying in regards to the rating, not worrying about what occurred earlier than. … We simply needed to put every part collectively as finest as doable and located a strategy to win a recreation … a recreation such as you actually have gotten to attain extra factors, regardless of the way it occurs.”
Jeudy’s receiving complete was probably the most the Broncos had given up in franchise historical past. Winston’s passing complete was the second highest by an opposing quarterback towards the Broncos behind solely Tony Romo’s 506 yards passing in 2013.
The Broncos had leads of 21-10 and 28-17 within the second half solely to see the Browns take a 32-31 lead with 8 minutes, 57 seconds left within the recreation on Winston’s 5-yard scoring cross to Nick Chubb — Winston’s fourth landing cross of the sport.
But the Broncos drove 61 yards in 11 performs on their subsequent possession, together with two third-down conversions, for a 34-32 lead after a 27-yard discipline objective by Wil Lutz. The Broncos lastly stopped the curler coaster when cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian intercepted Winston on the subsequent possession and returned it 44 yards for a landing (outdoors linebacker Nik Bonitto had returned an interception 71 yards for a rating earlier within the recreation).
“Stuff acquired ugly on the sideline slightly bit … we simply needed to get all people collectively,” security P.J. Locke stated. “We stated, ‘We’re being examined, there’s going to be video games like this, we’re being examined proper now,’ however we pulled it out, we simply pulled it out. It was loopy … we had the final word religion … JMac got here up with an ideal play.”
Said Payton: “Big play, recreation was filled with them, however that was vital. Just a special recreation, we have got to be taught from it. We’re at the moment right here in December when all of this stuff matter, we’ve got to be taught from it.”
Broncos linebacker Cody Barton intercepted Winston ultimately zone with 44 seconds left to finish the Browns’ last-gasp drive. The win retains the Broncos on observe within the AFC playoff race and likewise improves their AFC report to 4-4, a doubtlessly essential tiebreaker within the weeks to come back.
The Broncos have a bye within the upcoming week and return to face the Indianapolis Colts (6-7), Dec. 15, in Denver. It’s the primary time the Broncos have been not less than three video games over .500 this late in a season since 2016, the primary 12 months of the present playoff drought.
The Broncos haven’t been in a playoff recreation since their Super Bowl 50 win to complete the 2015 season.
“Obviously, after we return and have a look at that tape defensively there’s going to be numerous issues we might have executed in another way,” Payton stated. ” … And but we had two interceptions for a landing, one other interception. I informed them within the locker room it wasn’t fairly, however ultimately we did what we needed to do particularly late. … I’m proud the way in which we fought and we acquired that subsequent win.”
