DENVER (AP) — Jameis Winston had an evening to recollect — and one to neglect.
Ja’Quan McMillian returned an interception 44 yards for a game-sealing landing with 1:48 remaining, and Denver spoiled career-best performances by Winston and ex-Broncos large receiver Jerry Jeudy in beating the Cleveland Browns 41-32 on Monday.
The good for Winston: He threw for a franchise-record 497 yards and 4 touchdowns.
The not-so-good: He tossed two interceptions that Denver returned for scores. The Broncos had three picks for 171 interception return yards towards him.
“It was my fault,” Winston stated. “I’ve obtained to play higher.”
It was absolutely paying homage to his greatest — and worst — yr in 2019 with Tampa Bay, when he led the NFL in yards (5,109) and was second in TD passes (33) but in addition led the league in picks (30).
“I do know I’m higher than this,” Winston stated. “I’m simply praying for the Lord to ship me from pick-6s. That’s not me. Phenomenal recreation on offense, do some nice issues, however I mess it up.”
Meanwhile, Jeudy had 9 catches for 235 yards — probably the most in NFL historical past by a receiver towards his former staff — and a TD. Jeudy performed his first 4 seasons with Denver and was booed each time he caught the ball.
“They solely boo you,” Jeudy stated, “once they know there’s one thing nice in you.”
Nik Bonitto intercepted Winston and took it 71 yards to the house late within the second quarter. Winston grew to become the primary NFL quarterback to throw for 400 or extra yards with 4 or extra TD passes and two pick-6s.
Bo Nix completed with 294 yards passing, together with a stunning deep ball from his personal finish zone that Marvin Mims Jr. hauled in for a 93-yard landing. Nix additionally threw two picks.
The Broncos (8-5) enter their bye week within the seventh and remaining playoff spot within the AFC. Denver has a 76% likelihood of constructing the postseason, in line with the NFL. The staff hasn’t been within the playoffs since profitable the Super Bowl after the 2015 season.
“It wasn’t excellent, by any means, however we had been capable of end,” Broncos coach Sean Payton stated. ”Big performs — the sport was stuffed with them.”
Winston surpassed the Browns file of 457 yards passing set by Josh McCown in 2015 towards Baltimore. He threw a 70-yard TD move to Jeudy and a pair of scores to tight finish David Njoku in falling to 2-3 as a starter for the Browns (3-9) since changing an injured Deshaun Watson.
Cleveland led 32-31 on Winston’s 5-yard TD move to Nick Chubb when Nix drove the Broncos to the Browns 9. On fourth-and-1, Payton lined as much as go for it however modified his thoughts after a timeout. Wil Lutz kicked a go-ahead 27-yard discipline purpose with 2:54 remaining.
Winston and the Browns had loads of time to drive for a profitable rating, however Winston’s throw to Elijah Moore was late and McMillian jumped the route. He fell to the turf untouched after making the catch, obtained up and sprinted to the top zone.
“The reality they did it twice was form of loopy,” Nix stated of the interception returns. “I’m over there sitting, the benches have the warmers over there, and I don’t even have to maneuver. It’s fairly good for the offense once they bail us out like that.”
Jeudy, a first-round draft decide in 2020, was traded to Cleveland this spring after an up-and-down 4 seasons with Denver. He paused at the goal line earlier than falling backward into the top zone on his lengthy TD catch. He additionally caught a 2-point conversion to drag the Browns to 28-25.
“We had a plan going into it when it comes to attempting to get him open. I assumed the plan was strong,” Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski stated. “Jerry executed the plan rather well. Got him open. Jameis made some throws. It’s onerous within the dropping effort to be ok with something.”
The play by Jeudy got here simply 11 seconds after Nix threw a laser from about 4 yards deep in his finish zone to Mims at across the 42. Mims caught it in stride, raced to the top zone and jumped into the stands to rejoice.
The Broncos relied on their operating recreation within the first half, with Javonte Williams and Michael Burton scoring brief TDs. It was Burton’s second TD of his 10-year profession.
The Browns fell to 4-13 within the Mile High City. Dustin Hopkins missed a 47-yard discipline purpose to the left on Cleveland’s opening drive.
Nix, who’s earned the NFL Rookie of the Week three consecutive occasions, threw his first interception since Nov. 3. Chased by Myles Garrett, Nix tried to pressure a move to Tony Franklin over the center. Denzel Ward reached in and deflected the ball into the air and it was caught by Greg Newsome II.
Winston and Jeudy obtained rolling early with a 44-yard completion on the Browns’ first offensive play.
“That wasn’t speculated to go to me,” Jeudy defined.
Pregame speech
Winston delivered a fiery pregame oration to his teammates, yelling, “It’s obtained to come back out of your coronary heart. I don’t care about no Mile High. I care about how the Browns get down.”
Injury report
Broncos: WR Jamari Thrash (shoulder) left the sport. … Ward (calf) and S Grant Delpit (head) had been each off the sphere on Denver’s late drive for the go-ahead discipline purpose.
Broncos: S Brandon Jones sustained a groin harm.
Up subsequent
Browns: At Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Broncos: After a bye, host Indianapolis on Dec. 15.
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