DENVER — Ultimately, 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 night time in Empower Area at Mile Excessive.
“Holy cow,” Payton stated as he stepped to the rostrum.
Payton had simply seen his Broncos win a sport 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 general. However 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 course you suppose they will go, clearly that sport went in a a lot completely different course, we made sufficient performs to win,” Payton stated. ” … We obtained that subsequent win and that was most essential. It wasn’t excellent by any means, however we had been capable of end.”
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Mentioned Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix: “Actually it is simply happening to that subsequent drive, not worrying concerning the rating, not worrying about what occurred earlier than. … We simply needed to put every part collectively as greatest as attainable and located a technique to win a sport … a sport such as you actually have gotten to attain extra factors, irrespective of the way it occurs.”
Jeudy’s receiving whole was essentially the most the Broncos had given up in franchise historical past. Winston’s passing whole 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 sport on Winston’s 5-yard scoring go to Nick Chubb — Winston’s fourth landing go of the sport.
However 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 subject aim by Wil Lutz. The Broncos lastly stopped the curler coaster when cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian intercepted Winston on the following 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 sport).
“Stuff obtained ugly on the sideline a little bit bit … we simply needed to get everyone 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 last word religion … JMac got here up with an incredible play.”
Mentioned Payton: “Large play, sport was stuffed with them, however that was vital. Only a completely different sport, we have to study from it. We’re at the moment right here in December when all of this stuff matter, we have now to study from it.”
Broncos linebacker Cody Barton intercepted Winston in the long run 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 return.
The Broncos have a bye within the upcoming week and return to face the Indianapolis Colts (6-7), Dec. 15, in Denver. It is the primary time the Broncos have been at the very least three video games over .500 this late in a season since 2016, the primary yr of the present playoff drought.
The Broncos haven’t been in a playoff sport since their Tremendous Bowl 50 win to complete the 2015 season.
“Clearly, after we return and take a look at that tape defensively there’s going to be a variety of issues we’d have completed in a different 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 in the long run we did what we needed to do particularly late. … I am proud the best way we fought and we obtained that subsequent win.”
