The Winston rollercoaster continues. Even with out of this world historic performances from Jameis Winston and Jerry Jeudy, the Cleveland Browns took the loss in a shootout in what was an instant classic of a game against the Denver Broncos on “Monday Night Football.”
“It wasn’t perfect, by any means, but we were able to finish,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said. “Big plays — the game was full of them.”
Winston set the Broncos’ franchise record for most passing yards in a single game. You have to take the good with the bad because he also threw a pair of costly pick-sixes, the second one courtesy of cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian with 1:46 remaining in the fourth that sealed Denver’s 41-32 win. The Broncos had reclaimed the lead moments earlier on place kicker Wil Lutz’s 27-yard chip shot field goal.
“I know I’m better than this,” Winston said. “I’m just praying for the Lord to deliver me from pick-6s. That’s not me. Phenomenal game on offense, do some great things, but I mess it up.”
The Broncos’ second-ranked scoring defense was burned to a crisp for most of the night by Winston and Jeudy. Winston threw for a career-high 497 yards in addition to his four touchdown passes. Jeudy had it in his mind to get revenge against the organization that drafted him and he showed up and showed out with 235 receiving yards, the most-ever against a former team. Still, the Broncos’ two defensive scores was ultimately the difference in what was otherwise an evenly matched affair.
“They only boo you,” Jeudy said, “when they know there’s something great in you.”
Broncos’ emerging superstar linebacker Nik Bonitto’s pick six gave Denver a double-digit lead late in the second quarter. But Winston and his supporting cast refused to give up and go away quietly and eventually took the lead on Jeudy’s 70-yard touchdown catch that occurred mere moments after Marvin Mims Jr. opened the second half with a 93-yard score on a pass thrown by Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix.
Denver’s stout defensive got clutch stops when it mattered most. The Broncos’ offense also got another solid outing from Nix, the sixth quarterback taken in the draft and the 12th pick overall, threw for 294 yards. Mims and fellow wideout Courtland Sutton both went over the 100-yard mark receiving. Running back Jaleel McLaughlin made a big contribution in the second half and finished with 84 yards on 14 carries.
While Nix’s statistics where not as inflated, only having about half the number of passing yards his opponent had, he still put up an impressive 294, with one touchdown along with two picks. Nix has an underrated ability to throw off platform and extend plays, which helped his offense. As stated earlier, Nix had two go to guys that he could rely on, Mims Jr., who racked up 105 yards on three receptions, and Sutton, who had 102 yards on six receptions. Nix’s unbelievable relationship and connection with Sutton is proving to be just what the doctor order and crucial to their offensive success and is getting stronger each week.
Embed from Getty ImagesBrowns quarterback Winston, a former No. 1 pick out of Florida State University, put up a whopping 497 yards, passing his career high of 457 and setting a franchise record. The Broncos could not completely silence Winston (clearly), but they were able to figure out the kinks in his armor. Winston has his demons with turning the ball over, and while his four touchdowns were impressive, he also had three interceptions. Two of the three picks were returned to the house on touchdowns and one sealed the game for the Broncos. The Browns were in striking distance the whole time because of Winston’s cannon for an arm, but he was the one receiving all the criticism in the end with a pass that went into the wrong hands.
“It was my fault,” Winston said. “I’ve got to play better.”
The Browns put up record-breaking numbers. From Winston’s 497 yards, to Jeudy’s incredible 235 yards on nine receptions with one touchdown, Cleveland did not look like a three-win team out there, until it counted. They had more first downs, more total yards, fewer yards from penalties, had the ball longer and ran more plays. They won all the important categories except for on the scoreboard. Yet with the game on the line and time to go ahead, they folded like cheap tents and turned the ball over.
This marks the most yards allowed in a win by any team this year, so while the Browns went down, they went down swinging.
Winston was sacked three times for a loss of 22 yards, while Cleveland’s defense did not bring Nix down once, and these small but key differences proved costly. The Broncos also had a slight advantage in rushing yards, with 106 compared to the Browns’ 77.
The Broncos were mired in their own territory, facing a third-and-11 from their own 7-yard line. Nix threw a rocket to Mims Jr., who went 93 yards to the end zone to put the Broncos up by 11, 28-17. Denver led for the majority of the matchup and on a night where both quarterbacks were cooking, making a statement with a big play down field was a requirement.
The Broncos kicked a field goal to take a 34-32 lead, but the Browns had an eternity to march down the field and at least attempt a game-winning field goal. The Broncos defense came up big to start the drive, sacking Winston for a loss of 8 yards and their efforts did not stop there.
Winston’s pass to Elijah Moore was intercepted by McMillian, who put in the extra effort, taking it 46 yards all the way to the house. The extra point made it 41-32, where the score would stay.
Denver now moves to 8-5 on the season, improving its playoff chances. They will have a much need break to get some rest and recover with a bye in Week 14. The Broncos will then host Anthony Richardson and the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15. The Colts are currently 6-7 and coming off a close win against the New England Patriots.
The Browns, sitting at 3-9, will travel to the ‘Steel City’, Pittsburgh to face T.J. Watt and the Steelers in Week 14. Cleveland handed Russell Wilson his only loss as a starter so far this season, so this divisional game will be a chance for Pittsburgh to get some revenge. The Steelers are certainly the better team, but AFC North games are always completive, as we saw just over a week ago.
