Just when you think the Denver Broncos defense can’t do any more, they come out and have arguably their best performance of the last two years — an that’s saying a lot.
Going up against the best offense in the NFL, Denver needed everything and then some from their defense, and that’s exactly what they received. And it all started with Darian Stewart.
The Broncos free safety had the game of his life, picking off Drew Brees twice in the first half and recovering a critical fumble early in the fourth quarter. Not only did those three turnovers lead to 10 Denver Bronco points, but they cut would-be scoring drives from the Saints short, a huge difference in a 10-point game.
Without question, he was the Broncos’ MVP.
Can anyone name a bad game @darianstewart26 has played in Denver? I'll give you until 2017 to try and find one.
— Casey Light (@lightonhisfeet) November 13, 2016
Broncos S @darianstewart26 w/his 2nd INT today. 2nd time this year a Bronco has had two INT in a game (Talib, at TB).
— Patrick Smyth (@psmyth12) November 13, 2016
NFL should just hand #Broncos Stewart AFC defensive player of the week award in the locker room after the game.
— Eric Goodman (@EricGoodman) November 13, 2016
As evident by the final score, this was a nail-biter of a game, and with Brees behind center, the Saints were capable of breaking this one open at any point.
That’s what made Stewart’s three turnovers so important; Denver needed every single one of them.
It was also the type of performance that could earn Stewart a nice sum of cash in the offseason. Not that he hasn’t been playing well up until this point — Pro Football Focus had him graded out as the seventh best safety in the NFL heading into the week — but with the drafting of Justin Simmons and Will Parks, it was assumed that they were the long-term plan at safety.
Maybe things are changing.
Been a matter of debate on our show all yr. @broncos draft 2 safeties. To replace Darian Stewart? Not so fast… #broncos
— Les Shapiro (@LesShapiro) November 13, 2016
Broncos should pay Darian Stewart at halftime of today's game.
— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) November 13, 2016
But that wasn’t all the defense had in store. In fact, the best was yet to come.
With just over three minutes left in the game, Brees and the Saints received the ball down three and looking to tie the game up or take the lead. Two plays later, T.J. Ward had recovered a Michael Thomas fumble forced by a vicious Jared Crick hit.
There it is! #Broncos D does it again #GroundhogDay
— Arran Andersen (@arranandersen) November 13, 2016
This defense is silly
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) November 13, 2016
THIS DEFENSE #Broncos
— Michael Jaycox (@MilkyMike) November 13, 2016
The game looked to be over. The Broncos had the ball on the Saints’ 20-yard line, needing a touchdown to seal the game. Instead, they took a grand total of 13 seconds off the clock, kicked a field goal and gave the ball back to Brees with almost three minutes to score the game-winning touchdown.
And that’s exactly what he did.
In six plays, Brees drove the ball 75 yards down the field, capping off the scoring drive with an insane 32-yard touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks.
All they needed was the extra point and New Orleans would take the lead with 1:22 remaining.
Then, this …
Are you kidding me?
Unbelievable. #Broncos #DENvsNO https://t.co/yZgjZRlFlb
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) November 13, 2016
Those two rookie safeties we were just talking about, Simmons and Parks, combined for one of the most memorable game-winning plays in recent memory. Simmons blocked the kick, and Parks scooped it up, taking it to the house for two points and the lead.
https://twitter.com/JoshPennock/status/797907992654049280
White shoes, everyone.
— Casey Light (@lightonhisfeet) November 13, 2016
WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW
— Michael Jaycox (@MilkyMike) November 13, 2016
Every week we say the Broncos can’t keep winning on the backs of their defense alone, and then every week they do something like this.
One thing is for sure: Denver has some special safeties.