ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? The Denver Broncos were the cardiac kids in primetime. Denver improves to 8-5 going into the bye week after an absolute thriller on Monday Night Football. With their backs against the wall in the fourth quarter and the Browns driving, Ja’Quan McMillian gave the thumbs down to the Browns in the coliseum that was Empower Field at Mile High.

Denver Broncos survive thriller vs. Browns

Monday Night Football provided football fans with one of the more thrilling back-and-forth games this season, with each team exchanging strikes. Ultimately, it was the Broncos delivering the final blow that helped them survive a thriller against Jameis Winston and the Cleveland Browns.

Ja’Quan McMillian sealed the game with a pick-six in the final two minutes of the game to help Denver secure their eighth win of the season by a score of 41-32. On a day that saw former Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy get his in his return to the Mile High City, Denver held on tight.

Biggest turning points for the Denver Broncos – Nik Bonitto to the house, Bo Nix to Marvin Mims, and Ja’Quan McMillian’s house call

Right after the two-minute warning, the Denver Broncos defense came up huge, with the Cleveland Brown’s offense driving into red zone territory. Denver’s defense pressured Jameis Winston, who forced a throw into the flat where Nik Bonitto was waiting for the pass.

Bonitto took it 71 yards to the house, and that moment was one of the biggest turning points of the game at a crucial juncture. The Browns were driving into a position to take the lead before half or cut Denver’s lead to 14-13 with a field goal, and Bonitto’s interception shut the door on it, making it 21-10.

Unfortunately for Denver, the Browns marched the ball downfield with 1:20 remaining in the first half and cut their lead to 21-17 after surrendering a touchdown, but this particular moment was the most defining moment for the Broncos in the first half.

Bonitto joins Von Miller as the only two players in franchise history to have 10+ sacks and a pick-six in the same season.

Bo Nix’s 93-yard touchdown strike to Marvin Mims in the third quarter was monumental for the offense, with momentum dwindling away. After a personal foul penalty on Luke Wattenberg backed them up, Nix ripped a strike to Mims for 93 yards, outrunning the entire Browns defense for a massive touchdown.

With the Browns threatening to strike for a potential game-winning drive, cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian stepped up and delivered a dagger, jumping a pass in the flat from Winston and taking it all the way back for a touchdown, helping secure the 41-32 win.

On a night where Denver’s defense surrendered over 500 yards of offense, McMillian made a play when they needed to the most.

Player who had an underrated impact – Riley Dixon

Riley Dixon was a bit of an unsung hero in Monday’s game. In the first half, he had three punts for 178 yards, including a long of 61 yards and all three attempts landing inside the 20-yard line.

On a night where the Broncos defense struggled, Dixon’s flipping of the field position at times was crucial from a possession standpoint. He finished the evening with five punts for 256 yards and an average of 51.2 yards per attempt.

Broncos news and notes

  • Cleveland was 6/10 on third down in the first half and finished the game 9-of-19.
  • The 552 yards allowed by the Broncos defense were the second most yards allowed by Vance Joseph’s defense since last season’s blowout loss against the Miami Dolphins.
  • Safety Brandon Jones injured his groin during the third quarter of the game and did not return.
  • Cornerback Levi Wallace was benched on the final drive in favor of rookie Kris Abrams-Draine.
  • Linebacker Cody Barton’s interception to end the game was his second of the season.
  • Bo Nix finished the game 18-of-35 passing for 294 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
  • Running back Jaleel McLaughlin finished the game as the Broncos leading rusher, with 84 yards on 14 carries.

The Denver Broncos now head into the bye week at 8-5 and firmly in position to make the playoffs.