Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler may be playing for his future in Denver, and he didn’t help his cause with a costly fumble deep in his own territory and an interception late in the second quarter of the Broncos’ matchup with Washington on Christmas Eve.
The fumble set up a go-ahead touchdown to give impending free agent Kirk Cousins a 10-3 lead at the half. Cousins didn’t look like a potential $30-million man for much of the first half of the game against Denver — a possible suitor for the potential free-agent-to-be. Cousins completed just one pass in the first quarter, yet had his team ahead by a touchdown pass to Jamison Crowder.
Denver, meanwhile, stuck with a familiar formula that worked in Weeks 14 and 15 — going to running back C.J. Anderson for 70 yards on 12 carries in the first half. Fellow running back Devontae Booker went for 25 yards of his own (and 21 yards passing), but it was Osweiler’s fumble that proved to be the real difference-maker in the half.
After he rumbled for 158 yards in a Week 15 win over the Colts, Anderson got the call early in Washington. The fifth-year back earned all three touches on Denver’s opening drive – two carries and a checkdown pass – but earned just nine total yards and the Broncos were forced to punt.
Denver’s defense came out by stopping Samaje Perine for a one-yard loss and tight coverage on Josh Doctson, who was targeted twice. Shaquil Barrett got into Cousins’ face on second down and Aqib Talib had a nice pass breakup to earn a quick three-and-out.
After a muffed trick punt return by Bennie Fowler (with Jordan Taylor as the decoy), Osweiler connected with a downfield strike to Demaryius Thomas for 24 yards on the first play of the drive. Osweiler connected with Fowler for a 10-yard pass into Washington territory two plays later. A pair of runs by Anderson set up third-and-five, but pass protection didn’t hold up and Osweiler was forced to throw the ball away at the feet of Jeff Heuerman.
Casey Kreiter, the long-snapper, downed Riley Dixon‘s punt at the three-yard line. An block out of bounds by Washington pushed Cousins back half the distance to the goal.
The Denver D-line stuffed Perine at the one-yard line to open the drive and the defensive backfield forced a throwaway on second down. On third-and-11 from inside his own end zone, Cousins had few downfield options and threw a tough ball to Niles Paul with Talib in coverage.
Osweiler took over at the Washington 46 — his best starting field position of the half. A trio of runs from Anderson (two) and Booker picked up a quick first down. Booker went for another first down on a pair of carries. Osweiler twice dropped back to pass and was flushed on the right side of the line before having to run during the drive. The drive stalled out at the 13 and Brandon McManus gave Denver the early lead 3-0 at the 2:06 mark of the first quarter.
Cousins went 0-for-5 to start the game when former Broncos running back Kapri Bibbs had a ball go through his hands completely uncovered over the middle. Crowder finally ended the incompletion streak on the next play, going for six yards. Cousins was flushed from the pocket by Von Miller but scrambled up the middle for Washington’s first first-down of the half with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter.
Rookie defensive back Marcus Rios made the play of the half as the first quarter came to a close. Doctson got a step on the UCLA product, but Rios was able to get a hand on a slightly underthrown pass from Cousins at the 18-yard line on what could have been a touchdown. The Denver D-line continued to apply pressure when Cousins dropped back and forced another incompletion and another punt.
Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave stuck with the running game and it finally paid off with a 21-yard gallop by Anderson to the Denver 45-yard line. That set up a play-action pass to fullback Andy Janovich for a 16-yard pickup into Washington territory. The O-line continued to struggle giving Osweiler a clean pocket, however and Denver could not keep the drive moving. Vance Joseph called for a fake field goal / pooch kick by McManus, which Kreiter downed at the Washington nine-yard line.
A screen and a handoff to Perine picked up 18 yards between them, then Cousins hit Ryan Grant down the near sideline for 13. With the Denver D quickly on its heels, Cousins went back to Grant up the seam for 32 yards to the Denver 29. Former Broncos tight end Vernon Davis picked up a third-down conversion to set up goal-to-go from the 10. Josh Doctson had the ball in his hands in the end zone, but Bradley Roby got a hand in to break up the second-down play. A horde of Broncos chased Cousins deep into his own backfield and forced a throwaway on third down to set up a game-tying field goal from Dustin Hopkins.
With 6:09 remaining in the half, Anderson took the first play of the ensuing drive for another 21-yard run before disaster struck later in the drive with Osweiler’s costly fumble at his own 34-yard line. On third-and-five from the 41, Osweiler tried to squeeze through a small hole in the middle of the offensive line and had the ball pop free. Zach Vigil made the recovery for Washington.
Bibbs hit his former team in the mouth with a run of 13 and a catch underneath for seven yards after the turnover. That set up the 15-yard touchdown pass to Crowder.
Osweiler put Denver in its 2:00 drill after the kickoff. Booker took a screen pass 20 yards, then ran up the middle for another seven to open the drive. A delay of game penalty on Washington stopped the clock for Denver, but Osweiler’s second costly turnover came on the very next play.
Under pressure on his right side, Osweiler’s pass was disrupted and D.J. Swearinger picked it off at the Washington 30.
It appeared that Denver might have answered with a turnover of their own when Miller looked to have forced a fumble on a pass attempt by Cousins, but it was ruled an incompletion and upheld as called after review. A bad snap cost Washington 12 yards on third down, and Osweiler would get one last chance with 52 seconds remaining.
Jordan Taylor picked up 22 yards on third-and-six to keep the drive going and get within McManus’ range. Osweiler had Fowler open down the near sideline, but he didn’t put enough air under the ball and just missed his receiver. Isaiah McKenzie made a huge mental error to end the half when he failed to get out of bounds as the clock wound down. The rookie actually cut back into the field and cost his team a potential three points to end the half.
