Broncos Escape Washington with a 27-26 Victory in an Overtime Thriller
The Broncos just added another one-score game to their win column. This time, the Commanders pushed the Broncos to the brink of defeat – but once again, the Denver Broncos found a way to win.
Recap
After RJ Harvey scored a touchdown on the opening drive of overtime, the Commanders answered right back with a touchdown of their own. Rather than kicking the extra point and extending overtime, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn decided to go for the win.
On the ensuing two-point conversion, Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota had a wide-open receiver in the flat with a clear path to the endzone and the win. Thankfully for Broncos Country, Nik Bonitto pressured Mariota, batted the pass away, and sealed the victory for Denver.
The Broncos seem doomed to play to the level of their opponents, but at the end of the day, they are winning football games – and in the NFL, you can never take that for granted.
Evan Engram | Late-Season Breakout?
At this point in the season, my faith in the Broncos’ tight end room was virtually non-existent. Even while discussing fantasy line-ups with my wife (who has Engram), I told her to prepare for disappointment.
After a couple of missed opportunities early in this game, it seemed like today would be more of the same, but on the last drive of the first half, he started gaining momentum, making three clutch grabs that helped set up a Courtland Sutton touchdown.
Then in overtime, he took a short pass from Bo Nix 41 yards, setting up the game-winning RJ Harvey touchdown run. He finished the game as the Broncos’ leader in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. Is this just the beginning of Engram’s late-season breakout, or just a one-off performance?
The Home Stretch
You would think Broncos Country is used to games coming down the wire, but this game had me as nervous as I have been all season. The Broncos are now 10-2 and right on the cusp of clinching a second consecutive playoff berth.
With five games remaining, the goal for this team is no longer just the playoffs – it’s Super Bowl or bust.
If the Broncos can secure the number one seed in the AFC, their path to the big game becomes a whole lot easier. That’s why each remaining game still has a ton of significance.
As Broncos quarterback Bo Nix frequently says, “ Pressure is a Privilege". And the Broncos will only face more and more pressure as the regular season comes to a close. This team has the talent to play in February, but they are still not consistently executing at a high level. With Sean Payton’s guidance and leadership, his team will improve over the next five weeks and be fully prepared for a deep playoff run. While opposing fans are labeling the Broncos as ‘frauds’, I believe they are about to prove everyone wrong.