Late Key Plays Propel Broncos to 19-17 Victory Against Packers

ADENAV A The Broncos faced a daunting fourth-quarter deficit, but at crucial moments of their Week 7 home game against the Green Bay Packers, they displayed some of their best football performance.

With 8:31 remaining in the game, the Broncos let up two touchdowns in the second half, allowing the Packers to take a 17-16 lead after they had led 9-0 at halftime to 16-3. But Denver answered with a 41-yard touchdown drive that ended with a 52-yard field goal by Wil Lutz to give them the lead back. P.J. Locke made a game-winning interception after the Packers drove the ball into Denver territory.

Head Coach Sean Payton stated, "It's going to come with each game—the ability to kind of get on to the next play, put the adversity behind you." "Teams with such quality usually do better. I'm happy we took that action. We had numerous difficult decisions and breaks, but you have to continue playing. [I'm] happy that we were able to prevail."

Payton mentioned a few of Love touchdown throws among the breaks. In the first, the Packers were given a touchdown even though cornerback Pat Surtain II looked to have simultaneous control of the ball in the end zone. Jayden Reed caught a fourth-down throw into the end zone that deflected off Romeo Doubs' hands during the Packers' next drive.

However, Denver managed to pull off a comeback, improving to 2-5 on the season in the process.

The Broncos defeated the Green Bay Packers at home thanks to a combination of these individuals and plays.

Locke sprinted over to undercut Love's ball intended for wide receiver Samori Toure in the closing seconds, sealing the Broncos' victory. The interception, which occurred on a third-and-20 play, gave Denver a win that had seemed unlikely minutes before. With 2:22 remaining, the Broncos gave running back A.J. Dillon permission to go to the Denver 44-yard line. A few more yards would have put the Packers within striking distance of a field goal that might win the game. However, Zach Allen and Jonathan Cooper made it to second-and-10 by holding Dillon to no gain on first-and-10. The ball was then returned into Green Bay territory when Elgton Jenkins was called for a holding call on the subsequent snap. Following a Love fumble, the Packers were faced with a crucial third-and-20. Love had plenty time to toss and propel the ball far, but Locke made what may have been the play of his early career by sprinting over to seal the victory.

Cornerback Pat Surtain II remarked, "P.J. is a tremendous player, and that was a big-time play." It served as a spoiler. We anticipate that from him. I'm glad for him because I know how excited he is about receiving his first career selection, which is really important to him. I'm delighted for him. He wrote a really good play."

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In the first half of Sunday's victory, the Broncos defence maintained the high level of play they have been exhibiting lately by keeping the Packers scoreless. The Broncos' first-half home shutout since Week 3 of the same season, and Denver's first-half shutout since a Week 9 victory over the Cowboys in 2021, were both the result of the team's defensive effort. The Broncos limited the Packers to 100 yards in the first two quarters and gave up just two first downs on the first three drives of the game. In the second quarter, Green Bay had some possession of the ball, but they were unable to score thanks to a failed field goal. Even though Denver's defence gave up 17 points in the second half, the Broncos were able to win because to the team's solid start.

Courtland Sutton, a wide receiver, had a number of plays on Sunday, but none of them were as spectacular to behold as his touchdown reception in the third quarter.

Sutton signalled to Adam Trautman and Marvin Mims Jr to go to the left side of the line of scrimmage to form a bunch formation, which made room for him to loop underneath. Out of the backfield, Sutton used a wheel route and found himself alone when he scored his fifth touchdown of the year.

"That was great coaching — a good call by Coach [Payton]," Wilson commented. "I intended to sequester him. Courtland did a fantastic job of being transparent there. I believe the receivers assisted him quite well as well. The players up front, in my opinion, are what really matter because they give me enough time to drop back, read everything, execute my reads, and then find Courtland for a tremendous touchdown—another significant moment."

• Courtland Sutton, a wide receiver, scored four receiving touchdowns in total between 2020 and 2022. This season, after seven games, Sutton has already scored five touchdowns. On Sunday, he grabbed six receptions for 76 yards and a score. On third-down situations, he made several crucial catches that resulted in first downs.

"There's a lot of confidence in his catch radius, and there are some matchups that get created when he's on the field," Payton said on Sunday. "[I'm] proud of him, and he played extremely well."

• On Sunday, kicker Wil Lutz went 4-of-4 on field goals and made all five of his kicks. With 3:50 remaining in the game, he attempted field goals from 32, 29 and 35 yards as well as the game-winning shot from 52 yards out. Since facing the Raiders early in the season, Lutz has made all 22 of his field goals.

"I think he's a young, potentially really good kicker — possibly a great one down the road," Payton stated. This is why we brought him here: I appreciate his makeup. He does that, I've seen. That's obviously a huge kick. He's experienced a few of them. Chicago was not unlike at all. I'm happy to see how he's doing and proud of him. Well, he's flushing it."

• Security Kareem Jackson was replaced by P.J. Locke, who secured the victory for Denver with his first interception of the game.

When Justin Simmons, a safety, commented, "I know he knows that was a big play," "Everyone knows a big play, but I hope he gets the credit he deserves on that play, because that was a heck of a play that not a lot of guys can make."