Broncos Triumph in High-Scoring Battle Against Browns, Maintain Playoff Spot

DENVER -- The Denver Broncos maintained their quest for their first postseason appearance since 2015, defeating the Cleveland Browns 41-32 on Monday night at Empower Field at Mile High. The contest produced 952 combined yards of offense.

Despite allowing 497 passing yards to Browns quarterback Jameis Winston, the Broncos won courtesy of key plays by linebacker Nik Bonitto and nickel corner Ja'Quan McMillian, as well as a 93-yard touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Bo Nix to Marvin Mims Jr. That was barely enough to overcome a barrage from Winston and wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, who had nine receptions for 235 yards and a 70-yard touchdown catch in his first game against his former team after being traded in the summer.

The following are the key takeaways from Monday night for both teams:

Denver Broncos (8-5)

This season has been a success for the Broncos, who have significantly developed while still showing great promise.

Monday night was their opportunity to demonstrate that they were serious playoff contenders in the AFC. And they witnessed a crazy, back-and-forth game that the Broncos somehow won, outlasting the Browns to keep a two-game lead for the final wild-card slot.

The win advances the Broncos to 8-5 as they head into their bye week, keeping them in seventh place in the AFC despite several shocking moments. Along the way, the Broncos recorded their longest defensive touchdown of the season (71 yards by Bonitto) and their longest offensive touchdown of the season, making it their first game with two touchdowns of at least 70 yards since 1997. Their defense conceded a season-high in yards before the third quarter, but Denver scored twice to secure the victory.

It was by far their wildest game of the season, giving them pause when they returned from the bye, but it was the win they needed to move up three games to 500 in 13 games for the first time since 2016. And they're still on track to break their eight-year postseason skid.

Describe the game in two words. Great escape. A noisy home crowd, a beautiful evening, and a national audience to see their work, but it all faded into the messiest of losses. The Broncos' offense was sluggish in the first half, with two three-and-out drives, while their defense was a complete disaster, resulting in pinball statistics for Winston and Jeudy. The Broncos, despite their wild night, are still in the postseason race, but they have pushed the team's blood pressure to the brink.

Most shocking performance: The Broncos' defense, which has been so dependable this season, had the craziest ride Monday night, particularly in the first half. By halftime, Winston had completed 18 of his 31 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns. Denver entered Monday having given up fewer than 300 yards to an opponent offense in six games this season and fewer than 245 yards passing in ten. Bonitto returned a first-half interception 71 yards for a touchdown, and McMillian scored the game-winner 46 yards later with 1:48 left, but the Broncos trailed for much of the night. And there is a lot to fix before they play again.

Troubling trend: The Browns were well aware of cornerback Riley Moss' absence on defense, as Jeudy caught nine catches for 235 yards, including a 70-yard score. Moss did not play in Denver's Week 12 win against the Raiders because of a sprained MCL in his right knee, according to coach Sean Payton. While the Broncos' decision not to just match up Pat Surtain II on Jeudy for the night is debatable, Winston consistently targeted Moss' replacement -- Levi Wallace -- in coverage, particularly when the Broncos were in nickel. Moss' status will be closely watched as the Broncos prepare for their bye week. – Jeff Legwold

Next game: vs. Indianapolis Colts (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Dec. 15)

Cleveland Browns (3-9)

Winston had the most prolific passing game of his 10-year career, and Jeudy had a breakout performance against his former team. Despite a spirited attempt, Cleveland fell short in Denver.

The Browns lost Monday night's high-scoring game because of two Winston pick-sixes, one of which came on a potential game-winning drive. The loss marks the Browns' 22nd losing season since returning to Cleveland in 1999.

Cleveland has had a terrible season, having begun the season with hopes of making a long playoff run but was plagued by subpar play from Deshaun Watson before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 7. Winston has given the Browns new life since taking over as starter, but his high-variance performance was on full show for a national television audience.

QB breakdown: Winston has continued to perform well since becoming the starter in Week 8, making history in the process. His 497 passing yards were not only a career-high but also a Brown's franchise record, surpassing Bernie Kosar's 489 yards against the New York Jets in the 1986 divisional playoffs. This was Winston's third career game with at least 450 passing yards and four touchdowns, tying Peyton Manning for the most in league history. But these three interceptions and two pick-sixes were devastating. His second pick-six proved to be the difference in the game, although it was not unusual for him.

Promising trend: Jeudy has now collected at least 70 yards in five straight games, the longest streak of his career. His 235 receiving yards were a career-high and the highest by a player in his first game versus a previous team in NFL history, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

Silver lining: For the fourth time in five starts under Winston, the Browns were competitive against a playoff-caliber squad. Cleveland fell short this time in a painful loss, but it was another game that may have given the Browns' decision-makers the impression that, despite a bad season, their squad may require more of a retooling than a complete overhaul. — Daniel Oyefusi