DENVER (KDVR) — The Denver Broncos are having anything but a conventional season this year.
The team has only lost games where they have technically never trailed the other team in the fourth quarter with time left on the clock. In the only game where they have trailed in the fourth, by a whopping 3-17 scoreline against the reigning champion Philadelphia Eagles, nonetheless, they scored 18 unanswered points to seal an unexpected win.
This season, the Broncos have too often been on the wrong side of heartbreaking drama in the fourth quarter. With a crazy comeback on Sunday, maybe the team has seen its outlook change.
Anything is possible
It was a shout heard around the sports world: “Anything is possible!” said a revved-up Kevin Garnett after winning the 2008 NBA championship.
It’s a statement that almost perfectly exemplifies sports.
This year, the Broncos have died by the anything is possible, but have now lived by the anything is possible.
After the thrilling win, the Broncos moved above .500 again, and although it was an early-season win — the opponent and the effort during the win could prove to be a big confidence builder for a team that has high expectations for 2025, and hopefully the postseason.
How it happened
The Broncos had to play perfectly for the team to win the game. It also took a bold call to make sure things went their way.
At the start of the fourth the Broncos were trailing 3-17.
With 13:11 left on the clock, J.K. Dobbins had a two-yard rushing touchdown to cap off a drive and put the team back in striking distance of the Eagles at 10-17.
The Broncos’ defense was able to hold the Eagles on the next drive.
Another successful drive saw Bo Nix complete an 11-yard touchdown pass to Evan Engram with 7:36 remaining. An extra point attempt by Wil Lutz would have tied the game at 17-17, but Sean Payton didn’t have that in mind.
Payton decided to go for a two-point conversion that would put the Broncos up by one if successful.
Nix nailed a pass to Troy Franklin, and a rare feat was pulled off.
The two-pointer was Payton’s first go-ahead conversion in 298 regular-season and playoff games. It was the first go-ahead conversion by any team in the NFL this year, and only the 24th go-ahead two-point conversion by any NFL team since 2000.
The Broncos’ D held the Eagles scoreless once more, leading to a game-clinching drive that saw Lutz hit a 36-yard field goal, putting the Broncos out of the reach of an Eagles’ field goal attempt at 21-17.
Fans had to hold their breath in the final seconds of a game, as the Eagles bombed a Hail Mary attempt that had the looks of being a game-winner, but eventually the pigskin touched the turf, and fans could breathe a sigh of relief.
The Broncos walked away with the dub and handed the champs their first loss of the season, leaving the Buffalo Bills as the sole undefeated team remaining.
AFC West
It has been a very rare sight to see any team aside from the Kansas City Chiefs atop the AFC West for the last decade. The dynasty has not been at its best this season, off the back of a shocking defeat to the Eagles in last year’s Super Bowl.
The Los Angeles Chargers won a game after the Broncos on Sunday, and put each other at odds with joint 3-2 records at the top of the division. The Chiefs have the opportunity to match when they play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday Night Football.
Things look to be a three-horse race, and will mean a tense season that might go down to the last game is on the way.
Next up for the Broncos is a trip across the pond for a game against the winless New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
