In a wild Monday Night Football showdown, Denver Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian delivered the game-sealing blow with a 44-yard interception return for a touchdown, lifting the Broncos to a 41-32 win over the Cleveland Browns. McMillian’s heroics with 1:48 remaining capped a rollercoaster game that saw career-best performances from Browns quarterback Jameis Winston and former Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy.
Winston threw for a Browns franchise-record 497 yards and four touchdowns, but his night was tarnished by two costly pick-sixes. The Broncos’ defense feasted on his mistakes, intercepting him three times for a total of 171 return yards. Winston’s struggles evoked memories of his infamous 2019 campaign with Tampa Bay, when he led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns but also threw a league-high 30 interceptions.
“Jameis was sensational in stretches, but we have to clean up those turnovers,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said postgame.
Jerry Jeudy torched his former team with nine catches for 235 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown. The 235 yards marked the most ever by a receiver against his former team. Despite his remarkable performance, Jeudy faced a chorus of boos every time he touched the ball.
“Jerry made some incredible plays, but it’s bittersweet when it comes in a loss,” Winston said.
Jeudy’s highlight reel included a late-game touchdown and a two-point conversion that pulled the Browns within 28-25. On his long touchdown, Jeudy paused at the goal line and theatrically fell backward into the end zone, a statement to the Denver crowd that once cheered him.
Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix continued his impressive debut season, throwing for 294 yards, including a 93-yard touchdown to Marvin Mims Jr. The deep strike, launched from his own end zone, was a pivotal moment in the game. Nix also threw two interceptions but showed poise in orchestrating a late scoring drive that resulted in a go-ahead field goal by Wil Lutz with 2:54 left.
“Bo’s ability to bounce back after mistakes is what makes him special,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton said.
Denver’s defense played a crucial role in the victory. In addition to McMillian’s game-clinching pick-6, linebacker Nik Bonitto intercepted Winston late in the second quarter and returned it 71 yards for a touchdown. The Broncos now lead the league in defensive touchdowns with six this season.
“We’re a resilient group,” McMillian said. “When our offense needed us, we stepped up.”
The win improves Denver to 8-5, putting them in the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC with a 76% chance of making the postseason, according to NFL projections. The Broncos, who haven’t made the playoffs since their Super Bowl victory in 2015, will enter their bye week with momentum.
Meanwhile, the Browns fell to 3-9, with Winston now 2-3 as a starter since replacing the injured Deshaun Watson. Despite Winston’s historic night, Cleveland’s playoff hopes are all but extinguished.
Broncos running backs Javonte Williams and Michael Burton each scored short rushing touchdowns in the first half. Burton’s score was just the second touchdown of his 10-year career. Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins missed a 47-yard field goal on Cleveland’s opening drive.
Denver’s defense, combined with timely offensive execution, proved too much for the Browns, ensuring that McMillian’s pick-6 will be remembered as a signature moment in the Broncos’ push for the postseason.
