The wild Week 13 finale between the Browns and Broncos featured 952 complete yards, 47 first downs and 6 Jameis Winston touchdowns — 4 to Browns teammates and two to Broncos defenders.
Listed here are 5 takeaways from Denver’s 41-32 win.
Sticking with Deshaun Watson value the Browns
Cleveland’s loss on Monday means it would end the season with a dropping file for the twenty second time in its 26 seasons since rejoining the league in 1999.
If head coach Kevin Stefanski benched quarterback Deshaun Watson earlier than he suffered a season-ending ACL tear, perhaps the Browns would nonetheless be in playoff competition.
The Browns have been way more aggressive since Jameis Winston grew to become their starter in Week 8.
In Winston’s 5 begins, Cleveland has averaged 21.8 factors and 398.4 yards per recreation. In Watson’s seven begins, the Browns averaged 15.6 factors and 253.9 yards per recreation.
Jerry Jeudy makes most of Denver return
“I simply wish to return up there and whip their a–,” Jeudy stated about his journey again to his first NFL residence. Whereas his group did not depart with a victory, Jeudy had among the finest revenge video games of the season.
The 2021 first-round decide had 9 receptions, 235 yards and a landing. Per ESPN’s broadcast, it was probably the most receiving yards by a participant in opposition to his former group in NFL historical past, surpassing Terrell Owens’ 213 yards in 2008 in opposition to the 49ers as a member of the Cowboys.
Broncos secondary is an issue
Denver’s secondary was uncovered within the win. With nook Riley Moss (knee) out, Winston repeatedly attacked backup nook Levi Wallace.
Winston had a career-high, and Browns single-game file, 497 passing yards and extensive receiver Elijah Moore joined Jeudy with over 100 receiving yards, ending the sport with 111 yards.
Per Professional Soccer Focus, Wallace allowed seven receptions, 164 yards and a landing on 10 targets. The unit intercepted the turnover-prone Winston thrice, however its obtrusive weak spot reverse 2022 First-Staff All-Professional Patrick Surtain II can be more difficult to beat in opposition to quarterbacks higher at defending the soccer.
Nik Bonitto deserves to be a Professional Bowler
The third-year Broncos linebacker’s breakout season continued with a wonderful Monday evening efficiency.
The 2022 second-round decide (No. 64 general) had a 71-yard pick-six to offer Denver a 21-10 lead, two passes defended and a sack as he bolstered his Professional Bowl resume.
He entered Monday evening ranked sixteenth in ESPN’s pass-rush win-rate rankings amongst edge-defenders. Together with his sack in opposition to Winston, he has 11 this season, a half-sack behind Bengals defensive finish Trey Hendrickson for the league lead.
AFC playoff discipline is sort of set
With Denver’s win, it constructed a two-game lead over the Colts (6-7), who it performs following its Week 14 bye, for the AFC’s remaining playoff spot. That recreation may determine who makes the playoffs within the convention.
The Broncos’ remaining three video games embody highway dates in opposition to the Chargers (8-4) and Bengals (4-8) and a house finale in opposition to the Chiefs (11-1).
Per ESPN Analytics’
Matchup
Predictor, Denver is projected to lose its remaining three video games, rising the significance of its Week 15 showdown in opposition to Indianapolis. With a win in its subsequent recreation, the Broncos ought to be playoff-bound.
