Looking back at five key plays in the Broncos’ 34-16 loss against the Jets.
1. GOTSIS GRAB
That Adam Gotsis forced fumble/recovery came all in one motion against the Jets. Smooth.
— Kyle Fredrickson (@kylefredrickson)
Situation: The Broncos defended second-and-eight from the Jets’ 19-yard line with 10 minutes left in the first quarter. Scoreless.
Jets’ running back took a handoff right and defensive end , from the opposite side, kept pace with Powell until he cut up-field. Gotsis dove at Powell’s chest, punched the football out and fell directly on top. It marked the Broncos’ first forced turnover since Week 1 against Seattle.
2. SUTTON FOR SIX
That "first career TD" feeling 🙌
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos)
Situation: The Broncos faced second-down with eight yards to the Jets’ end zone with 9 minutes left in the first quarter. Scoreless.
All Courtland Sutton did through training camp was wow reporters with deep ball magic from quarterback , and finally on Sunday in New York, that connection played out for a touchdown — Sutton’s first in the NFL. Keenum took a shotgun snap and scrambled outside the pocket toward the near boundary. Sutton streaked parallel to Keenum along the back of the end zone and received a dart just as he approached the sideline. Sutton dragged one foot and one knee to give Denver a 7-0 lead.
3. CROWELL CRUISE
Leave 'em in the dust.
— New York Jets (@nyjets)
Situation: The Broncos defended first-and-10 from the Denver 25-yard line with 14 minutes left in the second quarter. The Broncos led 7-0.
Jets’ running back got creative on a designed inside run, bounced it outside past linebacker and cornerback , and then forced missed tackles from cornerback and safety . It tied the game at 7 marked the beginning of an ugly Denver trend allowing chunk yardage.
4. ANDERSON DEEP BALLS
. running a 9?
You're not stopping that.
— New York Jets (@nyjets)
Situation: The Broncos defended third-and-nine from the Jets’ 29-yard line with 10 minutes left in the second quarter and then first-and-10 from the Denver 35-yard line with 1 minute left before halftime.
A two-for-one special. Jets’ wide receiver Robby Anderson recorded touchdown receptions of 77 and 35 yards against cornerback Bradley Roby in single-man coverage. The longer of the pair was easy picking for New York quarterback , who hit Anderson in stride at midfield with Roby trailing well behind. The second was another Darnold gem that fell directly to Anderson’s outstretched arms in the back of the end zone. The Broncos have often placed Roby on an island against their opponent’s deep threat. It hasn’t panned out so far. Those scores helped give the Jets a 21-10 lead.
5. FOURTH-AND-DONE
Situation: The Broncos faced fourth-and-six in the Jets’ red zone with 9 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Denver trailed 27-10.
If Denver were to storm back to claim victory Sunday, it had to start here, and it didn’t. Keenum lined up in the shotgun beside Lindsay and felt immediate pressure up the middle. Keenum evaded a sack attempt from Jets’ linebacker Frankie Luvu, escaped outside the pocket toward the near boundary and threw on the run to crossing wide receiver in the end zone — and had the football nearly intercepted before it hit the turf. The Broncos elected a fourth-down try instead of three easy points. It burned them.
