The Broncos took over at their own 20-yard line with 12 minutes, 40 seconds left in the fourth quarter, leading by six points. They started to find a rhythm running the ball and had a chance to eat time off the clock. Instead, Bo Nix threw deep into coverage for Marvin Mims on the first play of the series and was intercepted by Denzel Ward.
It was a curious decision by a quarterback who has been praised for his decision-making throughout his rookie season. He hadn’t thrown an interception since Nov. 3 and had thrown only one since the start of Week 3. But the deep pick by Ward was Nix’s second on Monday night, and it could have proved costly after the Browns followed with a touchdown drive to take the lead.
Coach Sean Payton said Nix’s interception was “my fault,” referring to the play call that led to the turnover.
But the rookie quarterback answered, leading Denver on a go-ahead drive late in the fourth quarter. He completed five passes on the drive and had a 6-yard scramble to help move the Broncos into field-goal range and Wil Lutz kicked the go-ahead field goal.
It was the type of poised, clear-headed drive that has endeared Nix to his teammates throughout the season. It wasn’t his best night. But he had a 93-yard touchdown pass to Mims on a third-down play from his own end zone earlier in the game, a dart of a throw that traveled 45 yards in the air. And, after a confounding interception, he responded. There isn’t much more the Broncos could ask out of a rookie quarterback who has this team poised to play in more big games in December and January.
