NFL Monday night: Broncos follow prime-time pattern

NFL Monday night: Broncos follow prime-time pattern

Another prime-time game for Denver, another low-scoring nail-biter for the Broncos.

Denver has played in prime time four times in the first six weeks of the NFL’s 2022 season. The Broncos lost to the Seattle Seahawks 17-16 in the Week 1 Monday night game, defeated the San Francisco 49ers 11-10 in the Week 3 Sunday night game, lost to the Indianapolis Colts 12-9 in overtime in the Week 5 Thursday night game and, in the Week 6 Monday night game, lost to the Los Angeles Chargers 19-16 in overtime.

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The Broncos never trailed on Monday night until Dustin Hopkins’ 39-yard field goal with 2:38 left in overtime ended the game. Hopkins made four field goals even though he had a hamstring injury that had punter JK Scott on standby to do Denver’s kicking.

In addition to holding for the game-winning field goal, Scott figured in the pivotal play of the game. On Los Angeles’ second possession of overtime, Scott got off a 48-yard punt that Broncos wide receiver Montrell Washington couldn’t handle – because Los Angeles’ Ja’Sir Taylor shoved Denver’s P.J. Locke into him a split-second before the football arrived.

The Chargers recovered the muff at the Broncos 28-yard line, and Hopkins kicked the winning field goal four snaps later.

Nine players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the Denver-Los Angeles games:

· Broncos outside linebacker Christopher Allen (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Chargers tight end Gerald Everett (UAB/South Alabama) caught five passes for 29 yards.

· Chargers long snapper Josh Harris (Auburn) handled the snaps on four field goals, four punts and one extra-point.

· Kareem Jackson (Alabama) started at strong safety for the Broncos. Jackson made eight tackles, recorded a tackle for loss and broke up a pass in his 174th NFL start. That tied Lee Roy Jordan for the fourth-most by an Alabama alumnus. Jackson trails the 204 starts of Cornelius Bennett, 191 starts of Ozzie Newsome and 183 starts of John Hannah.

· Jerry Jeudy (Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Broncos. Jeudy caught three passes for 54 yards, including a 37-yard reception.

· Chargers punter JK Scott (Alabama) averaged 44.0 yards on four punts, with a net average of 44.0. Scott had an 18-yard punt for a fair catch at the Denver 21, a 52-yarder that was muffed and recovered by the Broncos at the Denver 16, a 54-yarder for a fair catch at the Denver 31 and a 48-yarder that was muffed and recovered by Los Angeles at the Denver 28.

· Patrick Surtain II (Alabama) started at left cornerback for the Broncos. Surtain broke up a pass.

· Broncos punter Corliss Waitman (South Alabama) averaged 46.1 yards on seven punts, with a net average of 40.6 yards. Waitman had a 54-yard punt for a fair catch at the Los Angeles 12-yard line, a 58-yarder returned 19 yards to the Los Angeles 28, a 43-yarder returned 9 yards to the Los Angeles 30, a 22-yarder for a fair catch at the Los Angeles 17, a 41-yarder downed at the Los Angeles 25, a 58-yarder returned 11 yards to the Los Angeles 19 and a 47-yarder for a fair catch at the Los Angeles 19.

· Broncos wide receiver Montrell Washington (Samford) caught one pass for no gain, returned a kickoff 26 yards and returned two punts for zero yards. Washington was charged with a muff on each punt return. He recovered the first one.

Denver dropped to 2-4 even though the Broncos defense has yielded six touchdowns this season, the fewest in the NFL. Los Angeles improved to 4-2.

On Sunday, each team will play at home, with the Chargers facing the Seattle Seahawks and the Broncos meeting the New York Jets.

Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson tackles Los Angeles Chargers tight end Gerald Everett during an NFL game on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II breaks up a pass intended for Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams

Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II breaks up a pass to Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams during an NFL game on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy runs after a reception

Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy runs after a reception during an NFL game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)