NFL Monday night: Broncos win with Week 10 theme
After five NFL teams won on Sunday by kicking a field goal on the final snap of their game, the Denver Broncos followed suit on Monday night – after getting a mulligan.
Wil Lutz’s kick went wide right from 41 yards out, but the Buffalo Bills had 12 players on the field. Lutz made his do-over from 36 yards to lift the Broncos to a 24-22 victory.
Denver needed the final field goal because of miscues in the kicking game. Lutz hit the left upright on the extra point after the Broncos’ first touchdown, and holder Riley Dixon couldn’t get the football down for the PAT after Denver’s second touchdown.
Denver had a 21-15 lead with 5:06 left at that point.
Buffalo had lost four turnovers – two interceptions and two fumbles – and fumbled on the longest play of their drive to take the lead in the closing minutes. Bills running back James Cook fumbled during his 42-yard run, but the football bounced right back into his hands, and he hardly broke stride as he ran to the Denver 26.
Quarterback Josh Allen’s 6-yard touchdown run and Tyler Bass’ extra point had Buffalo ahead 22-21 with 1:55 to play.
The Broncos got into field-goal position when former Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy drew a 28-yard defensive pass interference penalty that put Denver at the Buffalo 17-yard line with 29 seconds to play.
Five players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field in the Denver-Buffalo game:
· Bills running back Damien Harris (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
· Broncos safety Kareem Jackson (Alabama) served the second game of a league-imposed, two-game suspension.
· Jerry Jeudy (Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Broncos. Jeudy had three receptions for 35 yards.
· Bills cornerback Siran Neal (Eufaula, Jacksonville State) did not record any stats.
· Broncos inside linebacker Drew Sanders (Alabama) did not record any stats.
· Bills wide receiver Tyrell Shavers (Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
· Broncos cornerback Tremon Smith (Saks) did not record any stats.
· Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham (Auburn) dressed for the game but did not play.
· Patrick Surtain II (Alabama) started at cornerback for the Broncos. Surtain made two tackles.
Denver (4-5) stays in prime time when the Broncos play the Minnesota Vikings at 7:20 p.m. CST Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Buffalo (5-5) will square off against the New York Jets at 3:25 p.m. Sunday at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.