Broncos End ‘Crazy’ 10-Year Drought With OT Win Over Commanders
To win their ninth consecutive game, the Denver Broncos were forced to do something they hadn’t done since 2015 — win a game in overtime.
That’s just what the Broncos did, somehow some way, thanks to a batted pass by superstar edge rusher
The win also improved the Broncos to 10-2 and kept them in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.
Know what else happened in 2015? The Broncos won the Super Bowl.
“It’s just a crazy win and such a great game and a crazy (overtime) drought to come to an end for the Broncos,” Sunday Night Football color commentator Cris Collinsworth said after the broadcast. “We keep talking about, every week, a new team gets anointed as the best team in the
Bonitto, an NFL All-Pro in 2024, implied after the game he may have been able to intercept the pass from Mariota were his hand not in a cast.
“I hate wearing a cast,” Bonitto wrote on his official X account with a crying emoji after the win over the Commanders.
Commanders Decided To Go For Win Instead of Tie
Bonitto’s dramatic, game-winning play came as the Commanders, who dropped to 3-9, went for the win instead of the tie with 2:40 left in overtime following a 2-yard Terry McLaurin
Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota seemingly didn’t account for Bonitto’s ability to jump more than 2 inches off the ground.
Bonitto also had a sack, bringing his total to at least 10.0 sacks for the second season in a row, becoming the first Bronco since Super Bowl 50 MVP
In a weird twist, Miller now plays for the Commanders.
“Nik Bonitto is the definition of a monster,” Sooner Illustrated’s Josh Callaway wrote on his official X account. “What a player.”
In a back-and-forth game, no team had a touchdown longer than the 11-yard touchdown pass from Denver’s Bo Nix to Courtland Sutton in the second quarter.
The game also featured one of the more
“Broncos vs Commanders on a random night in November,” Sleeper HQ wrote
Broncos Have Brutal Final Stretch of Games
While the Broncos are currently tied for the NFL’s best record, they face a brutal stretch of 5 games to close out the regular season.
The Broncos stay on the road to face the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 14. Denver plays 3 of its last 4 games at home, starting with consecutive home games against current playoff teams in Week 15 against the
Just 4 days after playing the Jaguars, the Broncos travel to face the Kansas City Chiefs in a Christmas Day game in Week 17 at Arrowhead Stadium before closing out the regular season against the
Lakers Player Ratings: Luka Doncic And Austin Reaves Decimate The Pelicans In Impressive Fashion
The Los Angeles Lakers have officially won their seventh straight game by decimating the struggling
LeBron James
Let’s dive into the Lakers’ player grades after Sunday night’s performance, because there is plenty to discuss about the stars who showed up, the role players who added scoring and defense, and the other bench players.
Austin Reaves: A+
Game Stats: 33 PTS, 5 REB, 8 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 9-15 FG, 4-7 3PT, 11-12 FT, 40 MIN
Reaves was spectacular yet again. He was efficient, deadly, and at his best tonight. The 33 points he scored occurred when the Pelicans made runs at the Lakers, with Reaves responding with calm shot-making. Missing only six shots and one free-throw, Reaves played at a superstar level without a doubt.
The eight assists Reaves had demonstrated how well he led the offense, confidently running into traps and setting up teammates’ shooting all night long. This was an excellent performance for him and one of his best complete games this year. We have been saying that very often this season, but Reaves is almost certainly heading towards his first All-Star Team this season.
Luka Doncic: A+
Game Stats: 34 PTS, 12 REB, 7 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 9-22 FG, 4-12 3PT, 12-14 FT, 35 MIN
Doncic jumped out to a quick 20-point first quarter, burying New Orleans before they could get their rhythm. He decreased his shot attempts later in the game, but he controlled the game throughout his time on the court. He had 12 rebounds and created baskets by constantly making the Pelicans pressure him on the floor.
He did struggle beyond the three-point line tonight (4-12), but he took advantage of free throws from New Orleans’ defense and boasted two turnovers throughout the game, which demonstrates his excellent command as the lead point guard. A commanding superstar performance throughout the entirety of the game, and we have to give him an A+.
Deandre Ayton: A
Game Stats: 22 PTS, 12 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 4 BLK, 7-9 FG, 0-0 3PT, 8-8 FT, 27 MIN
Deandre Ayton dominated the paint, providing the Lakers with a strong presence in the interior and a scoring threat. In addition to his strengths at the free-throw line, when he went 7-9, Ayton was also shooting well from the floor, hitting at a high percentage. He had four blocks, which changed the course of the game.
By blocking shots at the rim and deterring drives into the paint, Ayton anchored a defensive unit that held the New Orleans Pelicans to just 51% from the field even after a strong third quarter. His energy on the boards propelled the Lakers’ offense, and his scoring ability made Ayton one of the best bigs on the court.
Rui Hachimura: B
Game Stats: 14 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 6-14 FG, 2-8 3PT, 0-0 FT, 34 MIN
Hachimura provided some strong scoring early on by hitting from midrange and spacing the floor, opening up opportunities for teammates. While he played a solid defensive game, he had a true offensive impact and only grabbed a couple of rebounds. He scored 14 points and shot poorly from behind the three-point line (2-8), but he consistently filled his role while logging a fair amount of minutes. A B grade for Rui as a result.
Jake LaRavia: B
Game Stats: 10 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 4-14 FG, 2-7 3PT, 0-0 FT, 26 MIN
LaRavia contributed to the Lakers’ win through his hustle and energy. Although his shooting numbers were less than desirable, he hit two threes and was a big part of the second unit staying competitive. We loved how Jake attacked the boards and even came up with a block. Overall, LaRavia played a very hard-fought, energetic game. A B is warranted.
Jaxson Hayes: B-
Game Stats: 8 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 2 BLK, 4-4 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-1 FT, 21 MIN
Hayes played well, considering he made all four field-goal attempts while also contributing to rebounding and inside presence. Also, his two blocks helped secure the bench defense. However, he missed one free throw and had some late-game defensive breakdowns in one or two plays. Nevertheless, Hayes brought tremendous energy to the Lakers as a backup center, and we give him a B-.
Gabe Vincent: C+
Game Stats: 6 PTS, 2 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2-5 FG, 2-4 3PT, 0-0 FT, 25 MIN
Vincent provided solid playmaking with four assists. He also made two three-pointers, pushed the tempo, and was solid defensively, recording a steal and hounding opposing guards. A typical C+ performance from Vincent.
Dalton Knecht: C+
Game Stats: 4 PTS, 1 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1-4 FG, 1-3 3PT, 1-2 FT, 17 MIN
Knecht had an average offensive performance. While there were some good moments, he could not find a rhythm. He did contribute positively as a playmaker (two assists) and remained actively engaged without the ball. However, his poor shooting and minimal contribution defensively made it an average performance overall.
Maxi Kleber: C
Game Stats: 2 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-2 FT, 13 MIN
Kleber did not take a shot tonight, and that hurts his score. He made only one free throw, but he still had a positive defensive impact with a +14 plus-minus. He helped to space the floor, even without shooting tonight, but we can’t give him more than a C grade.
