DENVER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 26: Russell Wilson #3 of the Denver Broncos warms up before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Empower Field At Mile High on November 26, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)Photo: Jamie Schwaberow / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
The Denver Broncos won their 5th straight game as they beat the Browns 29-12 to improve to 6-5! Below is the recap and postgame interviews:
The Broncos won the coin toss and deferred to the 2nd half.
Cleveland's offense started with the ball on offense and quickly went three and out after Dorian Thompson-Robinson's 2nd pass, targeting Amari Cooper, fell incomplete.
The Browns punt was a touchback, giving the Broncos offense the ball at their own 20 yard line and they went to work immediately with the run game. Javonte Williams was the focal point early in the drive as Denver wanted to establish a run game vs the vaunted Browns defense. On 3rd and long, Cleveland rushed 7 and Russ unleashed a deep pass down the right sideline to Courtland Sutton, drawing a 34-yard defensive pass interference. Denver, now in Browns territory faced another 3rd and long before Russ found Courtland on a deep over for 31 yards giving the Broncos a goal to go at the 3 yard line. Denver needed just one more play to get an early lead as Samaje Perine punched in the team's 2nd rushing touchdown of the season, Broncos lead 7-0.
Now in an early hole, the Browns went back onto the field with 8:14 remaining in the 1st quarter, Dorian Thompson-Robinson went to the pass game with quick completions to his wide receivers as Cleveland moved to mid-field. On 4th and 1, the Browns' TE Harrison Bryant took the direct snap but fumbled it, giving the Broncos the ball at the 50 yard line.
Russell Wilson and the offense went back to work from mid-field. On 4th and 2, Russell Wilson scrambled up the middle for 8 yards but fumbled the ball, giving it right back to Cleveland at their 34 yard line.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson and the Browns offense couldn't do much with the change in possession, gaining only 3 yards, before punting the ball back to Denver.
From their 20 yard line, the Broncos went back to the ground game with Jaleel McLaughlin and Samaje Perine early in the drive. A terrible holding call against Courtland Sutton wiped out a 21-yard run by Javonte Williams but on the very next play Samaje Perine gained 15 up the gut, moving the ball into Cleveland territory. Another big 3rd down conversion to Marvin Mims for 16 yards kept the drive moving. Russell Wilson then with an RPO ran around the left side for 19 yards to get the Broncos in a goal to go situation. Russ ran it two more times and converted a 2 yard touchdown run to extend the lead 14-0 with 11:11 remaining in the 2nd quarter.
The Browns, now in a 2-touchdown hole, went back to work and the ground game finally got on track as Jerome Ford gashed the Broncos run defense for big gains into Denver territory. The Browns moved into the Red Zone but the drive stalled at the Denver 18 yard line and Cleveland settled for a 36 yard field goal, cutting into the Broncos lead 14-3.
The Broncos offense went back to work with just under 6 minutes remaining in the 2nd quarter. After a 1st down, Russell Wilson took a deep shot for Courtland Sutton down the right sideline but a ticky-tack pass interference call was made against Courtland, backing the Broncos up and they never recovered. With 3:04 remaining, Riley Dixon punted the ball back to Cleveland who took over from their own 28 yard line.
DTR and the Browns offense, trying to steal a possession before half went to work as they started the drive with a quick pass to Cedrick Tillman on a crossing pattern for 17 yards. Dorian Thompson-Robinson showed a lot of poise as the Browns offense moved quickly inside the 10 yard line. The drive stalled at the 6 yard line and Cleveland was, once again, forced to settle for a field goal, cutting into the Broncos lead 14-6 at the end of the half.
The Broncos offense got the ball to start the 3rd quarter but unfortunately, after a screen to Jeudy that put the Broncos 1 yard from the first down, Russ pitched the ball to Javonte on the right side and he was tackled for a loss. Dixon punted the ball to Cleveland, who took over at their 21 yard line.
Cleveland's offense went to work early in the 3rd quarter, trailing by 8 points, and on 3rd and 8, DTR found Amari Cooper for an 11 yard gain that sparked an impressive drive that moved inside the Broncos Red Zone with big completions to David Njoku. On 3rd and 7, DTR's pass was over the head of David Njoku but PJ Locke hit him in the back late and was called for a personal foul giving the Browns another set of downs at the Broncos 5 yard line. On 4th and 2, the Browns went for it and Dorian Thompson-Robinson found TE Harrison Bryant on the front of the goal line but the 2 point conversion failed so the Broncos retained the lead 14-12 with 6:42 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Russell Wilson and the Broncos offense went back to work from their own 25, needing to regain some of the momentum and Wilson found Lil'Jordan Humphrey for a 13 yard gain that helped the Broncos get to midfield. Javonte Williams added a 15 yard run on a counter and quickly into Browns territory. Samaje Perine burst off the right side, running tough, for a 21 yard gain to give the Broncos a goal to go situation. The drive stalls, though, and Denver settles for a chip shot field goal to extend their lead 17-12.
With 1:25 remaining in the 3rd quarter, the Cleveland offense went back onto the field and on 3rd and 12, DTR was buying time to try and complete a deep pass...as we scrambled around, Baron Browning hit him at the Browns goal line that drew a roughing the passer penalty and gave Cleveland new life. Unfortunately, for the Browns, DTR was injured and removed from the game with PJ Walker taking over. The Browns tried some trickery with a flea flicker as the 4th quarter started but the pitch was fumbled and DJ Jones recovered it at the Cleveland 20 yard line.
The Broncos, looking to add to their lead, connected on a 3rd and goal from the 8 yard line as Russell Wilson found Adam Trautman sliding toward the sideline in the end zone for a touchdown. Denver extended their lead 24-12.
The Browns went 3 and out on their next possession but the Broncos weren't able to do much with a chance to put the game away and also went 3 and out. Riley Dixon punted the ball back to the Browns and PJ Walker at their own 23 yard line.
PJ Walker threaded a couple nice passes as the Browns moved into Denver territory but, as the drive stalled at the Broncos 33 yard line, Cleveland was forced to go for it on 4th and 14. PJ Locke came on a Safety blitz and sacked Walker as well as stripping the ball from him. Alex Singleton landed on it and the Broncos were starting to feel like the might win their 5th straight.
Russell Wilson connected with Courtland Sutton on a 25 yard completion to move the Broncos into Browns territory. Denver did what they wanted, ran some clock, and settled for a chip shot Wil Lutz field goal, extending their lead 27-12.
On the final Browns offensive possession, Zach Allen and Nik Bonitto sacked PJ Walker in the end zone for a Safety! Broncos beat the Browns 29-12 to improve to 6-5!
The next broadcast is on Sunday, December 3rd as the Broncos are on the road to face the Houston Texans. Coverage on KOA starts at 7am MTN, kickoff at 11am.
Postgame interviews with Sean Payton, Russell Wilson, DJ Jones