The Denver Broncos defeated the Buffalo Bills 24-22 in a Monday Night Football thriller in Week 10.
Denver’s defense started the game with a pair of takeaways. First, cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian forced and recovered a James Cook fumble to give the Broncos great field position early in the game.
Denver had to settle for a field goal after that turnover, taking a 3-0 lead. On Buffalo’s next drive, Bills receiver Gabe Davis had a Josh Allen pass go through his hands and Broncos safety Justin Simmons intercepted it. Denver failed to capitalize on that takeaway and punted the ball back to Buffalo.
The Broncos later got the ball back in the second quarter and drove down to the Bills’ seven-yard line before facing a 4th-and-2. Denver quarterback Russell Wilson bought time on fourth down before finding wide receiver Courtland Sutton, who did an excellent job dragging his feet in the end zone for a touchdown to make it 9-0 (Wil Lutz missed the extra point).
Buffalo then matched that score with an eight-play, 81-yard drive that ended with a Dalton Kincaid touchdown catch. The Bills then converted a two-point attempt that made it 9-8 late in the second quarter.
After that, the Broncos kicked a field goal to make it 12-8. Allen then threw another interception to Denver cornerback Fabian Moreau on Buffalo’s ensuing drive. After that takeaway, the Broncos were able to add another field goal to make it 15-8 going into halftime.
In the second half, the Bills recovered a Sutton fumble and later scored on a three-yard Latavius Murray touchdown run to make it 15-15.
Later in the third quarter, Allen and Cook mishandled a handoff exchange and Denver linebacker Alex Singleton recovered the fumble for the Broncos’ fourth takeaway of the game. Denver failed to capitalize on that turnover, but Wilson later threw a touchdown pass to running back Javonte Williams in the fourth quarter.
That Williams touchdown made it 21-15, then punter Riley Dixon botched a hold on the team’s ensuing extra point attempt, resulting in a failed PAT attempt. Buffalo then went 75 yards and Allen scored on a six-yard touchdown run to give the Bills a 22-21 lead with 1:55 remaining.
The Broncos then worked the ball down to Buffalo’s 23-yard line to set up a 41-yard field goal attempt. Lutz initially missed his field goal but the Bills were penalized for having 12 men on the field, gifting Denver five more yards and a second attempt. Lutz converted his second attempt, a 36-yard field goal to give the Broncos a 24-22 victory.
On the injury front, Denver safety P.J. Locke suffered an ankle injury in the first half and did not return to the game.
Up next for the Broncos is a home game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football in Week 11.
