Facing fourth-and-goal just outside the endzone in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Denver Broncos opted to go for it while leading 7-0.
Broncos coach Sean Payton called a pitch play to running back Jaleel McLaughlin. Bucs outside linebacker Anthony Nelson initially read the play well as he was in position to tackle McLaughlin well short of the end zone.
McLaughlin then pulled off a sick juke that sent Nelson to the ground as McLaughlin ran around the corner and reached the end zone for a score.
The play was a brilliant individual effort by the second-year running back:
Jaleel McLaughlin makes a man miss and uses his speed to find the end zone for a TOUCHDOWN #Broncos pic.twitter.com/XeU1gq7z5Y
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) September 22, 2024
Here’s a sampling of how Twitter/X reacted to the run:
That was SUCH a dirty move by Jaleel McLaughlin.
The play was all but dead and Jaleel made a touchdown out of absolutely nothing.
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) September 22, 2024
That touchdown run by Jaleel McLaughlin was SICK! Scared the crap outta me lolllll
— Sayre Bedinger (@SayreBedinger) September 22, 2024
Jaleel McLaughlin was stuck. Then he got shifty. Touchdown. May have taken four runs inside the 5, but Denver made it happen.
— Nick Kosmider (@NickKosmider) September 22, 2024
At some point you have to make a play and creat your opportunity great play from Jaleel McLaughlin! #BroncosCountry
— Phillip Lindsay (@I_CU_boy) September 22, 2024
I'm not sure if the #Broncos think Jaleel McLaughlin is a 20-touch-per-game kind of guy, but they might want to really find out.
— Parker Gabriel (@ParkerJGabriel) September 22, 2024
McLaughlin, 24, totaled 34 yards from scrimmage through the team’s first two games of the season. He has 18 yards and a touchdown so far today.
At the time of publication, the Broncos lead the Bucs 17-7 just before halftime.
