McMillian's pick 6 helps Broncos spoil career nights by Winston, Jeudy and beat Browns 41-32

 

[December 03, 2024]  By PAT GRAHAM

DENVER (AP) — Jameis Winston had a night to remember — and one to forget.

Ja’Quan McMillian returned an interception 44 yards for a game-sealing touchdown with 1:48 remaining, and Denver spoiled career-best performances by Winston and ex-Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy in beating the Cleveland Browns 41-32 on Monday.

The good for Winston: He threw for a franchise-record 497 yards and four touchdowns.

The not-so-good: He tossed two interceptions that Denver returned for scores. The Broncos had three picks for 171 interception return yards against him.

“It was my fault," Winston said. "I’ve got to play better.”

It was fully reminiscent of his best — and worst — year in 2019 with Tampa Bay, when he led the NFL in yards (5,109) and was second in TD passes (33) but also led the league in picks (30).

“I know I’m better than this,” Winston said. “I’m just praying for the Lord to deliver me from pick-6s. That's not me. Phenomenal game on offense, do some great things, but I mess it up.”

Meanwhile, Jeudy had nine catches for 235 yards — the most in NFL history by a receiver against his former team — and a TD. Jeudy played his first four seasons with Denver and was booed every time he caught the ball.

“They only boo you,” Jeudy said, "when they know there’s something great in you.”

Nik Bonitto intercepted Winston and took it 71 yards to the house late in the second quarter. Winston became the first NFL quarterback to throw for 400 or more yards with four or more TD passes and two pick-6s.

Bo Nix finished with 294 yards passing, including a gorgeous deep ball from his own end zone that Marvin Mims Jr. hauled in for a 93-yard touchdown. Nix also threw two picks.

The Broncos (8-5) enter their bye week in the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC. Denver has a 76% probability of making the postseason, according to the NFL. The team hasn't been in the playoffs since winning the Super Bowl after the 2015 season.

“It wasn’t perfect, by any means, but we were able to finish,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said. ”Big plays — the game was full of them."

Winston surpassed the Browns record of 457 yards passing set by Josh McCown in 2015 against Baltimore. He threw a 70-yard TD pass to Jeudy and a pair of scores to tight end David Njoku in falling to 2-3 as a starter for the Browns (3-9) since replacing an injured Deshaun Watson.

Cleveland led 32-31 on Winston’s 5-yard TD pass to Nick Chubb when Nix drove the Broncos to the Browns 9. On fourth-and-1, Payton lined up to go for it but changed his mind after a timeout. Wil Lutz kicked a go-ahead 27-yard field goal with 2:54 remaining.

Winston and the Browns had plenty of time to drive for a winning score, but Winston's throw to Elijah Moore was late and McMillian jumped the route. He fell to the turf untouched after making the catch, got up and sprinted to the end zone.

“The fact they did it twice was kind of crazy,” Nix said of the interception returns. “I'm over there sitting, the benches have the heaters over there, and I don't even have to move. It's pretty nice for the offense when they bail us out like that.”

Denver Broncos cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian (29) celebrates his 46-yard interception return for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Jeudy, a first-round draft pick in 2020, was traded to Cleveland this spring after an up-and-down four seasons with Denver. He paused at the goal line before falling backward into the end zone on his long TD catch. He also caught a 2-point conversion to pull the Browns to 28-25.

“We had a plan going into it in terms of trying to get him open. I thought the plan was solid,” Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski said. "Jerry executed the plan really well. Got him open. Jameis made some throws. It’s hard in the losing effort to feel good about anything.”

The play by Jeudy came just 11 seconds after Nix threw a laser from about 4 yards deep in his end zone to Mims at around the 42. Mims caught it in stride, raced to the end zone and jumped into the stands to celebrate.

The Broncos relied on their running game in the first half, with Javonte Williams and Michael Burton scoring short TDs. It was Burton’s second TD of his 10-year career.

The Browns fell to 4-13 in the Mile High City. Dustin Hopkins missed a 47-yard field goal to the left on Cleveland’s opening drive.

Nix, who’s earned the NFL Rookie of the Week three consecutive times, threw his first interception since Nov. 3. Chased by Myles Garrett, Nix tried to force a pass to Tony Franklin over the middle. Denzel Ward reached in and deflected the ball into the air and it was caught by Greg Newsome II.

Winston and Jeudy got rolling early with a 44-yard completion on the Browns' first offensive play.

“That wasn’t supposed to go to me,” Jeudy explained.

Pregame speech
Winston delivered a fiery pregame oration to his teammates, yelling, “It’s got to come from your heart. I don’t care about no Mile High. I care about how the Browns get down.”

Injury report
Broncos: WR Jamari Thrash (shoulder) left the game. ... Ward (calf) and S Grant Delpit (head) were both off the field on Denver’s late drive for the go-ahead field goal.

Broncos: S Brandon Jones sustained a groin injury.

Up next
Browns: At Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Broncos: After a bye, host Indianapolis on Dec. 15.

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