Tag: Courtland Sutton

5 takeaways from Broncos’ crazy 41-32 win over Browns

Pat Surtain should have followed Jerry Jeudy the whole game. More takeaways from the Broncos win over the Browns:

The Denver Broncos defeated the Cleveland Browns 41-32 in a crazy Monday Night Football game in Week 13. Here are five quick takeaways following the victory.

1. Jaleel McLaughlin remains the hot hand: Javonte Williams scored a touchdown on Monday, but he ended the day with just four carries for one yard. He now has 12 carries for -1 yard over the last two weeks. McLaughlin, meanwhile, led the team with 14 carries for 84 yards against Cleveland. Denver’s backfield rotation is hard to predict on a week-to-week basis, but McLaughlin is trending up going into the bye.

2. Pat Surtain should have followed Jerry Jeudy: Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph opted to not have PS2 follow Jeudy on Monday, which was a curious decision. With Riley Moss (knee) unavailable, Levi Wallace was repeatedly torched by the Browns. Jeudy finished the day with nine receptions for 235 yards with one touchdown, but on the 34 plays that Jeudy covered him, the receiver totaled just two receptions for 20 yards. PS2 finally started following Jeudy late in the game and it appeared that Joseph also benched Wallace in favor of rookie Kris Abrams-Draine late in the contest. Both decisions should have been made sooner.

3. Courtland Sutton remains Mr. Reliable: Sutton ended the day with six receptions for 102 yards and he now has 42 receptions for 569 yards and three touchdowns over the last six weeks. He remains Denver’s best receiver and a reliable target for rookie quarterback Bo Nix.

4. That was a classic Jameis Winston game: Winston torched the Broncos’ secondary for 497 passing yards and four touchdowns … and three interceptions. It was a quintessential Winston experience. That might sound like a Browns Wire takeaway, but it’s notable for Denver, too, because future opponents might not gift interceptions at that rate. The Broncos easily could have lost Monday’s game if not for a pair of pick-sixes. Fans in Denver will hope that Moss recovers during the bye and is able to return in Week 15.

5. Nik Bonitto is a strong DPOY candidate: Bonitto is the first Broncos defender since Von Miller to record double-digit sacks and a pick-six in the same season. That’s pretty good company.

Bonitto’s 11 sacks this season rank second in the NFL, only trailing Trey Hendrickson (11.5). He’s making a strong case for Defensive Player of the Year.

The Broncos will now go into their bye week with an 8-5 record. After the bye, Denver will host the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15.

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Courtland Sutton is making Broncos history and getting close to big incentives

Courtland Sutton was the third-fastest Bronco to reach 5,000 career receiving yards, and he’s now closing in on some big incentives.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton continues to climb the team’s all-time receiving list.

Following his eight-catch, 97-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, Sutton became the fifth player in franchise history to post at least 50 receptions and 700 receiving yards in five separate seasons. Sutton has also surpassed 5,000 career receiving yards in 93 games, making him the third-fastest Bronco to reach that milestone.

Sutton’s 355 career receptions rank ninth on the team’s all-time list and his 5,003 receiving yards rank 11th. He needs 358 yards over the last five games to pass Emmanuel Sanders for 10th place on Denver’s all-time list.

Sutton’s productive season could pay dividends after the Broncos added $1.5 million worth of incentives to his contract this summer.

Sutton’s contract includes a $500,000 incentive for 500 receiving yards + Denver scoring more points than in 2023, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. He’s already passed 500 yards — now the offense needs to average more than 21.0 points per game (they’re currently at 22.0).

There’s another $500,000 incentive for 750 receiving yards and the team’s points improving. Sutton’s just six yards away from that total.

Finally, Sutton could receive another $500,000 if he reaches 1,065 receiving yards. He’s currently on pace for a 1,054-yard season. If he’s close going into the team’s regular season finale, Sutton will likely be given an opportunity to hit that mark.

Suton ranks 13th in receptions (57), ninth in receiving yards (744) and 13th in touchdowns (five) in the NFL this season. He’s making a case for the Pro Bowl in his seventh season with the Broncos.

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5 Broncos players who deserve to make the 2025 Pro Bowl

These five Denver Broncos players should make the Pro Bowl this season.

Fan voting for the 2025 Pro Bowl opened on Monday and the Denver Broncos have five players who deserve to make the All-Star game.

Here’s a quick list of the Broncos players who should receive an invite to Florida following the regular season.

1. CB Pat Surtain: PS2 has allowed just 142 passing yards this season, fewest in the NFL among qualified cornerbacks. Add in three interceptions (including a 100-yard pick-six) and Surtain should be a lock.

2. G Quinn Meinerz: He delivers pancake blocks seemingly every week. Meinerz is overdue for his first career Pro Bowl nod.

3. DL Zach Allen: He’s currently sidelined with a heel injury, but Allen still leads defensive linemen with 52 pressures this season. Allen has dominated this fall, totaling 21 quarterback hits, 12 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and five sacks through 11 games.

4. OLB Nik Bonitto: The first Broncos to record double-digit sacks since 2018, Bonitto is in contention to lead the NFL in sacks this season.

5. WR Courtland Sutton: His 744 receiving yards rank in the top four in the AFC, as do his five receiving touchdowns. Sutton has been a reliable WR1 for rising rookie quarterback Bo Nix.

Honorable mentions: CB Riley Moss, K Wil Lutz, OLB Jonathon Cooper, CB Ja’Quan McMillian, DB Brandon Jones, LT Garett Bolles, QB Bo Nix, KR/PR Marvin Mims and ST Tremon Smith.

Fans can vote for the Pro Bowl through Dec. 23. The 2025 Pro Bowl Games will be held at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Feb. 2.

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5 takeaways from the Broncos’ 29-19 win over Raiders

The Broncos got a big win over the Raiders on Sunday. Here are five quick takeaways.

The Denver Broncos defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 29-19 on the road on Sunday, improving to 7-5 on the season. Here are five quick takeaways from Denver’s big win in the AFC West.

1. Good luck predicting the backfield rotation: Two weeks ago, it was the Audric Estime show. Last week, Javonte Williams led the way. On Sunday, Jaleel McLaughlin led the Broncos’ backfield with 44 rushing yards, although he did get one less carry than Williams. It’s truly a three-headed backfield. That might be frustrating for fantasy football managers, but it’s working for Denver’s offense.

2. Maxx Crosby was held without a sack: Mike McGlinchey had a few penalties early in the game, but overall, he did well against one of the AFC’s best pass rushers. Crosby ended the day without a sack, snapping a 10-game streak against the Broncos of recording at least one sack.

3. Zach Allen was missed: Denver’s defensive line — and the entire defense — missed Allen, who was sidelined with a heel injury. Before the game, Allen was spotted in a walking boot. The team’s Week 14 bye can’t arrive soon enough.

4. Courtland Sutton is on a tear: Over the last five games, Sutton has hauled in 36 receptions for 467 yards and three touchdowns. He’s on pace to post a career high in receptions (81) this fall with 1,054 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He has been Mr. Reliable for rookie QB Bo Nix.

5. Speaking of Bo Nix: He’s on pace to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Jayden Daniels has more total yards (3,169) than Nix (2,848), but Nix has more total touchdowns (21) than Daniels (17). Nix has been red-hot in recent weeks and if he keeps this up, accolades will follow at the end of the season.

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Twitter reacts to Broncos’ 29-19 win over Raiders

The Denver Broncos Twitterscape erupted after a 29-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Denver Broncos swept their AFC West nemesis Las Vegas Raiders with a 29-19 win on Sunday.

Here’s a sampling of how Twitter/X reacted to the big win.


The Broncos will look to continue the magic in a Monday Night Football matchup against the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 3rd.

Bo Nix makes history again as Broncos defeat Raiders 29-19

The Broncos defeated the Raiders on Sunday and Bo Nix now holds the franchise record for the most TD passes by a rookie in team history.

The Denver Broncos defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 29-19 on Sunday afternoon, securing their first-ever win at Allegiant Stadium. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix broke another record in the victory.

With two touchdown passes on Sunday, Nix now holds Denver’s rookie record for the most touchdown passes (16) in a season (with five games remaining).

The Broncos opened the scoring late in the first quarter with a 38-yard Wil Lutz field goal to take a 3-0 lead. After that, the Raiders returned a kickoff 59 yards and quarterback Gardner Minshew later threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Ameer Abdullah to make it 7-3. Lutz answered that with a 53-yard field goal to close the deficit to 7-6.

Las Vegas converted a fake punt on the next drive with a 34-yard pass from punter AJ Cole to linebacker Divine Deablo. That set up a 34-yard Daniel Carlson field goal that extended the Raiders lead to 10-6. After that, Lutz converted a 54-yard field goal to make it 10-9. Cole then kicked a 34-yard field goal to give Las Vegas a 13-9 lead going into halftime.

Momentum swung Denver’s way in the third quarter when safety Brandon Jones intercepted a Minshew pass. That set up quarterback Bo Nix’s 18-yard touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton to take a 16-13 lead.

Lutz added a 45-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to make it 19-13. Carlson matched that with a 53-yard field goal to draw the Raiders within three, 19-16. Later in the fourth, Nix threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Sutton to extend the lead to 26-16. Carlson then kicked a 22-yarder to make it 26-19.

Minshew suffered a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter, then the Broncos got the ball back after Desmond Ridder was sacked and fumbled the ball, essentially sealing the game. Lutz added a 33-yard field goal after that turnover to secure a 29-19 lead, which held as the final score.

Denver cornerback Riley Moss suffered a knee injury late in the second quarter and was ruled out in the second half. Nix also seemed to be bothered by some kind of issue in the second half and his waist area was wrapped on the sideline.

Up next for the Broncos is a Monday Night Football home game against the Cleveland Browns in Week 13.

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WATCH: Broncos QB Bo Nix throws 2nd TD pass to Courtland Sutton

Broncos QB Bo Nix connects with Courtland Sutton for a second time!

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix threw a two-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Courtland Sutton in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders. It was Nix’s second TD toss to Sutton on the day.

Here’s video of the play, courtesy of the team’s official Twitter/X page:

The Broncos now lead the Raiders 26-16.

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WATCH: Broncos QB Bo Nix throws 18-yard TD pass to Courtland Sutton

Bo Nix and Courtland Sutton give the Broncos the lead!

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Courtland Sutton in the third quarter of Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Here’s video of the play, courtesy of the team’s official Twitter/X page:

Following that score, Denver now leads Las Vegas 16-13.

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Courtland Sutton praises Broncos QB Bo Nix: ‘It’s only the beginning’

“It’s only the beginning. … This is just the tip of the iceberg for him,” Broncos WR Courtland Sutton said of QB Bo Nix.

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix has been turning heads this season, and wide receiver Courtland Sutton has been his biggest supporter.

Sutton and Nix have connected 49 times for 647 yards and three touchdowns this fall, putting Sutton on pace to post a career-high in catches (76) and the second-best yardage total of his career (1,000). He wouldn’t reach those totals if not for Nix’s rise, and the receiver has been full of praise for the rookie.

“The word I would use — I feel like I would need to find a thesaurus to be able to describe how excited I feel for him and how happy I am for him,” Sutton said when asked about Nix this week. “The guy — I tell you guys this all of the time — shows up to work hungry for more. [He’s] a student of the game and a guy that you can tell loves the game. He loves the game of ball. There is nothing boring about listening to him talk about ball because he just has so many ideas, and has so much joy that comes from him when he’s talking about ball and what he sees each week from the defenses. To see him have the success that he is having, it just brings me joy to be able to be a part of it, be able to witness it and be part of his journey.

“I tell you guys this all of the time, it’s only the beginning. He’s going to have a long career — God willing — he’s going to have a long, healthy and successful career. This is just the tip of the iceberg for him. This goes back to the first question about complacency, not becoming complacent. That’s the spot that he is in. He’s having success, but he’s continuing to keep going and continuing to break through each ceiling that he comes upon. He’s doing that week-in and week-out. He’s hitting a ceiling, and breaking through it and going onto the next one. The record book is going to be hit pretty hard by him, I think. The way he is attacking the game with his preparation and the joy he has in the game; I think he’s going to ascend form here. I’m just happy for him.”

Nix and Sutton will look to build on their totals when the Broncos go on the road to face the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 12.

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Devaughn Vele has impressed Broncos: ‘His future is bright’

Broncos WR Devaughn Vele is emerging as a key receiver in Sean Payton’s offense. “His future is bright,” Courtland Sutton said.

Devaughn Vele is quietly emerging as a key wide receiver for the Denver Broncos.

Through seven games this season, the 26-year-old rookie out of Utah has totaled 26 receptions for 281 yards, 14 first downs and one touchdown. He has seemingly emerged as quarterback Bo Nix’s second-favorite target behind Courtland Sutton in recent weeks.

“I think part of what was holding Devaughn Vele back was us,” coach Sean Payton said after the team’s win against the Atlanta Falcons. “In other words, Josh [Reynolds] was getting a lot of reps. It’s sometimes just giving the player more opportunities. I think one of the things he does well for someone who’s 6-4, he’s low cut.

“He has these like 32-inch inseams and a long torso. So when he comes out of his breaks, you don’t feel a leggy player. You feel a sudden player, and that’s a good trait for a tall receiver. Then the other things is he has extremely strong hands in traffic. He just keeps improving, but part of that is he’s getting more opportunities.”

Reynolds is eligible to return from injured reserve this week, but Vele seems poised to continue getting snaps after making the most of his opportunities while Reynolds was sidelined.

“I was just talking with Vele and I am so happy for him,” Sutton said. “When you see the young guys, especially a rookie, make that stride, you can see the writing on the wall of the opportunity being there. It’s all about stepping up to the challenge. Watching him these past couple of weeks step up to the challenge of becoming that guy on the other side, it’s been a lot of fun.

“His future is bright. It’s so early for him. We talk about it all the time, but for me, making my transition into this vet role in the room, it’s cool to be able to see the young guys step up to that role and have the success that he’s having right now.”

Denver’s top receivers have been Sutton, Vele and Lil’Jordan Humphrey during Reynolds’ absence. Following Vele’s emergence, Humphrey might be the odd man out in the rotation when Reynolds returns.

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