It wasn’t pretty, but the Broncos are back in the win column after 17-10 win over Washington

The Denver Broncos defense comes up big in the final minute of the game to secure the team’s first win in over a month as they beat the Washington Football Team, 17-10.

The Denver Broncos and Washington Football Team looked a lot alike in this game, which is probably why their records were so similar coming into this game. Denver had ample opportunities to put points on the board, but their play calling continued to have question marks at critical junctures in the game as they bumbled their way to a 17-10 victory.

However, the final minute of the game on offense has me thinking Pat Shurmur should be fired tonight. Let me know what you think in the poll below.

First Quarter

Both teams floundered on their opening drives despite both reaching the other side of the field. The Broncos did so on this nice deep pass from Teddy Bridgewater to Courtland Sutton.

That drive would end in multiple miscues and penalties that pushed them out of field goal range.

Broncos 0, WFT 0. Full first quarter recap.

Second Quarter

Washington would match that level of ineptitude on their second drive that ended in the second quarter with a Shelby Harris blocked field goal to keep the game scoreless.

The Broncos continued to get some momentum early in drives with big plays to their wide receivers, but it seems any time the play calling gets down near the 20-yard line the whole offense breaks down.

That big pass to Tim Patrick would result in a Brandon McManus 45-yard field goal just four plays later. That did give Denver an early 3-0 lead over Washington midway through the second quarter. Washington would later tie the game up with a 52-yard field goal of their own.

Denver would put together a fine 7-play, 75-yard touchdown drive late in the second quarter. Bridgewater connected on a couple of 19-yard passes to Albert Ok and Tim Patrick before hitting Melvin Gordon on this pass for the touchdown and the first half lead.

Broncos 10, Washington 3. Full second quarter recap.

Third Quarter

The third quarter was filled with questionable play calling from Pat Shurmur. He continues to think running the ball on second down after the first down run was stuffed leads to something other than three and outs and he prefers to throw a swing pass four yards behind the line of scrimmage on third and one instead of just running it up the gut. That he just keeps doing it is what is enraging.

Meanwhile, Washington was able to tie the game up late in the third quarter on a drive that was kept alive by the ugliest no-call pick play I’ve seen all year that left Washington’s wide receiver wide open while Bryce Callahan was laid out on his back by the opposing tight end.

The touchdown pass would come a few plays later to tie the game up at 10.

Broncos 10, Washington 10. Full third quarter recap.

Fourth Quarter

With the fourth quarter starting, the Broncos were able to put together a nice drive. The drive was sprung by a roughing the passer penalty on Teddy Bridgewater. The drive stalled when Lloyd Cushenberry stepped on Bridgewater’s foot to cause a sack. McManus would miss his first field goal of the season too, which ruined the scoring opportunity.

Another blocked field goal attempt by the Broncos kept the score tied late as Dre’Mont Jones joined Shelby Harris with the field goal blocking fun.

Denver immediately turned it around and marched right down the field and scored a touchdown. It was an excellent drive and some quality route running by Jerry Jeudy and good running by Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon to take the lead with less than five minutes to go in the game.

Broncos 17, Washington 10.

With Denver’s defense down Callahan, it didn’t take long for Taylor Heinicke to drive his team down the field. At the two minute warning, Washington was faced with a second and seven from the Broncos’ eight yard line. The defense stood tall form there with Justin Simmons flying in to make a tackle for no gain, then Malik Reed came in with the strip sack to force a 4th and 19. Simmons would seal the deal with an interception to secure the first win for Denver in over a month.

Of course, that feel good session lasted all of a minute as Denver then went through a sequence of events that left everyone confused. Needing to run the clock out, Pat Shurmur dials up a pass that goes incomplete and then Melvin Gordon fumbled to give Washington the ball back with 21 seconds. Thankfully, the Broncos defense got the job done again and Denver did finally win the game.