From his privileged position, Broncos quarterback Bo Nix could anticipate the outcome of the game. He watched as Denver’s defense, led by Nik Bonitto, prepared to secure the victory in overtime against the Commanders. Nix was not mistaken. Bonitto blocked Marcus Mariota’s pass on a 2-point conversion attempt, thus guaranteeing the Broncos’ victory by 27-26 in overtime.
In a game marked by constant changes in the score, the Commanders tied the game on the last play of regulation. Then, they responded to the Broncos’ initial touchdown in overtime with an 11-play, 65-yard offensive drive, culminating in a 3-yard touchdown pass from Mariota to Terry McLaurin on fourth down and 3 yards to go. With the Commanders ready for the 2-point conversion, the Broncos analyzed the offensive formation and called a timeout. During this break, coach Sean Payton explained that defensive coordinator Vance Joseph modified the defensive strategy in the hope that Bonitto would have the opportunity to make a key play.“I knew the defense we were going to use and, somehow, I anticipated the play, so I knew what was going to happen,” Nix commented on the final play from the bench. “I think the receiver could have been open, but Nik did a great job.”
Bo Nix
“We call this a Kodak situation, where you have a timeout and the game is about to end, so you can regroup and clarify your ideas,” Payton explained. “The challenge in these plays is the designed runs for the quarterback, which worried us… we switched from one pressure to another.”
Sean PaytonPayton added: “There will be a free player if you press the way we did. And you don’t know who the free player will be because the protection… they left Nik free and the moment and everything was perfect.” Before the start of the play, the Broncos were very close together, with all 11 defenders within 4 yards of the line of scrimmage. Bonitto positioned himself outside the left shoulder of the Commanders’ left tackle, Laremy Tunsil.While the Commanders were trying to figure out the six players who were going to pressure Mariota, Bonitto was left unblocked. He quickly closed in on Mariota, jumped as he threw the ball, and deflected the pass with his right hand, which had been in a cast since Week 3.
It looked like McLaurin had gotten open as Mariota was getting ready to throw.“Defensive coordinator Vance was doing a good job mixing coverages and showing different types of blitzes,” Mariota commented. “And then, on the two-point play, he brought a blitz, I knew I had to try to gain depth and give our man a chance. He made a play and that’s just how things go.”
Marcus Mariota“I knew I was buying time,” Bonitto said. “At that moment, I was just trying to make it difficult for him to throw the ball, and I ended up blocking it and we won the game.”
Nik BonittoBonitto also pointed out that the timeout “helped us calm down a bit, to be able to get into what we could and get a stop.” The Broncos, especially Payton, believed they had secured the victory nine plays earlier, on a fourth down and 6 yards to go from Denver’s 41-yard line. Safety Brandon Jones had intercepted a deflected pass, but the play was nullified by a pass interference penalty on safety Talanoa Hufanga. Payton, thinking the game was over, took off the headset she uses to communicate with Nix.The Broncos secured their ninth consecutive victory, their longest winning streak since they won 11 in a row to close out the 2012 regular season. It was also the sixth game this season decided on the final play; they have a 4-2 record in those games.“It’s the first time in I don’t know how many years as a head coach that I’ve taken the radio out of the quarterback’s helmet,” Payton said. “We didn’t get the sack, interference was called… it had never happened before.”
Sean Payton
