The Denver Broncos strengthened their hold on an NFL playoff spot by coming from behind to beat the Cleveland Browns 41-32.
Browns quarterback Jameis Winston threw for a franchise-record 497 yards and four touchdowns, while teammate Jerry Jeudy had 235 receiving yards against his former team.
But it wasn’t enough as Winston also threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, including Ja’Quan McMillian’s score that closed out the game with less than two minutes left.
That improved Denver’s record to 8-5 and the Broncos, who haven’t made the play-offs since winning the Super Bowl at the end of the 2015 season, sit in the seventh and final play-off spot in the conference. of the AFC.
Cleveland is now 3-9, with Winston going 2-3 since the 30-year-old replaced injured starter Deshaun Watson.
Monday’s loss recalled Winston’s mixed year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019. That season he led the NFL in passing yards (5,109) and was second in touchdown passes (33), but he also led the league in interceptions (30). .
“I know I’m better than this,” he said. “I’m just praying that the Lord delivers me from pick-sixes. That’s not me.”
Winston threw his first pick-six to Nik Bonitto, although David Njoku quickly scored his second touchdown for visiting Cleveland to cut the deficit to 21-17 at halftime.
Denver rookie quarterback Bo Nix then found Marvin Mims Jr from his own end zone and ran for a 93-yard touchdown, and on the next play Winston responded by finding Jeudy for a 70-yard score.
A Nick Chubb touchdown put the Browns ahead 32-31 with less than nine minutes remaining, but the Broncos took the lead again on a Wil Lutz field goal with 2:54 remaining, before McMillian sealed the victory with a a 44-yard pick-six.
