The Broncos are the hottest team in the NFL with a four-game winning streak. Can they continue their run? Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Browns at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.
Live updates
FINAL | Broncos 29, Browns 12
Denver grows more cosmopolitan by the year, but what the Broncos have cooking up isn’t likely to earn any attention from the fancy folk at Michelin. On the menu these days at Casa Sean Payton: Meat. Potatoes. And a fresh-baked pile of turnovers every weekend.
Slowly but surely, Payton and the Broncos offense have learned to eat their vegetables. Vance Joseph’s defense will stick to your ribs or, more often than not, plow right through them.
The whole refrigerator of ingredients nearly spoiled in the September heat. They’re not exactly the most stocked pantry in the NFL. And it took a long time for the kitchen to find its rhythm. But at the tail end of Thanksgiving weekend, this team put together its most satisfying meal yet: A big, bad, rugged 29-12 victory over Cleveland, Parker Gabriel reports. Read the full story.
More Broncos coverage:
- PHOTOS: Denver Broncos beat Cleveland Browns 29-12 in NFL Week 12.
- Kiszla: Russell Wilson and Vance Joseph have gone from zeros to heroes during Broncos’ five-game winning streak.
- Keeler: Broncos LT Garett Bolles 1, Myles Garrett 0. As in, zero sacks for Cleveland Browns’ All-Pro defender. “You’ve just got to keep swinging.”
- Broncos rookie Drew Sanders gets snaps at outside linebacker for first time all season.
- Broncos report card: Turnover-mad Denver defense, powerful rushing attack power critical win over Cleveland.
- Heroes and Zeros from Broncos’ win over Browns: Samaje Perine breaks Denver’s run game woes in red zone.
- Broncos four downs: Team Takeaway strikes again, and now Denver’s right back in playoff hunt.
Fourth-quarter updates
Safety, Broncos (5:08 p.m.): Zach Allen sacked P.J. Walker in the end zone for a safety. Broncos 29, Browns 12 with 2:17 to go. — Joe Nguyen
Another sack (5 p.m.): Josey Jewell with the strip sack on Browns QB P.J. Walker. Cleveland recovered. — Joe Nguyen
Three more (4:56 p.m.): Wil Lutz nails the 34-yard field goal. Broncos 27, Browns 12 with 4:19 to go. — Joe Nguyen
Ball hawks (4:51 p.m.): P.J. Locke with the strip sack on P.J. Walker. Then Alex Singleton gets the recovery. Denver ball on its own 42-yard line. — Joe Nguyen
P.J. had 'em on Lock(e).
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/3fkbcssrlV
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 26, 2023
The Broncos defense is now at 15 takeaways after P.J. Locke’s strip sack. Incredible. — Matt Schubert
Amari Cooper down (4:49 p.m.): Another hurt Browns player after PJ Locke lays the wood in the secondary. The Broncos are hitting today, friends. — Matt Schubert
Casa Bonitto (4:37 p.m.): Nik Bonitto just got a sack on Browns backup QB P.J. Walker. He has 6.5 sacks this season.
And then the next play, he got a hand on the pass. Browns have to punt. — Joe Nguyen
Touchdown, Broncos (4:34 p.m.): It’s a touchdown. Broncos 24, Browns 12 with 13:29 to go. — Joe Nguyen
The Broncos are getting rushing TDs in the red zone and positive plays for the tight ends. What in the world is happening?!?!? — Matt Schubert
Touchdown, Broncos? (4:31 p.m.): Was Adam Trautman properly in the end zone on that 8-yard pass by Russell Wilson? Head coach Sean Payton is challenging the incompletion call. — Joe Nguyen
Count it. 😤
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/t3yVlduB9Y
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 26, 2023
Ball don’t lie (4:27 p.m.): The Browns fumbled the ball on the first play in the fourth quarter. D.J. Jones recovers. Denver ball. — Joe Nguyen
HEY, MR. D.J.
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/dzLwR5CiXm
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 26, 2023
Third-quarter analysis — Broncos 17, Browns 12
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Pretty simple this afternoon: The Broncos have to get this one across the finish line. Doesn’t matter how. A winning record is right there in front of them.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: Holy soccer dives, Batman! I can only imagine what was going through the brains of the official on that DTR hit: “Am I gonna get it worse from the league office for eating the flag or worse from Broncos Country for calling it now?” Ummm … and the longer DTR stayed on the ground, striker-style, the “nastier” it looked. Did someone on the Browns com system scream at him to “Just stay down”? Ya wonder. Ya really do.
Mark Kiszla, sports columnist: With game on line during past 15 minutes, Russell Wilson has to be better than whoever the Browns trot out there at quarterback, right?
Third-quarter updates
Broncos penalty (4:21 p.m.): You won’t see a later flag than the one just thrown on Baron Browning. He absolutely rocked Thompson-Robinson, who’s down around the Browns goal line. — Parker Gabriel
The locals are NOT happy after that flag on Baron Browning. Hard to blame them. That’s a bang-bang play and the flag came extremely late. As if the official was reacting to DTR being hurt. — Matt Schubert
Field goal, Broncos (4:14 p.m.): Wil Lutz with the 23-yard field goal. Broncos 17, Browns 12 with 1:25 to go in the third quarter. — Joe Nguyen
The Broncos get to the 3, but go no farther. Perhaps it would’ve been asking too much for the Broncos to quadruple their season rushing touchdown total in one week. It’s 17-12, and a red hot Dorian Thompson-Robinson is about to get the ball again. — Matt Schubert
Run game gains (4:12 p.m.): The Broncos are running off the right side at will right now. Massive holes. — Matt Schubert
Touchdown, Browns (4:03 p.m.): Dorian Thompson-Robinson connects with for a 2-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion is no good. Broncos 14, Browns 12 with 6:42 to go. — Joe Nguyen
Impressive drive from DTR, aided by a highly questionable flag on PJ Locke. PJ thought he was playing football. The refs disabused him of that notion.
And the Browns drop a gimme on the two-point conversion. It’s still a two-point game, and the Broncos are lucky that’s the case. — Matt Schubert
Costly penalty (4 p.m.): Instead of forcing fourth down, an unnecessary roughness penalty on P.J. Locke gives Cleveland a set of fresh downs at the Denver 5. — Joe Nguyen
Cleveland’s driving (3:58 p.m.): Eight plays for 65 yards on this drive for the Browns so far. They’re threatening at the Denver 14. — Joe Nguyen
Jerry Jeudy sighting (3:50 p.m.): The Broncos receiver picked up a 7-yard gain on his first touch of the game. However, on third-and-1, the Broncos went for a pitch to Javonte Williams, which resulted in a 3-yard loss and a punt. — Joe Nguyen
This will shock you, but the #Broncos went three-and-out to start a third quarter. — Parker Gabriel
Halftime analysis — Broncos 14, Browns 6
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Broncos are 2/2 in the red zone, Browns are 0/2. That’s the difference so far. Would be a good time for Denver to kick its bad habit of starting the third quarter terribly offensively.
Ryan McFadden, beat writer: The Broncos seemed to fix their issues in last week’s win over Minnesota. They are 4-6 on third down and 2-2 in the red zone. The way Cleveland’s offense has performed a touchdown should put things away.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: Russell Wilson, age 34, is outrushing Dorian Thompson-Robinson, age 24, by a count of 37-21 at the break. The Lord, He worketh in mysterious ways.
Mark Kiszla, sports columnist: If Russell Wilson keeps this up as run-pass option quarterback, I might have to seriously consider putting him on my Heisman ballot.
Second-quarter updates
Field goal, Browns (3:29 p.m.): Dustin Hopkins with the 24-yard field goal. Broncos 14, Browns 6 with 22 seconds to go. — Joe Nguyen
Looking like it’s going to take five field goals for the Browns to win this thing. Decent between the 20s, then disaster inside the red zone. It’s Broncos 14-6, and that’s what’ll probably be the score heading into halftime. — Matt Schubert
Cleveland threatening (3:27 p.m.): First-and-goal for the Browns with less than a minute to go. — Joe Nguyen
Referees (3:14 p.m.): MWC refs > Pac-12 refs > today’s refs? — Sean Keeler
Throwing woes (3:08 p.m.): Browns are in trouble whenever they have to throw it. Thompson-Robinson is 6/14 for 33 yards. — Parker Gabriel
Field goal, Browns (3:07 p.m.): Dustin Hopkins nails a 36-yard field goal to get Cleveland on the board. Broncos 14, Browns 3 with 5:59 to go in the first half. — Joe Nguyen
Run defense woes (3:03 p.m.): Denver has given up 46 yards rushing on four carries this drive. — Joe Nguyen
Broncos’ offense rolling (2:57 p.m.): Denver has outgained the Browns 139-34. — Ryan McFadden
Touchdown, Broncos (2:55 p.m.): Russ turning back the clock in the red zone with another read option keeper for a 2-yard TD. It’s all coming up Broncos today, friends. — Matt Schubert
🙌 @DangeRussWilson 🙌
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/rR62V5WO5j
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 26, 2023
Broncos in 10 games before today: One rushing TD. Broncos in 18:49 today: Two rushing TDs. — Parker Gabriel
Drive summary: 13 plays for 80 yards en route to the 2-yard touchdown run by Russell Wilson. Broncos 14, Browns 0 with 11:11 to go in the second quarter. — Joe Nguyen
Read option? (2:52 p.m.): Russell Wilson read option!?!?!
The Broncos are driving and a touchdown here just might be a death blow for the Browns. — Matt Schubert
Third-down conversions (2:50 p.m.): Denver is 4-for-5 on third downs today. Russell Wilson connected with Marvin Mims Jr. for a 16-yard gain on that latest one. — Joe Nguyen
First-quarter analysis — Broncos 7, Browns 0
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Broncos in key areas through a quarter:
- 3/4 on third down
- 1/1 in the red zone
- Even in turnover battle (1-1)
- And, in the key-est area: They lead 7-0 against Cleveland.
Ryan McFadden, beat writer: Denver did a solid job at running the football in the first. The Broncos rushed for 68 yards on 13 attempts.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: Me to a certain Broncos HOF-er a few minutes ago: “Have you been able to wrap your head around how this went from the worst defense in NFL history to the best, in about six weeks?” Broncos HOF-er laughs. “Nope,” he replies. “But I love it.”
Mark Kiszla, sports columnist: So the Broncos are going to visit Las Vegas in both January and February?
Matt Schubert, sports editor: Given what we’ve seen of the Browns’ offense, it feels like one more score from the Broncos just might be an insurmountable lead.
First-quarter updates
Broncos turnover (2:34 p.m.): Russell Wilson scrambled for a first down on fourth-and-2 but had the ball punched out. The Browns recover at their own 34-yard line. — Joe Nguyen
Russell Wilson gets the 1st down on 4th and 3, but the @Browns D punch it out and recover the ball.
📺: #CLEvsDEN on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/1dOevJjoZZ pic.twitter.com/PjLqdb5ju0— NFL (@NFL) November 26, 2023
That’s Big Russ’ 6th fumble this season, already tying his tally in that category for all of 2022. Which is basically why you let the tailback cook. — Sean Keeler
Broncos force turnover (2:27 p.m.): And that’s turnover No. 1 for the Broncos defense on a botched fourth-and-short snap. On the Browns’ second possession of the game. A little off schedule from the previous two games, but I’m sure the Broncos will take it. — Matt Schubert
Another takeaway for this defense. 😤
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/6MnVMVuBpV
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 26, 2023
Javonte Williams injury (2:24 p.m.): Broncos running back Javonte Williams is questionable with a neck injury. — Ryan McFadden
Touchdown, Broncos (2:20 p.m.): And the run stands.
As starts go, you couldn’t draw up a better one for the Broncos. A touchdown on the ground. Some deep passes producing chunk yardage for Russell Wilson, and a three-and-out from the defense. — Matt Schubert
Perine’s huge 3-yard push gives the Broncos a 7-0 lead with 8:06 to go in the first quarter. — Joe Nguyen
Touchdown, Broncos? (2:17 p.m.): And there it is, the Broncos’ second rushing touchdown of the season … maybe. Samaje Perine’s physical 3-yard run is under review. — Matt Schubert
First TD of the year for @samajp32! 🙌
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/dwNBy8EEEc
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 26, 2023
Another big gain (2:16 p.m.): Another deep pass to Courtland Sutton (this one actually caught) and the Broncos are at the 3. — Matt Schubert
Big gain (2:13 p.m.): When in doubt, throw the ball to Courtland Sutton. Good things generally happen.
The Browns defense already has two penalties, and the Broncos have the ball at the Cleveland 31. Solid start for the Broncos. — Matt Schubert
Locke-down (2:08 p.m.): Welcome back, P.J. Locke. The Broncos safety made a pair of nice defensive plays on the Browns’ opening drive. Denver forced a three-and-out. — Joe Nguyen
PJ Locke made his presence felt on the first drive. He tackles Jerome Ford for no gain then forces an incompletion on third down. — Ryan McFadden
Coin toss (2:05 p.m.): Broncos win the toss and defer. Browns and rookie quarterback Dorrian Thompson-Robinson will start with the ball. — Parker Gabriel
Pre-game updates
History (2:04 p.m.): Broncos-Browns. A lot of history here. You just have to be older than 40 to remember it. — Matt Schubert
Rookie watch (1:30 p.m.): One interesting role to watch today: Broncos rookie Drew Sanders is warming up with the outside linebacker group.
With Ronnie Perkins inactive (as he was last week), will be interesting to see if Sanders gets more run on the edge against Cleveland’s run-heavy attack. — Parker Gabriel
Inactives (12:40 p.m.): P.J. Locke is officially active. He’ll start next to Justin Simmons. Not a big surprise, but important nonetheless for Sean Payton’s team. Here’s Denver’s inactive players:
- RB Dwayne Washington
- OLB Ronnie Perkins
- OLB Thomas Incoom
- S JL Skinner
- C Alex Forsyth
- DL Elijah Garcia
The Broncos yesterday elevated WR David Sills and DL Tyler Lancaster for gameday from the practice squad. — Parker Gabriel
Game day (12:20 p.m.): It’s a beauty of an afternoon at Empower Field and a significant AFC matchup at hand between the surging Broncos and the 7-3 Browns. Keys for Denver are two-fold: Turn over Cleveland rookie quarterback Dorrian Thompson-Robinson and convert in the red zone. The Browns defense provides a stiff challenge — pick a metric and they’re at or near the top of the NFL — so it could be a slog of an afternoon.
On the injury front, Broncos safety P.J. Locke is on the field at the moment jogging around and stretching out. He practiced fully on Friday but is listed as questionable. We’ll know his status officially 90 minutes before kickoff. — Parker Gabriel
Scouting report (noon): Check out how the Broncos match up with the Browns in Ryan McFadden’s scouting report.
Game predictions
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Browns 16, Broncos 13
The only surprise will be if this game turns into a track meet. The Broncos need to turn rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson over a couple of times, because moving the ball against the Browns is going to be a rugged task. That, combined with Denver’s porous run defense and Cleveland’s powerhouse ground game, makes it easy to question if this is a good matchup for Sean Payton’s streaking team.
Ryan McFadden, beat writer: Broncos 17, Browns 14
The Broncos are rolling right now. Even though they haven’t played extremely well over the past two weeks, they still found ways to win. Cleveland’s defense will be a problem, but Wilson will unlock his clutch gene when it matters most on Sunday. Expect the Broncos to pick off Thompson-Robinson a couple of times.
Mark Kiszla, columnist: Broncos 15, Browns 10
This team is starting to take on a very 2011 vibe. You remember Tebowmania, don’t you? OK, be chill, all you supporters of Russell Wilson. I’m not making a quarterback comparison here. Well, maybe a little … as it applies to the relentless faith that something good — even if it requires something weird, wacky and entirely unexpected — will happen for the Broncos during the course of a game.
Sean Keeler, columnist: Broncos 17, Browns 16
Can the Orange & Blue string together their first five-game win streak in eight years? Heck, yeah. In a league where momentum is swung by confidence and takeaways, the Broncos are basking in both right now, with the holiday wind finally at their backs. In a tussle of two hot defenses, watch Russell Wilson string together one more big drive than Dorian Thompson-Robinson does at a Mile High. It’ll be ugly, but when ugly wins, it’s downright beautiful.
Broncos-Browns NFL Week 12: Must-reads
Four straight victories help Broncos bring extra energy to work week: “You get to see everyone’s will to win”
Pros are tasked with having the same approach to their jobs regardless of how a day or week or season is going. There’s no use denying, however, that the energy around a winning team is different.
Broncos players this week, on a four-game winning streak, are feeling the impact of that reality.
It’ll be no easy task for Denver to get to five straight Sunday against 7-3 Cleveland at home, but a victory would put Denver above .500 for the first time since the team started 2-1 last year, Parker Gabriel reports. Read the full story.
Could Broncos’ red zone demons ruin their playoff aspirations? Only if nothing changes: “There’s no excuse to not get it done.”
Courtland Sutton didn’t need a crystal ball to know what came next as he went in motion against Green Bay. The veteran wide receiver crossed the offensive formation to the left and settled briefly in the slot, creating a bunch with tight end Adam Trautman and receiver Marvin Mims, Jr. to his outside.
On the snap, Sutton let both of them clear across his face, worked his way up the left sideline and, voila, found himself all alone thanks to the traffic they created. Tried-and-true concept. Clean execution. Easy throw from Russell Wilson for an 18-yard touchdown.
Red zone clinic. If only it was always — or even usually — that simple, Parker Gabriel reports. Read the full story.
Broncos seek to improve run defense as they prepare for matchup against Cleveland Browns
If the Minnesota Vikings ran the ball the entire game against Denver, the outcome might’ve been different.
The Vikings, who had one of the worst rushing attacks in the league, ran the ball all over Denver’s defense, totaling a season-high 175 yards on the ground. Starting running back Alexander Mattison had 81 yards, while Ty Chandler had 73 yards despite rushing for a combined 87 in 10 games prior to Week 11.
Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has coached his tail off in recent weeks. Denver has gone from allowing 70 points to the Miami Dolphins to forcing 13 turnovers in four games. However, its run defense remains an issue, which doesn’t bode well against Cleveland on Sunday, as the Browns have one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL, Ryan McFadden reports. Read the full story.
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