Broncos pull off dramatic fourth-quarter comeback
Denver staged a stunning Sunday afternoon rally, overturning a 17-3 deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 21-17 on the road. The Broncos, who had previously been 1-112 when trailing by at least 14 points in the fourth on the road, flipped the script in a game that will be remembered for grit, decision-making, and a late finish that kept the Broncos’ season humming along at 3-2.
Key plays that shifted the momentum
After a tough start to the final frame, Denver narrowed the gap with a 2-yard touchdown run by running back J.K. Dobbins, finishing a drive that showed the Broncos were in it until the end. Philadelphia answered with a punt, and Broncos quarterback Bo Nix then authored a crucial sustained march, capping it with an 11-yard strike to tight end Evan Engram to trim the deficit further and set up a dramatic finish.
Aggressive coaching leads to the deciding moment
With the game on the line at 17-15, head coach Sean Payton rolled the dice, going for the two-point conversion after Nix hit Engram. Nix rolled right and found Troy Franklin in the end zone to give Denver its first lead, 18-17, late in the fourth quarter. The decision paid off, and the Broncos didn’t look back.
Defensive stand and a winning field goal
Denver’s defense tightened in the ensuing series, forcing a punt. The offense then chewed up time on a four-minute drive that culminated in a 36-yard Wil Lutz field goal, extending the lead to 21-17. A notable moment came on a controversial roughness call on linebacker Zack Baun that granted Denver a new life on what could have been a critical fourth down, helping extend the drive with no timeouts remaining for the Eagles.
Eagles fall just short despite a strong start
Philadelphia opened strong, including a 90-yard drive in the first half that featured DeVonta Smith’s 52-yard catch to set up a TD. The offense showed punch early, but Denver’s pass rush and secondary kept the Eagles from sustaining that pace. Jalen Hurts finished 23-of-38 for 280 yards with two touchdowns, while Smith hauled in eight passes for 114 yards. A.J. Brown was limited, recording five receptions for 43 yards.
Box score and implications
Bo Nix completed 24 of 39 passes for 242 yards with one TD to go along with three carries for 22 yards. J.K. Dobbins contributed 20 carries for 79 yards and a rushing touchdown. On defense, Denver’s pass rush swarmed Hurts, with Nick Bonitto delivering 2.5 of the team’s six sacks. The win snapped a troubling trend for the Broncos and keeps their season alive as they prepare for a London showdown next weekend against the 0-5 New York Jets. For the Eagles, the loss ends a 4-1 start and sets up a quick turnaround for Thursday night against the Giants.
What this means going forward
Denver’s resilience will be a talking point all week. The offense showed it can execute late when necessary, and the defense stepped up against a high-powered Eagles attack. The two-point conversion decision will be debated, but the result speaks for itself: the Broncos avoided a devastating road loss and earned a mood-lifting victory that could redefine their approach on the road this season.
