McMillian’s pick 6 helps Broncos spoil career nights for Winston, Jeudy and beat Browns 41-32
DENVER– Jameis Winston had a night to remember – and one to forget.
Ja’Quan McMillian returned an interception 44 yards for a game-clinching touchdown with 1:48 left, and Denver wasted career-best performances from Winston and the ex-Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudydefeating the Cleveland Browns 41-32 on Monday night.
The good for Winston: he launched a franchise record 497 yards and four touchdowns.
The not so good: He threw two interceptions that Denver returned for scores. The Broncos had three picks for 171 interception return yards against him.
“It was my fault,” Winston said. “I have to play better.”
It was fully reminiscent of his best – and worst – year, 2019 with Tampa Bay, when he led the league in yards (5,109) and was second in touchdown passes (33), but also led the league in picks ( 30).
“I know I’m better than that,” Winston said. “I just pray that the Lord will deliver me from the six choices. It’s not me. Phenomenal play on offense, I’m doing great things, but I’m wrong.
During that time, Jeudy had nine catches for 235 yards – the most in NFL history by a receiver against his former team – and a touchdown. Jeudy played his first four seasons with Denver and was booed every time he caught the ball.
“They only boo you,” Jeudy said, “when they know there is something great in you.”
Nik Bonitto intercepted Winston and took him 71 yards to the house at the end of the second trimester. Winston became the first NFL quarterback to throw for 400 or more yards with four or more TD passes and two pick-sixes.
Bo Nix finished with 294 passing yards, including a beautiful deep ball from his own end zone that Marvin Mims Jr. brought back for a 93-yard touchdown. Nix also threw two picks.
The Broncos (8-5) enter their bye week in the seventh and final playoff spot. Denver has a 76% chance of making the playoffs, according to the NFL. The team has not made the playoffs since winning the Super Bowl following the 2015 season.
“It definitely wasn’t perfect, but we were able to finish,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said. “Big plays – the game was full of them.”
Winston passed the Browns record of 457 yards set by Josh McCown in 2015 against Baltimore. He threw a 70-yard TD pass to Jeudy and two scores to tight end David Njoku dropping to 2-3 as a starter for the Browns (3-9) since replacing the injured Deshaun Watson.
Cleveland led 32-31 on Winston’s 5-yard TD pass to Nick Chubb when Nix drove the Broncos to the Browns 9. On fourth-and-1, Payton lined up to go for it but changed his mind after a timeout. Wil Lutz kicked a 27-yard field goal with 2:54 left.
Winston and the Browns had plenty of time to get a winning score, but Winston’s throw to Elijah Moore was late and McMillian jumped the route. He fell to the untouched turf after making the catch, got up and sprinted to the end zone.
“The fact that they did it twice was kind of crazy,” Nix said of the interception returns. “I’m sitting there, the benches, I have the heaters there, and I don’t even have to move. It’s pretty nice for the offense when they get us out of trouble like that.
Jeudy, a 2020 first-round pick, was traded to Cleveland this spring after four turbulent seasons with Denver. He stopped on the goal line before falling backwards in the end zone on his long TD catch. He also made a 2-point conversion to bring the Browns within 28-25.
“We had a plan to try to get it open. I thought the plan was solid,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Jerry executed the plan really well. He opened it up. Jameis made some throws. It’s hard to feel good about a losing effort.”
Jeudy’s play came just 11 seconds after Nix threw a laser from about 4 yards deep into his end zone to Mims at about the 42. Mims caught it in stride, ran to the zone goals and jumped into the stands to celebrate.
The Broncos leaned on their running game in the first half, with Javonte Williams and Michael Burton score short TDs. It was Burton’s second TD in his 10-year career.
The Browns fell to 4-13 in Mile High City. Dustin Hopkins missed a 47-yard field goal to the left on Cleveland’s first drive.
Nix, who has won NFL Rookie of the Week honors three straight times, threw his first interception since Nov. 3. Chased by Myles Garrett, Nix tried to force a pass to Tony Franklin up the middle. Denzel Ward reached and deflected the ball in the air and it was caught by Greg Newsome II.
Winston and Jeudy started early with a 44-yard run on the Browns’ first offensive play.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen to me,” Jeudy said.
Winston delivered a fiery pre-match speech to teammatesshouting: “It must come from your heart. I don’t care about Mile High. I care about how the Browns are falling apart.
Broncos: WR Jamari Thrash (shoulder) left the game. … Ward (calf) and S Grant Delpit (head) were both off the field on Denver’s final drive for the go-ahead field goal.
Broncos: S Brandon Jones suffered a groin injury.
Browns: At Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Broncos: After a bye, host Indianapolis on Dec. 15.
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