What a way to win a game.
After New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees hit wide receiver Brandin Cooks on a 32-yard touchdown pass with 1:22 left in the fourth quarter, the Saints were an extra point away from taking the lead. Rookie safeties Justin Simmons and Will Parks thought otherwise.
Simmons showed off his 40-inch vertical as he leaped over the snapper to block the potential go ahead extra point that led Parks to return the blocked kick for two points, giving the Broncos the 25-23 week 10 win. Special teams coach Joe DeCamillis dialed the play up and it worked to perfection.
“That’s a call you use if you need a big block to win a game,” Simmons said. “It’s all or nothing. It’s all about timing it up. It felt great.”
At 7-3, the Broncos get a much-needed win to keep pace in the AFC West with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Oakland Raiders. The team showed improvements that were needed to edge out a win.
The Broncos safeties showed up big in New Orleans. Besides rookie safeties Simmons and Parks combined blocked kick and score, starting safeties Darian Stewart and T.J. Ward had their own share of big plays. Stewart became the only player in the NFL this season to create three turnovers as he intercepted Brees twice and added a fumble recovery. Ward also had a fumble recovery and was tied for the team high in tackles with six.
Sunday marked the first time all season the Broncos scored on their first possession for the offense. Quarterback Trevor Siemian conducted an 85-yard touchdown drive capped by wide receiver Jordan Taylor on a 14-yard touchdown pass.
Siemian finished with 258 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. That was one of the improvements the offense showed as the Broncos ran for 103 yards after only totaling 33 yards rushing last week. It was the balance the offense looks to show each week.
Heading into the bye week, the Broncos will use this time to get healthy. Cornerback Aqib Talib is expected to return after being out the last three weeks with a back injury. Defensive end Derek Wolfe also looks to return after missing the game against the Saints due to a fractured elbow suffered last week. Health will be an important factor for the Broncos down the stretch.
“I’ve got to get this team fresh for the last six [games], because we’re really going to play in six playoff games,” said Broncos Head Coach Gary Kubiak.
The Broncos will face the Chiefs in a pivotal AFC West game when they return from their bye week.
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