NFL betting tips and game strategies, click here for our favorite software.
Ever wanted to create your own Fantasy Sports Site? In just minutes you can have your own NFL Fantasy Football Website that will manage both free and PAID games. Click Here to learn more.
This post sponsored by FantasySportsMaker
Get your official NFL Jerseys today, click here
The Denver Broncos pulled off a miraculous 25-23 win against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Will Parks returned a blocked extra-point attempt for two points after the Saints had tied the game at 23-23 with a Brandin Cooks touchdown catch.
The NFL shared a replay of the sequence of events that led to the game-winning score:
The Broncos were in control for the first 29 minutes of the game. They took a 10-0 lead thanks to efficient work on offense, including a terrific pitch-and-catch from quarterback Trevor Siemian to wide receiver Jordan Taylor, via the NFL:
Denver's defense made life miserable for Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who threw interceptions on consecutive passes in the first half.
Per ESPN Stats & Info, Brees' two interceptions nearly equaled his first-half total from his previous 23 games:
New Orleans' much-maligned defense picked up the slack, limiting the Broncos to just three points and 18 total yards on the two drives after the turnovers. That kept the Saints alive despite the offense's struggles.
The turning point in the game came with 36 seconds left in the second quarter, when Sterling Moore picked off Siemian. Brees quickly engineered a 50-yard drive over five plays, setting up a Wil Lutz field goal to cut the deficit to 10-3 at halftime.
Per Lenny Vangilder of SportsNOLA.com, the field goal also helped the Saints keep a 14-year streak alive:
Troy Renck of ABC 7 in Denver noted how well things had been going for the Broncos before Siemian's interception:
Coming out of the intermission, the Saints went 90 yards to tie the game at 10-10 following Lutz's successful extra point. Brees accounted for 80 of those yards, capping off the drive with a three-yard touchdown pass to Willie Snead.
Per ESPN Stats & Info, Brees' pass also put him on a short list of quarterbacks in NFL history:
The Broncos appeared to be finding their rhythm on the ensuing drive. Siemian converted two third downs and was showing terrific poise in the pocket against New Orleans' pass rush. But he made another critical mistake by throwing the ball into tight coverage on 3rd-and-9 at the Saints' 44-yard line, and New Orleans safety Kenny Vaccaro picked him off.
With all of the focus on Denver's defense, ESPN's Mike Triplett praised the Saints for their terrific defensive effort Sunday:
Following the turnover, Brees went back to work for the Saints' third straight scoring drive, which ended with another touchdown catch by Snead and their first lead of the game.
Brees started the game 4-of-10 passing with two interceptions before turning things around with 13 straight completions. The All-Pro finished 21-of-29 for 303 yards with three touchdowns and two picks.
After Broncos kicker Brandon McManus missed a 42-yard field goal that would have cut the margin to 17-13, Bradley Roby forced a fumble on Michael Thomas, which Darian Stewart recovered and returned to the Saints' 27-yard line.
The Broncos got down to the Saints' 2-yard line with a 1st-and-goal. After New Orleans' defense held on for the first two plays, Siemian hit Demaryius Thomas on a terrific fade pass to help Denver even the score with less than 10 minutes remaining, as the NFL showed:
NFL Fantasy Football summed up what Thomas did to Saints cornerback Delvin Breaux on that touchdown catch:
Even though Siemian's stat line from the game doesn't look great (25-of-40, 258 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions), his ability to battle despite being hit 11 times and sacked six times helped carry the Broncos.
Denver's defense found its footing after the touchdown drive, forcing the Saints into a three-and-out. The Broncos got the ball back with excellent field position, starting at their own 47, and got immediate help when Vaccaro was flagged for unnecessary roughness on first down.
The Saints were able to hold the Broncos to a field goal on the drive, putting them in a 20-17 hole with just over three minutes remaining.
Before the Saints could get anything going on their ensuing drive, Thomas fumbled again after taking a hard hit from Jared Crick on a short second-down reception, and Broncos safety T.J. Ward recovered it at New Orleans' 20-yard line.
New Orleans' defense again provided its offense a chance to win the game by holding the Broncos to another field goal, which gave Denver a 23-17 lead. The Saints used up their timeouts to preserve the clock, but Brees had nearly three full minutes to get to the end zone.
Cooks provided a spark on the final drive, hauling in a 29-yard catch before being knocked out of bounds to put the Saints in Denver territory. He one-upped himself four plays later with the 32-yard touchdown catch between two defenders on a perfectly thrown pass from Brees.
The extra-point attempt turned into an adventure of its own. Justin Simmons blocked the kick after leaping over the line. Parks then picked up the ball and rumbled to the end zone to give Denver a 25-23 lead, though the Saints challenged the play because it appeared as though his right foot may have made contact with the out-of-bounds line.
After the officials reviewed the play, the ruling on the field stood. The Broncos recovered the onside kick to seal the victory.
Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post speculated about why the officials didn't overturn Parks' return:
Whatever the reason, the Broncos will happily take the victory. They entered Week 10 having lost three of their previous five games and still have to take on the Kansas City Chiefs twice in addition to games against the New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders before the season ends.
This may not have fallen into the must-win category for the 7-3 Broncos, but it was close because of how difficult their remaining schedule is. Plus, with the Chiefs and Raiders sitting at 7-2, the AFC West features at least three playoff-caliber teams.
It was also a huge growing moment for Siemian, who battled through adversity on a day when he was knocked around to do just enough to put his team in position to win late in the fourth quarter.
Sunday's game was a microcosm of the Saints' season. They started 0-3, finding ways to lose with a poor defense and erratic play from the offense. Four wins in their next five games brought back optimism, but four turnovers against the defending Super Bowl champions is not a formula for success.
At 4-5, the Saints are still in the NFC South race thanks to the 6-4 Atlanta Falcons' loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, but New Orleans has to stop making mistakes to be a real playoff threat.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
DON'T YOU LOVE THIS PROGRAM
Are You a REAL Dallas Cowboys Fan? Click Here to take the fan test
How To Cash Out *risk Free* Casino / Bookmaker Bonuses. Start earning money today
from Sports betting tips http://ift.tt/2fNPJ6s
via IFTTT
Comments
Post a Comment