The underdog Denver Broncos (2-2) improved to .500 on Sunday by upsetting the New York Jets (2-2) in Week 4 of the 2024 NFL season with a 10-9 victory on a rainy, sloppy day in New Jersey.
Denver’s defense dominated from start to finish. Filling in for an injured Alex Singleton (ACL), Broncos linebacker Justin Strnad opened the game with an eight-yard sack. Two plays later, safety Brandon Jones forced a fumble and cornerback Riley Moss recovered the ball, setting Denver up with good field positon at New York’s 30-yard line.
Following wide receiver Courtland Sutton’s offensive pass interference penalty, the Broncos were knocked out of field goal range and they were forced to punt, squandering the field position set up by the takeaway.
The first score of the game came in the second quarter after the Jets got the ball with good field position following a Tyler Badie fumble. Badie left the game with a back injury after the turnover. The Jets got the ball down to the one-yard line following a tough pass interference call on Moss, but Denver’s defense forced New York to settle for a field goal to make it 3-0.
The Jets later added another field goal to take a 6-0 lead into halftime.
After a rough start to the game, Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix led an 11-play, 87-yard drive in the third quarter that ended with an eight-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Courtland Sutton. That was Nix’s first touchdown pass in the NFL and it gave Denver a 7-6 lead.
New York then added another field goal to retake a 9-7 lead. The Broncos matched that with a 47-yard field goal from Wil Lutz to make it 10-9.
After exchanging punts, the Jets got the ball back at their own 33-yard line with 2:31 remaining in the game. New York drove to the 45-yard line before Rodgers was sacked by safety P.J. Locke on fourth down, giving Denver the ball back with a one-point lead at the Jets’ 35-yard line.
Following that turnover on downs, the Broncos only managed to pick up three yards before attempting a 50-yard field goal, which Lutz hooked left. Two plays later, Moss was penalized for pass interference again, setting New York up at Denver’s 36-yard line. The Jets ultimately settled for a 50-yard Thomas Morstead field goal attempt, which missed wide right, sealing the game.
Rodgers was sacked five times for -41 yards on Sunday and the Broncos’ defense kept New York’s offense out of the end zone. It was another impressive performance for Denver’s defense led by Vance Jopseh.
Up next for the Broncos is a home game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5. Denver will wear its throwback uniform in that game.
