Denver Broncos Corner - Broncos Honor Demaryius Thomas In Comeback Victory

33. That is the age Broncos legend Demaryius Thomas left this world at back in 2020. Most fans remember him for his 80-yard game winning touchdown against the Steelers in their wildcard playoff matchup. But the players and coaches who spent time around Demaryius remember him for his infectious smile that lit up the room just like his talent lit up the field. The ceremony to honor DT was emotional, many of his teammates from that Super Bowl team made touching statements, and those who couldn't honored him in a more quiet way, with several repping his famous 88 jersey. 

33. That is the number of points the Broncos scored in the 4th quarter to climb out of a 19-0 hole to win 33-32 as time expired. The first half was slow to the least, the Broncos relied heavily on screen passes and quick routes in an attempt to move the ball past the Giants intense defensive line. This was not effective and was creating short three and out scenarios that put the Broncos defense on the field too much in the first two quarters. As a result the Giants took advantage of a broken play on the backend, Dart found third string tight end Grant Bellinger for the games first points.  The Broncos best drive of the first half however resulted in a 4th and goal stand that gave the Giants the ball back deep in their own territory, only to throw up a prayer on 3rd and long and be bailed out with a DPI. New York then scored later on a Cam Skattebo reception from the redzone, and New York entered halftime with a 13-0 lead.

After an uneventful third quarter the Giants extended their lead 19-0 with a 31-yard touchdown run by Tyrone Tracy. To start the 4th quarter the Broncos and Giants trade blows in two highly low percentage tipped touchdown catches, putting the game at a lopsided 26-8, a lead that lasted until a Bo Nix touchdown scramble with 5;19 left on the clock. New York gets the ball back with just over 5 minutes left, all they have to do is pick up a few first downs and the game is out of reach, two plays into their drive Jaxson Dart throws a crucial interception to Justin Strnad who returned it 21-yards, giving the Broncos the life to win the game. Just four plays later the Broncos scored on a Bo Nix touchdown pass to RJ Harvey, cutting the lead to 3-points and forcing the Giants to sweat out their following possesion, which went three and out. Bo Nix took just three plays to drive the Broncos down for the lead. BOOM-31 yard strike to Marvin Mims down the Giants sideline. Next play, dump it off to Evan Engram in the flat who cuts up field along the hashes and burns the defense for an extra 21-yards. Denver picks up their pace offensively with a quick huddle, then with Nix lined up in the gun and taking the snap, he follows blockers Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey for an 18-yard touchdown run unscathed to climb up 30-26 with under 2-minutes left. The Giants are then gifted over 50-yards in penalites on two plays on their final drive, giving their offense the ball at Denvers 1-yard line. Jaxson Dart stretched over the goalline for the Giants leading touchdown 32-30, running along the sideline with his helmet off for the whole world to see...see the face of the man who is about to lose in historic fashion. 

33. The number of seconds left on the clock when the Denver Broncos took over on offense with no timeouts remaining. First play of the drive is a deep shot across the middle to Marvin Mims, who sits down on 50-yard line as the offense rushes to the snap. As Bo nix snaps the ball, Giants defender Brian Burns is late getting back and is called for offsides, moving the Broncos 5-yards closer to game winning field goal range. Bo Nix though? Didn't need it, next play is a 22-yard strike to Courtland Sutton who rushes back to the line for the Broncos to spike it with 00:02 remaining on the clock. It is important to note that the play prior to this, Brian Daboll burned his final timeout as both teams were set on the ball with ample play clock time remaining. This allowed Denver to rethink their offensive attack for their final play before the field goal and also eliminate any possibillity the Giants had to ice Wil Lutz, throwing away basically the only thing the Giants had in their back pocket at that point. 39-yards out, Lutz drills it and Broncos win as time expires. The Broncos will only induct Demaryius Thomas into their hall of fame once, and for it to be followed by a performance like that is all the story telling you need.