NFL

NFL Fans Respond To Denver Broncos Spoiling Homecoming For Record-Setting Cleveland Browns WR Jerry Jeudy On Monday Night Football

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By
Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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Published03 Dec 2024

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Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy enjoyed a memorable homecoming, even if it wasn’t much appreciated much by those in Denver on Monday night. And it ended in a 41-32 defeat at Empower Field at Mile High. 

Jeudy, a former Broncos draft pick, recorded a career-high 235 receiving yards on nine catches. He also scored and registered a record for compiling the most receiving yards against the Broncos since 1965.  

Quarterback Jameis Winston also established a modern Browns (3-9) record for most passing yards in a game (497), but could not overcome his three interceptions. Two of those pick-offs were returned for touchdowns. 

The Browns scored more than 30 points for the first time this season. They dominated the league’s No. 3-ranked defense, amassing 552 yards. The Broncos, who improved to 8-5, entered the matchup yielding an average of 296 yards per game.

X (Twitter) users replied Monday night to Jeudy honoring his challenged late younger sister …

Getting things started. The Broncos were led out of the tunnel Monday night by Courtland Sutton (14) and rookie Bo Nix, who made his first Monday Night Football appearance …

Winston sounded pumped up for prime time …  

On the first offensive play Monday night, Winston hit former Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy on a 44-yard catch. It didn’t lead to first-possession points as struggling kicker Dustin Hopkins missed a 47-yard field goal attempt. It was his seventh miss in 22 chances this season … 

The Broncos scored first on Javonte Williams’ 2-yard run. The score was set up by Nix going back to Sutton one play after a drop to extend the drive on a third-down pass … 

Set up by a 44-yard completion to Elijah Moore, the Browns tied the score at 7-7 on an eight-yard TD pass from Winston to David Njoku. The Browns connected on a five-play, 70-yard drive … 

Following a Greg Newsome II interception, created by another Denzel Ward pass defense, Hopkins, recovering from the early miss, connected on a 45-yarder, giving the Browns their first lead, 10-7, with 8:49 left in the first half. Nix was picked off for the first time in 29 days … 

With both offenses out of synch through much of the second quarter, Broncos fullback Michael Burton nearly fumbled the handoff, but secured it and scored on a 1-yard run. It was the 10-year veteran’s second career TD … 

The used to call Winston the “turnover machine.” Here’s why … 

Breaking news: Broncos kicker Wil Lutz became the fifth-fastest player to 1,000 points in NFL history, reaching the milestone in 127 games … 

Winston responds with a 4-yard TD pass to Njoku just before halftime after the pick-six. Winston compiled 241 total first-half yards … 

On a third-and-11 play early in the third quarter, the Broncos got 93 as Nix hit Marvin Mims Jr. on a perfectly placed pass. It was juggled, but retained by Mims for a running score. Who says Nix doesn’t have an NFL arm? … 

Trading blows, Jeudy executed the type of play he wanted against his former team, hauling in a 70-yard touchdown reception one play into the possession. He followed it up with the 2-point conversion, pulling the Browns to within 28-25. With 167 receiving yards he established a career high and still had nearly 25 minutes remaining … 

Continuing to hassle the Broncos’ defense, Winston connected with Nick Chubb on a 5-yard touchdown pass, lifting the Browns to a 32-31 lead with 8:57 remaining in the fourth quarter. It all went downhill from there … 

Winston reaches a career milestone. At the time, he completed 30 of 49 passes for 446 yards and four touchdowns. He had a 109.7 QB rating, but it would soon lower … 

Following a Lutz 27-yard field goal, the Broncos executed their second pick-six, a Ja’Quan McMillian 44-yard interception return with 1:06 remaining. The Broncos clinched the pre-bye week win with their third interception … 

Final score: Broncos 41, Browns 32 …