Ja’Quan McMillian returned an interception 44 yards for a game-sealing touchdown as the Denver Broncos spoiled career-best performances by Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston and wide receiver Jerry Jeudy in a 41-32 thriller on Monday night.
Winston threw for a franchise-record 497 yards and four touchdowns, and Jeudy had nine catches for 235 yards — the most in NFL history by a receiver against his former team — and a TD. Jeudy played his first four seasons with Denver and was booed every time he caught the ball.
Winston’s electric but erratic night included three interceptions, two of which were returned for TDs. Nik Bonitto took one 71 yards to the house late in the second quarter. He became the first NFL quarterback to throw for 400 or more yards with four or more TD passes and two pick-sixes.
“It was my fault,” Winston said. “I’ve got to play better.
“I know I’m better than this, I’m just praying for the Lord to deliver me from pick-sixes. It’s not me. It was a phenomenal game on offense, we did some great things, but I mess it up.”
Broncos rookie Bo Nix finished with 294 yards of passing, including a gorgeous deep ball from his own end zone that Marvin Mims Jr. hauled in for a 93-yard touchdown. Nix also threw two picks.
The Broncos move to 8-5 and look in good shape to make the playoffs for the first time since winning the Super Bowl after the 2015 season.
“It wasn’t perfect, by any means, but we were able to finish,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said. “Big plays — the game was full of them.”
The Browns are now bottom of the AFC North with a 3-9 record and have won just once on the road all season.