For a half on Sunday, the Denver Broncos regarded like they have been turning the web page on their disastrous 2022 season.
Then all of it got here crashing down. The Broncos blew a 21-3 lead in opposition to the Washington Commanders then noticed their very own rally come up painfully quick in a 35-33 loss after a profitable Hail Mary gave them an opportunity to tie the sport.
With three seconds left in regulation, Russell Wilson discovered Brandon Johnson on an unlikely Hail Mary that bounced off a number of Washington defenders to arrange a two-point conversion try.
However a no-call on contact on the try sealed the Washington win. Wilson regarded to Courtland Sutton ultimately zone with Benjamin St-Juste in protection. St-Juste made contact with Sutton earlier than the ball arrived, and the go fell incomplete.
However officers declined to throw a flag, and the Commanders walked off the sector victorious.
The ending capped a tough Broncos day that noticed their offense go quiet for many of the second half after constructing an enormous early edge. Whereas Denver’s offense went stagnant, its protection struggled to comprise a balanced Washington unit helmed by first-year beginning quarterback Sam Howell.
A Brian Robinson two-yard landing run gave the Commanders their first lead at 28-24 with 13:25 left within the sport. A 15-yard scamper by Robinson seven minutes put Washington up by 11.
Denver managed a area purpose in response after driving to the Washington one-yard line on its subsequent possession. Then the Broncos compelled a Commanders punt with 48 seconds remaining to arrange the late dramatics.
The 18-point comeback is the biggest for Washington since 2015 when Kirk Cousins led a rally from a 24-0 deficit for a 31-30 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, inspiring his trademark “You want that” rallying cry.
The day in Denver began out nice for the house group with a brand new offense helmed by first-year head coach Sean Payton and offensive coordinator Joe Lomabardi. The massive performs have been again from former Professional Bowler Wilson, who put Broncos up 14-3 with a 60-yard landing go to Marvin Mims Jr.
A 53-yard strike to Mims on Denver’s subsequent possession helped arrange one other Broncos landing.
By halftime, Wilson had accomplished 6 of 8 passes for 154 yards and two scores. Denver’s offense had racked up 223 yards of whole offense.
However they blew their huge edge then noticed their very own rally thwarted by a controversial no name to fall to 0-2.