Broncos Win OT Thriller in Cleveland 26-23

The 2015 Broncos certainly know how to keep their fanbase on the edge of their seats and biting their nails all the way to end. One thing is for sure: They are making drink a lot more beer during their games every Sunday. The Broncos outlasted the Browns in Cleveland on Sunday to get to 6-0 with a 26-23 overtime win. Brandon McManus nailed the game-winning 34 yard field goal with 6:52 seconds left in overtime. It was a pretty mundane game until Denver built a 16-7 lead in the 4th quarter, then all of a sudden the game got crazy. The Browns took the lead at 20-16, then Denver took the lead back at 23-20, then the Browns tied it late. In overtime, the Broncos shook off a Peyton Manning pick on their first drive, and their defense stepped up to stop the Browns and force a crucial punt, then the offense did enough to win the game on the final drive in overtime. This game has a lot of aspects to it-both good and bad for the Broncos, but the bottom line is that they won and they now stand at 6-0 heading into their bye week. Here are my thoughts and observations about the game...

1) The Broncos got an early lead on the Browns 10-0. Aqib Talib stepped in front of a Josh McCown pass and took it 63 yards for a touchdown to give them the lead in the second quarter. He also made a sick play breaking up a potential touchdown in the third quarter. How many times can this defense score a touchdown of their own this season?

2) The Broncos couldn't extend their early lead because their red zone offense continues to suffer. They had chances in the first three quarters to put this game away. It could have very easily been 14-0 or even 21-7 at one point.

3) Shaq Barrett gets my game ball because he was all over the field. He had 1.5 sacks and he was a presence in the run game. He also forced a huge fumble on a sack of McCown that set up a Denver field late in the third quarter to give Denver a 13-7 lead. With Demarcus Ware out, he really stepped up. I like his play all year.

4) The Broncos defense continues to swarm and attack opposing QBs. They had 4 sacks on the day and pressured McCown throughout the afternoon.

5) Ronnie Hillman still is the best option for this team in the run game. He compiled 111 yards on 20 carries and he consistenly seemed to be gaining yardage.

6) I thought a key moment in the game was when McManus missed a 51 yard field goal before the half to extend the lead to 13-0.

7) This game got really interesting after the Broncos built a 16-7 fourth quarter lead. After a ho-hum kind of performance for awhile, the game turned into a barn-burner. On a 3rd and 9 from their own 21, McCown throws up a prayer down the sideline. Darian Stewart does his best Rahim Moore impression and misplays the ball in the air and Travis Benjamin comes down with it at the Broncos 32 for a huge first down. McCown then hits Gary Barnidge for an easy touchdown on third down to make it 16-14 with 9:16 to go. This game should not have been this close. Just wait it gets worse for the Broncos.

8) On the next series, Manning gets picked off by Karlos Dansby and he returns it 35 yards for a pick-six. Manning was a little unlucky here because the ball tipped off of Ronnie Hillman's hands and right into the hands of Dansby. Nevertheless, the Browns all of a sudden have the lead on the Broncos in a game that should be one-sided in Denver's favor.

9) I have no idea what Mike Pettine was thinking when he went for two up 20-16. There is really no difference in being up 21-16 or being up 22-16. I don't know why he did it and Denver's defense stopped the Browns and that turned out to be a really key moment in the game.

10) On the very next play, Peyton Manning throw an absolute laser to Emmanuel Sanders on a go route, and Sanders went all the way for a 75 yard touchdown to retake the lead for Denver 23-20. It was like Manning said, "Fuck this, I'll show them I still have it in the tank." What a throw by Manning. Why can't he do that more consistently. Also, great call by Gary Kubiak to go right after the Browns after the momentum was all in their favor. That is a trait from the Mike Shanahan-Kubiak days. If you give up a big play, come back right away on offense and go for your own big play.

11) The Broncos defense couldn't hold near the end of the game thought. They let the Browns drive down and score the game tying field goal at 23 with 1:33 left in the game. The drive was aided by a terrible roughing the passer penalty by Derek Wolfe.

12) Demaryius Thomas has killed the Broncos with some drops the last two weeks, and he had a big drop late in the game with 1:20 left when he dropped a wide-open slant route near midfield. It is possible that if he catches that, then the Broncos win the game in regulation.

13) Thank god McCown threw an awful interception with 44 seconds left to David Bruton. It was a terrible decision and a terrible throw.

14) Manning's interception on the first drive of overtime was just awful. Where was he throwing the ball? There were like 3 Browns around the receiver. Just amazing to see him make that kind of throw in that spot.

15) The Browns took over at the Broncos 39 yard line needing only a field goal to win the game. Give the Broncos defense credit because they shut the door on the Browns in this spot. Shaq Barrett tackled Robert Turbin for a three yard loss on first down. Malik Jackson sacked McCown on 2nd down, and Jackson, Derek Wolfe and Antonio Smith all combined to take down McCown for another sack on 3rd down. What a sequence for the Broncos defense who comes up big once again this season. That is a championship type of defense right there.

16) Manning hit Owen Daniels on a big third down conversion to start the drive. Hillman and C.J. Anderson took over from there as they willed the Broncos down the field for the game winning kick by McManus.

17) I'll break down all the Broncos problems and issues-especially with Peyton Manning and the offense- later in the week before I make my Week 7 picks. This team is 6-0 and we can't forget that. There are a lot of things that we can bitch about with this team, but you can't give wins back, and the Broncos are 6-0 with a pretty comfortable lead in the AFC West as they head to the bye week.