LONDON — The Denver Broncos turned defense into domination Sunday, recording nine sacks and smothering Justin Fields as they edged the winless New York Jets 13–11 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Patrick Surtain II, who watched much of the onslaught from the secondary, said it best: “Every time I looked up, someone was sacking him. It was a pleasure to watch.”
Denver (4–2) has now won three straight, capping off a demanding two-week road trip that included last week’s comeback win over previously unbeaten Philadelphia. This one wasn’t pretty — but as linebacker Nik Bonitto put it, “The most important thing was getting the win. Being 4–2 is a big deal.”
Defense Dominates
The Broncos’ front seven controlled the game from start to finish, holding the Jets (0–6) to just 82 total yards and an astonishing minus-10 passing yards — the lowest in franchise history and the fewest allowed by Denver in any game. It was also the lowest single-game passing total in the NFL since 1998.
Jonathon Cooper and Justin Strnad sealed the victory by sacking Fields on fourth down with under two minutes left, stopping New York’s final drive near midfield.
“We wanted to set the tone,” said Cooper, who finished with two sacks. “No matter how our offense was playing, we knew our defense could win this game.”
Nix Steadies the Offense
Quarterback Bo Nix wasn’t spectacular, but he was steady when it mattered. He threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nate Adkins early and guided a late 12-play, 65-yard drive capped by Wil Lutz’s 27-yard field goal — the eventual game-winner with 5:03 left.
Nix completed 19 of 30 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Evan Engram led Denver with five catches for 42 yards, while running back Caden Durham added 56 yards on the ground.
Coach Sean Payton acknowledged the offensive struggles, noting, “We made too many mistakes — penalties, missed blocks — but the defense bailed us out. A win’s a win.”
Jets’ Misfires Continue
For the Jets, the misery deepened. Their offense never found rhythm, and confusion reigned late in the first half when head coach Aaron Glenn let the clock expire rather than attempt a desperation play on fourth-and-1 from his own 47.
Star receiver Garrett Wilson appeared visibly frustrated as the team left the field. “I didn’t know what the plan was,” he said. “Once I figured it out, I was disappointed.”
The Jets’ lone touchdown came on a safety — the result of a holding penalty in the end zone by Denver guard Quinn Meinerz — but their offense otherwise sputtered. Fields completed just 9 of 17 passes for 45 yards and was under pressure all afternoon.
“We had no passing game today,” Glenn admitted. “You can’t win like that in this league.”
Injuries and Aftermath
Denver linebacker Garret Wallow exited in the fourth quarter with an undisclosed injury. The Jets also saw several players leave, including linebacker Cam Jones and cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers (both with hip injuries).
Despite the ugly finish, the Broncos return home on a high note, while the Jets remain winless and searching for answers.
Up Next:
Broncos: Host the New York Giants next Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High.
Jets: Return home to face the Carolina Panthers before heading into their Week 9 bye.
