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NFL London: Denver Broncos edge New York Jets 13-11 in tense showdown at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
This game was supposed to be an easy win for the Broncos. They came into the game red-hot, brimming with confidence after defeating the reigning Super Bowl champions and looking to make it three wins in a row. Their opposition, the winless New York Jets, would surely be a pushover.
The outcome of the game may have been what many expected, but how it transpired and the narrow margin of victory were anything but.
In one of the closest, most bizarre games we've ever seen in London, here's how it all unfolded.
How it happened
The Jets' defense came out swinging, with cornerback Jarvis Brownlee forcing a fumble on Denver’s opening drive to give the vocal ‘home’ crowd an early jolt of excitement.
But the Broncos defense responded in kind, sacking Justin Fields on the ensuing series and holding New York to just three points from kicker Nick Folk.
The first quarter became a battle of attrition, with field goals traded and drives stalled, as defenses dictated play.
Then, Bo Nix found his rhythm, spreading the ball around and orchestrating a nine-play, 69-yard drive capped by a 16-yard strike to tight end Nate Adkins, putting Denver ahead 10-6.
After the break, the Jets pieced together a 37-yard drive that ended, once again, with a Nick Folk field goal, trimming the deficit to 10-9.
Momentum continued in their favour when punter Austin McNamara pinned Denver inside their own three, and guard Quinn Meinerz was flagged for holding in the end zone, handing New York a safety - two points - and an improbable 11-10 lead.
From there, defenses took over again. Neither offense could find daylight until midway through the fourth, when Nix connected with Marvin Mims for a 26-yard gain into Jets territory.
But the Jets’ defense held firm, forcing Denver to settle for a field goal that nudged them back in front, 13-11.
Three more punts followed as the tension built, and with just over five minutes to play, Fields had a chance to redeem his afternoon and drive the Jets into winning range.
But crucially, the same story played out once more - hesitation, pressure, and a collapsing pocket as Fields held onto the ball too long. Denver’s relentless defensive front piled on with their eighth and ninth sacks of the day, sealing the game with a defensive masterclass.
The result ended 13-11 with the Broncos taking the spoils, but it could have gone either way.
What the result means for both teams
Offensively, the Jets were woeful. Fields completed only 9 of 16 passes for 45 yards and held onto the ball far too long, giving up nine sacks to Denver's defense. Breece Hall, who had been so effective through the first five weeks of the season, managed only 22 carries for 59 yards, averaging 2.7 yards per attempt.
But Glenn will take encouragement from the improvement of his defense, which held Denver’s offense in check for the majority of the game.
Yes, 0-6 is a disastrous start, and yes, they'll rue that this one was theirs for the taking, but there are foundations to build upon going forward.
The Broncos escaped with a win, but were perhaps a little fortunate to do so, leaving the offense with plenty to work upon.
But defensively, they're as good as it gets. NFL sack leader Nik Bonitto may be the best pass rusher in the NFL right now, but eight different Denver players got in the sack column today, and their secondary - led by Patrick Surtain - did their part in providing blanket coverage.
Crucially, Denver moves to 4-2 at the top of the AFC West, where the Chargers can join them later today if they defeat the Miami Dolphins.
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