Broncos top winless Jets 37-28 for first win of season
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — It was sloppy and downright ugly at times. It was a victory, though, and Vic Fangio and the Denver Broncos are relieved to finally get one — no matter how it looked.
Melvin Gordon sealed the Denver Broncos’ first win of the season with a 43-yard touchdown run with 1:48 remaining, and the defense made just enough plays in the fourth quarter to beat the bumbling — and still winless — New York Jets 3728 on Thursday night.
“Winning has cured more ills than penicillin,” said Fangio, who was feeling the heat along with his team while facing the prospect of a second straight 0-4 start.
But the Broncos (1-3) came out on top in a penalty-filled but strangely entertaining game between two of the NFL’s worst teams.
“It just makes you hungry for the next win,” said Bradley Chubb, who had 2 1/2 of Denver’s six sacks.
And this one swung with a late mistake by New York’s defense, which was plagued by bad plays all night.
On third-and-6 and the Jets leading by one in the fourth quarter, Quinnen Williams sacked Brett Rypien — but grabbed the quarterback’s helmet and prolonged the drive. Seven plays later, Brandon McManus kicked a 53-yard field goal to give Denver a 30-28 lead with 3:08 remaining.
The Jets couldn’t do anything on
their next possession, and Sam Darnold was sacked by Chubb on fourth-and-3 at the twominute warning. Gordon ended New York’s chances with his long rumble that sent the Jets to consecutive 0-4 starts for the first time in franchise history.
The heat on coach Adam Gase’s seat will surely be turned up after this latest embarrassment. New York was penalized 11 times, including six personal fouls.