The Denver Broncos are basking in the glow of 30-26 home win over the Los Angeles Rams that included an honest assessment after Bo Nix's heroics. A game-saving interception from Talanoa Hufanga was important, but not the biggest play of the day that head coach Sean Payton pointed to afterward.
Payton, whose Broncos are now 2-1 in a dogfight of a season so far, pointed to a return from Kolbe Katsis as a huge difference-making play. Katsis, an undrafted rookie receiver out of Northern Arizona, made his rookie debut, reeling off a 28-yard punt return that sparked his team.
“The one return was a spark for us, the punt return,” Payton said according to DNVR Broncos reporter Zac Stevens. “You can see and feel the juice on the sidelines. It was a good first night.”
Katsis had a phenomenal day in the return game, finishing with four kick returns for 107 yards and three punt returns for 39 yards. The Rams outgained the Broncos 482 total yards to 257 total yards, but timely plays won the day for coach Payton's team.
Nix's wild game-winning touchdown brought the Broncos home crowd to its feet as Payton and his fellow coaches watched from the sidelines. Nix didn't have his best statistical game by a long shot as no Broncos receiver finished with over 100 yards. The Broncos still found a way to win against one of the best passing attacks in the National Football League, on a day when unexpected heroes staked their claims.
October 4 brings a road game at San Francisco that will require the Broncos' best effort against a red hot Brock Purdy led 49ers team. Payton's team will enter that game with the confidence of knowing they can beat top teams, even when their best players don't have their best games.