GAME-CHANGING MOMENT
The Broncos' defense was put in some tough spots on Sunday, but the unit responded on multiple occasions. The most important may have come with 11:53 to play in the fourth quarter, as Marvin Mims Jr. lost control of a punt and the Titans recovered at the Denver 24-yard line. With the Broncos leading just 13-12, the Titans had a chance to take a lead — and holding Tennessee to a field goal seemed to be the best possible scenario for Denver. Instead, the Broncos recorded back-to-back sacks of 16 and 11 yards, respectively. The plays pushed the Titans all the way back to the Denver 49-yard line and caused a Tennessee punt. On the next series, Denver's offense pushed the lead to eight points.
A worthy honorable mention came at the end of the first half, as Denver's defense forced a Titans punt right before the halftime break. Instead of running the clock out and taking a lead to the locker room, the Titans gave the Broncos a chance with a pair of incompletions to start the drive. Jonathon Cooper then took down Ward for a sack, and the Broncos got the ball back. Mims provided a solid return that pushed Denver to inside the Titans' 40-yard line, and Bo Nix quickly found Courtland Sutton for a go-ahead 22-yard touchdown pass.
DEFINING STATISTIC
In a grind-it-out game, the Denver defense allowed just six points off turnovers in the game. The Broncos had four giveaways and was losing the turnover margin by three until the final moments, but the defense's ability to rise to the occasion in big moments helped Denver earn a tight win. Three of the Titans' other points came on the final play of the first half after a lengthy kickoff return, meaning the Broncos' defense — for all intents and purposes — gave up just three points that weren't off turnovers. In all, Denver's defense gave up just 12 points despite Tennessee starting five drives on the Broncos' side of the field.