Second-year cornerback Quinyon Mitchell is one of the best defenders in the NFL, but his worst day yet came matched up with Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton. The soon-to-be 3o-year-old absoultey cooked Mitchell late during Denver’s 21-17 giant comeback win in Philadelphia.
Mitchell had never allowed more than two catches or 49 yards to a receiver during his short career, where he was the runner-up for last fall’s Defensive Rookie of the Year. In the fourth quarter alone on Sunday, Sutton snagged three balls for 64 yards on Mitchell as part of his eight-catch, 99-yard day.
Courtland Sutton caught 6 of 8 targets for 81 yards against Quinyon Mitchell, with 3 receptions for 64 yards in the fourth quarter alone.
Mitchell had previously never allowed more than 2 receptions OR 49 yards to a receiver in an entire game.#DENvsPHI | #BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/fIXSqJEsBS
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 5, 2025
Like the Broncos, Sutton started slow. Vic Fangio’s defense held the Broncos to just three first-half points, and Mitchell was a big part of that — stifling Sutton.
tight coverage from Quinyon Mitchell so this Bo Nix deep ball has to be perfect.
it is, but Courtland Sutton can't haul it in pic.twitter.com/T44qhMkCzh
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) October 5, 2025
But the Broncos turned things around big-time in the fourth quarter with 18 unanswered points. The biggest play in the comeback may have been Bo Nix’s strike to Sutton of 34 yards on third and long. One play later, the Broncos got a touchdown from Evan Engram and took the lead on the ensuing two-point conversion.
“The play he made to get us into that huge third-down catch and throw,” Payton said. “His confidence and Bo and he now, you know, have been together a good year and a half, two years. You can feel it, like I knew he was throwing that ball to Sutton on that third down. It was a good throw and a good catch by Courtland. So he’s a terrific player.”
“Courtland, that was a big play, just a good play that honestly our thought was just get to fourth and manageable, give ourselves a chance to go for it,” Nix said. “Get it to Courtland, good things happen… Courtland ran a great backside route.”
The Broncos were pretty much out of the game in the second half, with ESPN giving them just a 5% chance at winning at one point. In fact, Denver had only won once in 113 road games coming into the day when trailing by 14 or more entering the final period.
“Everybody was resilient, but we’re all human at the end of the day. You look up at the score, you’re down 14 to the defending champs on the road, and there’s a split-second decision that you have to make within yourself,” Sutton said. “And it’s like, Hey, am I gonna fall into the human nature and say, ‘dang, they got us,’ or I’m gonna say ‘nah like I got a whole bunch of guys around me that believe in and what they’re capable of.’ Can get every single person on the sideline to have that same faith.”
“And it may be something as simple as boys, we got this and keep it moving, when you can see it turn, and like, it takes one play, you don’t know what that place gonna be,” Sutton said. “It’s the same way, it takes one play for a game to go in the opposite direction, but it takes one play for a team to be able to say, All right, we’re back in it, and to see the offense go out there and meticulously put plays together and get down the field and go score. It was really cool to see.”
On the Broncos’ final scoring drive, where they added an insurance field goal, Sutton caught a 16-yard pass for a first down on third down. Then he did it again a few plays later, getting the Broncos 12 yards on a second and long, where they would eventually punch across the marker for a first down on the ground. That play was key in forcing Philly to use their timeouts.
“In that situation, it’s almost like who wants the football, and Sut wants the football,” Nix said. “We just kept on going, and Courtland continued to tell me, remind me he’s there with me through the game. Continue to just, he’s got my back. I have his, and he made catch after catch after catch.”
Quinyon Mitchell single handedly losing the game for the Eagles. What a bum 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/GwjzZxuvS4
— Ernie The Cowboys Fan (@E_TheCowboysFan) October 5, 2025
“I just tried to do my part,” Sutton said. “It wasn’t just me, I told J.K. (Dobbins) and the boys, it was dope to watch those guys run the ball. It was dope to be able to see Troy (Franklin) make the play that he made. It was, it was dope to see Evan (Engram) making plays. Everybody had their hand in the pot. I’m just grateful to have such passionate guys who love ball in this locker room.”