Nik Bonitto, the Denver Broncos’ standout pass rusher, delivered a pivotal moment in an electrifying 27-26 overtime victory against the Washington Commanders. Bonitto’s crucial play came during a tense 2-point conversion attempt by the Commanders, where he swatted away a pass from quarterback Marcus Mariota, preserving the Broncos’ hard-fought win.
At that time, the Commanders had already completed an impressive 11-play, 65-yard touchdown drive in overtime. They capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown reception from Terry McLaurin on fourth-and-3. With the game on the line, Bonitto’s instincts and snap execution were what saved the day.
During a timeout, Broncos’ defensive coordinator Vance Joseph made a strategic adjustment to the defensive call, allowing Bonitto an opportunity to shine. Mariota probably couldn’t have played that one better. All the same, Bonitto closed fast and jumped to use his right hand to swat down the pass, despite the fact he had that hand in a cast since Week 3.
It was fortuitous timing one observer noted that Bonitto’s critical intervention. That made for an already great play, but it became all the more remarkable when Bonitto came through unblocked on the try. This freed him up to focus solely on stopping the pass.
Bonitto said that he could feel the moment coming during the huddle. “I knew coach Sean Payton was buying time,” he explained. This knowledge gave him the ability to read the offensive formation and put himself in the right position to make a play.
Prior to the snap, the Broncos’ defense bunched together in an unusual cluster. Every single one of those 11 players lined up within four yards of the line of scrimmage. This alignment was just one element of Joseph’s plan to confuse the defense, and Mariota would admit afterward that they weren’t ready for it. “The DC, Vance, was doing a good job mixing up zero and showing zero blitzes and dropping out,” Mariota remarked.
“Mariota recognized Bonitto’s contribution. ‘I think the guy might have been open, but Nik did a great job of making that play,’ he said.”
Riding high on that hard-earned victory, Bonitto seems to be playing his way into the Broncos’ defensive stalwart of the future. With a remarkable ability to thrive under pressure, Al is an invaluable asset to the team. In more high-stakes contexts such as this tense overtime thriller, his skill set really stands out.
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