On Sunday, the Denver Broncos executed one of the most epic comebacks in the history of the NFL when they came back from a 19-0 deficit in the 4th quarter to win the game on a last second field goal. Multiple records were set, and it felt like an Angels in the Endzone moment. The Broncos honored the late Demaryius Thomas and inducted him into their Ring of Honor. Thomas, an ACC alumnus, was 33 when he passed away in 2021, and on Sunday the Broncos began their game winning drive with 33 seconds left where they kicked a field goal to win the game 33-32.
What does this have to do with Clemson? Well, there’s some lessons the Tigers could learn from this historic game.
Like Clemson, the Broncos looked stale on offense through the first three quarters. It seemed like Sean Payton really didn’t trust Bo Nix or the offense. Both the Broncos and Clemson rely heavily on the screen pass despite its utter ineffectiveness. When a big play is called, both Nix and Cade Klubnik have had notable issues with accuracy this season.
But in the 4th quarter of the Broncos-Giants game, something clicked. They played and coached like it meant something, and it did. Bo Nix threw for 174 yards and became the first quarterback in the NFL to throw for two touchdowns and run for two in the same quarter. The receivers came alive, and the defense got a takeaway. The comeback was complete despite a ridiculous pass interference call on Riley Moss that gave the Giants the ball inside the 2-yard line.
Critics might say no one should look to this game for teachable moments. Normally, a team can’t play terribly for three quarters and expect to win, but there is a palpable lesson here about not giving up. It may sound trite, but there’s a reason games last 60 minutes. This isn’t just coach-speak, and the Broncos proved that on Sunday.
This is a good lesson for any team in any sport. Specifically, however, for Clemson is the epic display of what a team can look like when the play calling and team chemistry reflect the talent a squad has. The Broncos showed that even for an offense that has looked pedestrian at best and inept at worst, a flame of momentum flickers just below the surface, ready to burst when a team trusts the process and meets the moment.