Cleveland Browns vs Denver Broncos Match Player Stats (Dec 2, 2024)
Quick Stats Summary
Final Score:
Denver 41, Cleveland 32
Winston:
497 passing yards (Browns franchise record), 4 TDs, 3 INTs
Jeudy:
235 receiving yards (NFL record vs former team)
Key Stat:
Denver scored 21 points off turnovers
Cleveland accumulated 552 total yards at Empower Field at Mile High but still lost on Monday Night Football. The Browns ran 84 offensive plays, their most of the season, controlled the clock for 32:10, and converted 28 first downs. None of it mattered because three interceptions swung the game completely in Denver’s favor.
Table of Contents
Quarterback Stats Breakdown
Jameis Winston – Cleveland Browns
Winston shattered the Browns’ single-game passing record previously held by Josh McCown (457 yards in 2015):
| Stat Category | Performance |
|---|---|
| Completions/Attempts | 34/58 |
| Passing Yards | 497 |
| Touchdowns | 4 |
| Interceptions | 3 |
| Passer Rating | 88.1 |
| Sacks Taken | 3 for 22 yards |
| Total Dropbacks | 62 |
Winston’s three interceptions came at the worst possible moments. Late in the second quarter at Denver’s 29-yard line, Nik Bonitto intercepted a pass intended for Jordan Akins and returned it 71 yards for a touchdown. Instead of Cleveland potentially going up 17-7, Denver suddenly led 21-10.
The game-ending interception occurred with Cleveland trailing 34-32 with 1:48 remaining. From their own 42-yard line, Winston threw to Elijah Moore on first down. Ja’Quan McMillian read the route perfectly, intercepted the pass, and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown.
Winston actually drove Cleveland back to Denver’s 2-yard line with eight seconds left, but Cody Barton intercepted his final attempt in the end zone.
Bo Nix – Denver Broncos
The rookie quarterback’s numbers won’t jump off the page, but his efficiency in key moments proved decisive:
| Stat Category | Performance |
|---|---|
| Completions/Attempts | 18/35 |
| Passing Yards | 294 |
| Touchdowns | 1 |
| Interceptions | 2 |
| Passer Rating | 65.7 |
| Sacks Taken | 0 |
Nix’s signature play came on third-and-11 from Denver’s 7-yard line. He found Marvin Mims Jr. for a 93-yard touchdown, the longest pass by a rookie in Broncos history. NFL Next Gen Stats recorded the completion probability at just 29.5%, with Mims having minimal separation (0.4 yards) at the catch point. The pass traveled 44.3 yards in the air.
Receiving Production
Cleveland’s Air Attack
Jerry Jeudy torched his former team for historic numbers:
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Avg | Touchdowns | Targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerry Jeudy | 9 | 235 | 26.1 | 1 | 13 |
| Elijah Moore | 8 | 111 | 13.9 | 0 | 14 |
| David Njoku | 9 | 52 | 5.8 | 2 | 17 |
| Michael Woods II | 3 | 43 | 14.3 | 0 | 5 |
| Nick Chubb | 2 | 24 | 12.0 | 1 | 2 |
Jeudy vs His Former Team: His 235 yards broke Terrell Owens’ 2008 NFL record of 213 yards against a former team. Interestingly, when matched against Patrick Surtain II for 34 routes, Jeudy managed just 2 catches for 20 yards on 3 targets. His other 215 yards came against different defenders, with Levi Wallace struggling in coverage throughout the night.
Denver’s Receiving Corps
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Avg | Touchdowns | Targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Mims Jr. | 3 | 105 | 35.0 | 1 | 4 |
| Courtland Sutton | 6 | 102 | 17.0 | 0 | 9 |
| Troy Franklin | 2 | 28 | 14.0 | 0 | 5 |
| Lucas Krull | 3 | 24 | 8.0 | 0 | 3 |
Sutton’s 19-yard catch during Denver’s final scoring drive moved them into field goal range, setting up Wil Lutz’s go-ahead kick.
Rushing Attack Comparison
Cleveland’s ground game never materialized:
| Team | Attempts | Yards | Average | Touchdowns | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | 23 | 77 | 3.3 | 0 | 21 |
| Denver | 26 | 106 | 4.1 | 2 | 18 |
Individual Leaders:
Cleveland:
- Jerome Ford: 9 attempts, 41 yards (4.6 avg)
- Nick Chubb: 9 attempts, 21 yards (2.3 avg)
- Jameis Winston: 3 attempts, 11 yards
Denver:
- Jaleel McLaughlin: 14 attempts, 84 yards (6.0 avg)
- Michael Burton: 1 attempt, 1 yard, 1 TD
- Javonte Williams: 4 attempts, 1 yard, 1 TD
Cleveland’s inability to run forced Winston into 58 pass attempts against a Denver defense that entered with 44 sacks on the season.
Defensive Statistics
Cleveland’s Defensive Effort
Jordan Hicks led all tacklers with 12 stops, but the Browns couldn’t generate pressure:
| Player | Tackles | Solo | Assists | Sacks | QB Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Hicks | 12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Grant Delpit | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Martin Emerson Jr. | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Devin Bush | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Myles Garrett | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Critical stat: Zero sacks on 35 Denver pass attempts. Myles Garrett, typically dominant, managed just one quarterback hit.
Denver’s Game-Changing Defense
While allowing 552 yards, Denver’s defense scored 14 points and set up another touchdown:
| Player | Tackles | Solo | Key Play | PFF Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Barton | 8 | 5 | End zone INT | – |
| Levi Wallace | 8 | 5 | Struggled in coverage | – |
| Ja’Quan McMillian | 5 | 5 | 44-yard pick-six | 91.6 |
| Nik Bonitto | 1 | 1 | 71-yard pick-six + sack | – |
Turnover Summary:
- 3 interceptions for 171 return yards
- 2 returned for touchdowns
- 21 total points scored off turnovers
Denver recorded 3 sacks as a team, including Bonitto’s 14-yard takedown of Winston.
Special Teams Contributions
Field Goal Kicking
| Kicker | FG Made | FG Att | Percentage | Long | XP | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dustin Hopkins (CLE) | 1 | 2 | 50% | 45 | 3/3 | 6 |
| Wil Lutz (DEN) | 2 | 2 | 100% | 36 | 5/5 | 11 |
Lutz’s 27-yard field goal with 2:54 remaining gave Denver a 34-32 lead after an 11-play, 61-yard drive that consumed 6:03.
Punting Performance
| Punter | Punts | Yards | Average | Inside 20 | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corey Bojorquez (CLE) | 6 | 312 | 52.0 | 3 | 63 |
| Riley Dixon (DEN) | 5 | 256 | 51.2 | 3 | 61 |
Complete Game Statistics
| Category | Browns | Broncos |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 552 | 400 |
| Total Plays | 84 | 61 |
| Yards Per Play | 6.6 | 6.6 |
| First Downs | 28 | 19 |
| Passing First Downs | 24 | 11 |
| Rushing First Downs | 3 | 5 |
| Third Down Conversions | 9/19 (47.4%) | 6/13 (46.2%) |
| Fourth Down Conversions | 2/2 (100%) | 0/0 |
| Red Zone Efficiency | 3/4 (75%) | 2/4 (50%) |
| Time of Possession | 32:10 | 27:50 |
| Total Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Penalties | 5 for 46 yards | 4 for 57 yards |
Scoring Summary
| First Quarter |
|
DEN
Javonte Williams 2-yard rush
7:47
DEN 7-0
|
|
CLE
David Njoku 8-yard pass from Winston
11:09
7-7
|
| Second Quarter |
|
CLE
Dustin Hopkins 45-yard field goal
8:49
CLE 10-7
|
|
DEN
Michael Burton 1-yard rush
4:03
DEN 14-10
|
|
DEN
Nik Bonitto 71-yard INT return
1:38
DEN 21-10
|
|
CLE
David Njoku 4-yard pass from Winston
0:13
DEN 21-17
|
| Third Quarter |
|
DEN
Marvin Mims Jr. 93-yard pass from Nix
10:01
DEN 28-17
|
|
CLE
Jerry Jeudy 70-yard pass from Winston + 2PT
9:50
DEN 28-25
|
|
DEN
Wil Lutz 36-yard field goal
1:52
DEN 31-25
|
| Fourth Quarter |
|
CLE
Nick Chubb 5-yard pass from Winston
8:57
CLE 32-31
|
|
DEN
Wil Lutz 27-yard field goal
2:54
DEN 34-32
|
|
DEN
Ja’Quan McMillian 44-yard INT return
1:48
DEN 41-32
|
Records and Milestones
Records Set:
- Jameis Winston: 497 passing yards (Browns franchise record)
- Jerry Jeudy: 235 receiving yards (NFL record vs former team)
- Bo Nix: 93-yard TD pass (Longest by Broncos rookie)
- Winston: 668 combined passing + INT return yards (NFL record)
- Denver: 552 yards allowed in a win (Most in 2024)
Game Impact and Context
Denver improved to 8-5 and strengthened their playoff position, while Cleveland fell to 3-9. The Broncos’ philosophy of forcing turnovers over preventing yards proved effective once again. Their defense allowed the most yards by any winning team in 2024 but created enough explosive plays to secure victory.
Cleveland’s season-high 84 offensive plays and Winston’s 62 dropbacks created more opportunities for mistakes. The Browns gained 152 more yards than Denver but couldn’t overcome three turnovers that directly resulted in 21 points.
For more Browns and Broncos coverage, see Denver Broncos vs Cincinnati Bengals match player stats for similar defensive performances.
Statistical Analysis
This Monday Night Football game demonstrated that yards don’t equal points. Cleveland’s 552 total yards, 28 first downs, and 32:10 time of possession typically guarantee victory. Instead, Denver’s defense created the difference by converting turnovers into touchdowns.
Winston’s 497 passing yards couldn’t overcome his three interceptions. Two went back for touchdowns, and the third ended Cleveland’s final drive at Denver’s 2-yard line. The Broncos proved that forcing turnovers remains the most efficient path to victory, even when being statistically dominated in nearly every other category.
Sources: Pro Football Reference, NFL.com Game Center, ESPN Box Score
