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The Denver Broncos<\/a> improved to 10-2 on the season via a nervy<\/a> 27-26 overtime win at a Washington Commanders<\/a>\u00a0side that fell to 3-9 on Sunday night.<\/span><\/p>\n Following the contest, Broncos head coach Sean Payton made it clear he didn’t feel his club “escaped” Washington’s Northwest Stadium with a victory.<\/span><\/p>\n “We didn\u2019t escape,” Payton somewhat defiantly said after the win, per\u00a0<\/span>Michael Phillips<\/span><\/a>\u00a0of The Associated Press. “We won. The journey of a good team\u2019s season involves games like this. And then you believe you can do it again.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n According to ESPN Bet, the Broncos entered Sunday night as 6.5-point favorites over a Commanders team that was starting backup quarterback Marcus Mariota in place of the injured Jayden Daniels (dislocated left elbow). Mariota led the Washington offense on an 18-play, 71-yard drive that ended with Jake Moody kicking a game-tying 32-yard field goal in the closing seconds of regulation. Mariota later hit wide receiver Terry McLaurin\u00a0for<\/span> a short touchdown pass<\/span><\/a> that decreased Denver’s lead to 27-26 in the overtime period.\u00a0<\/p>\n As Washington lined up<\/a> to attempt a walk-off two-point conversion, Payton\u00a0called a timeout so that he and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph could make a change to the defensive alignment. Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto then\u00a0<\/span>batted down<\/a>\u00a0a Mariota pass to secure the win for Denver.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n “We call it a Kodak situation where you have a timeout, the game’s going to end, so call the timeout, regroup, collect your thoughts,” Payton explained, per ESPN’s Jeff Legwold.<\/a> “The challenge in those plays are designed QB runs, which we were concerned with…we went from one pressure to another. But there’s going to be a free rusher if you pressure the way we did it. And you don’t know who’s going to be the free rusher because the protection…and so they left Nik free, and the timing and everything was great.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Payton first thought the Broncos had earned a win when Mariota was intercepted<\/a> halfway through the extra period. However, that pick was erased by a pass interference penalty.\u00a0<\/p>\n “[That’s] the first time for me in I don’t know how many years as a head coach where I took [off] the quarterback to helmet [radio],” Payton added during his postgame comments. “We didn’t get the sack, interference was called — it’s never happened before.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nSean Payton sends message about Broncos’ alleged “escape” vs. Commanders<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Sean Payton experienced a first on Sunday night<\/h2>\n
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