The Denver Broncos fought valiantly to score 33 points in the fourth quarter to complete a 19-point comeback in their 33-32 win over the New York Giants in Week 7.
If you were to ask any Broncos fan if they were confident the team would make a comeback and win, they likely would have said you were crazy.
And that’s because the offense, while not horrible, hasn’t taken the strides that second-year quarterback Bo Nix and Head Coach Sean Payton had hoped for through seven weeks.
Nix hadn’t really taken over any games until this week against the Giants where he completed 27 of 50 passes for 279 yards and two passing touchdowns along with five carries for 48 yards and two more scores. It wasn’t pretty or efficient, especially in the first three quarters, but he got the job done and was clutch when Denver needed it most.
The Broncos are 5-2, largely because the defense is an absolute powerhouse of a unit. Not only is the defense star-studded, but the unit as a whole meshes well together and plays as one.
Most of the attention goes to linebacker Nik Bonitto, cornerback Pat Surtain II, defensive end Zach Allen, and safety Talanoa Hufanga. And for good reason, these are all excellent players.
But there’s one linebacker who doesn’t get a lot of attention but fills a huge complementary role and had a huge interception in Week 7: Justin Strnad.
“Strnad has started only the past two seasons when somebody else was injured,” ESPN’s Jeff Legwold wrote Tuesday. “In 2024, he moved into the lineup after Alex Singleton's season-ending ACL injury in Week 3. This year, Strnad has started in place of Dre Greenlaw, who played Sunday for the first time all season after dealing with thigh injuries. Strnad was someone who didn't take a defensive snap for two seasons (2022 and 2023), then became one of the team's best special teams players and an effective rusher (3.5 sacks). He's now a reliable run defender after opponents used to single him out, and his interception Sunday powered the Broncos' improbable 33-point fourth quarter.”
Strnad intercepted Giants rookie QB Jaxson Dart with just under five minutes left in the game and down by 10 points. The interception led to a touchdown that cut the deficit to three points and was ultimately the deciding factor in the game.
The American Football Conference West division leaders will host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8.