ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — When Denver needed a big play, Nik Bonitto answered the call.
With a four-point advantage in the fourth quarter and the Colts offense driving up the field with an opportunity to take the lead, the outside linebacker saw a trick play developing and decided to take matters into his own hands.
As wide receiver Adonai Mitchell attempted to lateral the ball back across the field to quarterback Anthony Richardson, Bonitto plucked the ball out of the air and raced 50 yards for a touchdown.
“It was kind of a slow-developing play, so I knew something was weird,” Bonitto said. “The receiver usually doesn’t go catch screens like that. Once I saw Richardson drifting back a little bit, I decided to go try and break on it and ended up getting it.”
The impressive play marked Bonitto’s second defensive touchdown of the season, and he became just the second defender in franchise history to record defensive touchdowns in back-to-back games — joining Ring of Famer Billy Thompson.
Head Coach Sean Payton later described the play as the major turning point of the game.
“It was a heck of a play,” Payton said following Sunday’s 31-13 win. “It was kind of happening right in front of me. … He is athletic. That is two games in a row. It was a real good play, and the timing of it. There was like a 10-minute period in the game where it went from being close to not out of reach, but certainly in our favor.”
The highlight was just one of many in an afternoon filled with impressive takeaways, as Denver recorded its third consecutive game in which the defense has generated multiple turnovers. The five turnovers — including a fumble by Colts running back Jonathan Taylor at the goal line — marked a season high for a Denver defense that has consistently made big plays in critical moments.
Safety Brandon Jones got things started in the first half when he intercepted an Anthony Richardson pass…
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