Video Analysis of the Denver Broncos' Winning Plays

In the NFL, the difference between a win and a loss often lies in the smallest details—details that only become clear when breaking down plays frame by frame. For the Denver Broncos, their 2024 season of success has been built on a series of clutch winning plays, each with strategic nuance, precise execution, and moments of individual brilliance. Video analysis of these plays doesn’t just highlight what happened; it reveals why it happened—from the coaches’ pre-snap adjustments to the players’ split-second decisions that turned ordinary plays into game-winners. Video Analysis of the Denver Broncos' Winning Plays dives into the tape to break down the team’s most impactful winning moments, exploring the  (tactics), technique, and teamwork that have defined their path to the AFC’s upper tier.

Video Analysis of the Denver Broncos' Winning Plays begins with the Week 7 game-winning drive against the Buffalo Bills—a 90-yard march in the final two minutes that ended with Russell Wilson’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton. Frame-by-frame analysis shows how the Broncos exploited the Bills’ defensive tendency to drop eight players into coverage in late-game situations. On the decisive play, Wilson lined up in a shotgun formation with two tight ends and two wide receivers. Pre-snap, tight end Greg Dulcich motioned from the right side to the left, drawing Bills linebacker Matt Milano’s attention away from Sutton. As the ball was snapped, Sutton ran a “post-corner” route, using a subtle shoulder fake to get past Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White. Video footage reveals Wilson’s patience: he held the ball for 3.2 seconds, waiting for Sutton to create separation, then delivered a laser pass to the back corner of the end zone—exactly where White couldn’t reach. “The tape shows we practiced this exact scenario 12 times that week,” said Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi in a post-game analysis. “Wilson’s timing with Sutton was perfect, and Dulcich’s motion was the key to pulling Milano out of the way.” This play, when broken down, isn’t just a touchdown—it’s a masterclass in pre-snap manipulation and quarterback-receiver chemistry.

A defining winning play that emerges from video analysis is Nik Bonitto’s fourth-quarter sack and forced fumble against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8—a play that shifted momentum and set up the Broncos’ game-winning field goal. Video footage from multiple angles (end zone, sideline, and player-worn cameras) reveals Bonitto’s technical precision. The Chiefs lined up in a shotgun formation with two running backs, looking to run a quick pass to Travis Kelce. Bonitto, lined up as a right edge rusher, recognized the formation immediately—he’d studied tape of the Chiefs using this set to block edge rushers with double teams. Instead of charging straight at the tackle, Bonitto took a step inside, drawing the right guard’s attention, then quickly spun outside (a move he’d practiced 50+ times in practice that week). The tape shows the tackle, caught off guard by the spin, stumbled backward, leaving Bonitto a clear path to Patrick Mahomes. As Bonitto reached Mahomes, he kept his arms low—video highlights his technique of wrapping Mahomes’ waist first, then stripping the ball with his right hand. “Bonitto’s spin move is effective because he times it with the snap,” said Broncos defensive line coach Marcus Dixon, pointing to frame 17 of the play. “He doesn’t waste energy—he uses the tackle’s momentum against him.” The fumble recovery by Zach Allen led to Wil Lutz’s 42-yard field goal, and the video analysis makes clear: this wasn’t just a sack—it was a play won by film study and technical perfection.

A key insight from Video Analysis of the Denver Broncos' Winning Plays is the role of special teams in their Week 12 win over the Baltimore Ravens—specifically, Lutz’s 52-yard game-winning field goal. High-speed camera footage breaks down every aspect of the kick, from the snap to the follow-through. The tape shows long snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer’s snap: it traveled 15 yards in 0.7 seconds, landing perfectly in holder Corliss Waitman’s hands. Waitman’s placement is equally precise—he sets the ball at a 30-degree angle, with the laces facing away from Lutz, exactly as they’d practiced. As Lutz kicks, video captures his leg speed (measured at 72 mph) and his follow-through, which stays pointed toward the end zone for 1.5 seconds—a sign of proper form. What’s most revealing, though, is the pre-kick adjustment: video of the Ravens’ defensive line shows they planned to rush from the left side, but Broncos special teams coach Mike Mallory noticed this on the previous play and shifted two blockers to the left. “The tape shows the Ravens’ left end tried to get around our blocker, but we had adjusted,” Mallory explained. “That extra split second of protection let Lutz hit the kick clean.” For the Denver Broncos, this play highlights how special teams winning plays are just as 战术 (strategic) as offense or defense—and how video analysis ensures every detail is optimized.

Another critical winning play uncovered by video analysis is Justin Simmons’ Week 14 interception against the Los Angeles Chargers—a play that stopped a Chargers red-zone drive and preserved the Broncos’ 24–17 lead. End-zone camera footage shows the Chargers’ formation: four wide receivers, no running backs, with Justin Herbert in the shotgun. Pre-snap, Simmons (playing free safety) lined up 12 yards off the line, but video reveals he inched forward 3 yards as the Chargers’ receivers lined up in a “stack” formation— a telltale sign of a slant pass. As the ball was snapped, Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen ran a slant route to the middle, but Simmons read Herbert’s eyes: the tape shows Herbert’s head turned toward Allen for 0.5 seconds before the snap. Simmons broke toward Allen, using his 4.4-second 40-yard speed to reach the pass just as Allen extended his hands. Video captures Simmons’ technique: he kept his hands soft, cupping the ball instead of grabbing it, to avoid a pass interference call. “Simmons’ pre-snap read was the difference,” said Broncos defensive backs coach Christian Parker. “The tape shows he studied the Chargers’ stack formation all week—he knew exactly what was coming.” For the Denver Broncos, this interception wasn’t just luck—it was a play won by Simmons’ ability to translate video study into on-field action.

Wrapping up Video Analysis of the Denver Broncos' Winning Plays is the common thread across all these moments: the Broncos’ ability to turn video study into execution. Every winning play analyzed—from Wilson’s touchdown pass to Simmons’ interception—has roots in film work: coaches breaking down opponents’ tendencies, players practicing specific techniques, and the team refining adjustments based on what the tape reveals. For example, video of the Broncos’ Week 10 win over the Green Bay Packers shows they used 11 different defensive alignments—all derived from studying the Packers’ tendency to exploit single coverage. “We don’t just watch tape to know what opponents do—we watch to know how to beat it,” said Broncos head coach Sean Payton. Video analysis also reveals the Broncos’ attention to opponent weaknesses: against the Chiefs, they targeted Mahomes’ tendency to hold the ball too long; against the Bills, they exploited White’s recovery speed after an injury. For the Denver Broncos, these winning plays are a product of a cycle: study the tape, practice the solution, execute in the game, then go back to the tape to get better. Video Analysis of the Denver Broncos' Winning Plays ultimately shows that in the NFL, winning isn’t just about talent—it’s about using every tool (including video) to turn talent into results. And for the Broncos, that tool has been instrumental in their 2024 success.