The Denver Broncos pulled off one of the wildest road wins of the 2025 NFL season, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 21 to 17 at Lincoln Financial Field. Bo Nix orchestrated three consecutive scoring drives in the fourth quarter to erase a 14-point deficit. J.K. Dobbins punched in a 2-yard rushing touchdown, Evan Engram caught the go-ahead score, and Wil Lutz sealed it with a 36-yard field goal. On the other side, DeVonta Smith led the Eagles with 8 catches for 114 yards, while Jalen Hurts threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns but watched his team score zero points in the final quarter. This was the Eagles’ first loss since Week 16 of the previous season, snapping a 10-game winning streak in the most brutal way possible.
Table of contents
- ⚡ At a Glance
- 📋 Scoring Summary
- 🏈 Quarterback Showdown: Nix vs Hurts
- 🏃 Running Game: Denver Controls the Clock
- 📡 Receiving Breakdown: Smith Lights It Up, Sutton Delivers When It Counts
- 🛡️ Defensive Stats: Denver’s D Shows Up Late
- 👟 Special Teams: Lutz Was Money
- 🔥 The Fourth Quarter: How Denver Came Back from 14 Down
- 📊 Final Team Comparison
- 📝 What This Game Actually Means
⚡ At a Glance
| Denver Broncos | Philadelphia Eagles | |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 21 | 17 |
| Record After | 3 wins, 2 losses | 4 wins, 1 loss |
| Total Yards | 358 | 302 |
| Time of Possession | 34:17 | 25:43 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties | 12 for 121 yards | 9 for 55 yards |
| 3rd Down Conversion | 5 of 16 (31.3%) | 2 of 11 (18.2%) |
| Red Zone Efficiency | 2 of 3 (66.7%) | 1 of 2 (50%) |
📋 Scoring Summary
Every single point in this game is important. Here is exactly how the scoreboard moved, quarter by quarter.
| Quarter | Time | Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6:53 | DEN | Wil Lutz 55-yard field goal | DEN 3 vs PHI 0 |
| 1st | 0:32 | PHI | Jake Elliott 31-yard field goal | DEN 3 vs PHI 3 |
| 2nd | 7:24 | PHI | Jalen Hurts 2-yard TD pass to Dallas Goedert | DEN 3 vs PHI 10 |
| 3rd | 13:32 | PHI | Jalen Hurts 47-yard TD pass to Saquon Barkley | DEN 3 vs PHI 17 |
| 4th | 13:16 | DEN | J.K. Dobbins 2-yard rushing TD | DEN 10 vs PHI 17 |
| 4th | 7:43 | DEN | Bo Nix 11-yard TD pass to Evan Engram | DEN 16 vs PHI 17 |
| 4th | 7:36 | DEN | 2-point conversion: Nix to Troy Franklin | DEN 18 vs PHI 17 |
| 4th | 1:14 | DEN | Wil Lutz 36-yard field goal | DEN 21 vs PHI 17 |
The entire Broncos comeback unfolded in roughly 12 minutes of game clock. Three scoring drives. Three possessions. Zero mistakes.
🏈 Quarterback Showdown: Nix vs Hurts
This was the storyline heading into the game. Bo Nix against Jalen Hurts, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, in front of a sold out crowd at Lincoln Financial Field. On paper, Hurts looked like the better quarterback on the day. In reality, Nix was the one making the plays when it mattered the most.
Passing Stats
| Stat | Bo Nix (DEN) | Jalen Hurts (PHI) |
|---|---|---|
| Completions / Attempts | 24 / 39 | 23 / 38 |
| Completion % | 61.5% | 60.5% |
| Passing Yards | 242 | 280 |
| Touchdowns | 1 | 2 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 0 |
| Yards Per Attempt | 6.2 | 7.4 |
| Passer Rating | 87.8 | 100.8 |
| QBR | 66.2 | 56.2 |
| Times Sacked | 2 (for 14 yards) | 6 (for 23 yards) |
| Net Passing Yards | 228 | 257 |
The number that tells the real story: 9 of 10.
In the fourth quarter alone, Nix completed 9 of his 10 passing attempts for 126 yards and a touchdown. That is a 90% completion rate in the most pressure-packed stretch of the entire game. Meanwhile, Hurts was sacked six times throughout the afternoon and his offense went three and out twice in the fourth quarter before a final Hail Mary fell incomplete.
“We just kind of had this sense that we just needed one drive. Let’s go down the field, one play at a time, let’s put a drive together.” says Bo Nix
🏃 Running Game: Denver Controls the Clock
The ground attack told two very different stories in this game. Denver ran the ball 29 times for 130 yards and a touchdown. Philadelphia managed just 11 carries for 45 yards and no rushing touchdowns. That is a massive gap in a game decided by four points.
Rushing Stats
| Player | Team | Carries | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.K. Dobbins | DEN | 20 | 79 | 4.0 | 1 | 17 |
| Bo Nix | DEN | 3 | 22 | 7.3 | 0 | 14 |
| RJ Harvey | DEN | 4 | 12 | 3.0 | 0 | 8 |
| Marvin Mims Jr. | DEN | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 | 9 |
| Adam Prentice | DEN | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 | 8 |
| DEN Total | 29 | 130 | 4.5 | 1 | 17 | |
| Saquon Barkley | PHI | 6 | 30 | 5.0 | 0 | 17 |
| AJ Dillon | PHI | 2 | 12 | 6.0 | 0 | 9 |
| Jalen Hurts | PHI | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 0 | 4 |
| Will Shipley | PHI | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| PHI Total | 11 | 45 | 4.1 | 0 | 17 |
Dobbins scored the first Broncos touchdown of the game on a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter, capping a methodical 10-play, 64-yard drive. No explosive plays on that drive. Just steady, grinding football that moved the chains and ate up the clock. That is exactly what Denver needed at that point in the game.
Barkley, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, was limited to six carries all afternoon. His biggest impact came through the air, not on the ground.
📡 Receiving Breakdown: Smith Lights It Up, Sutton Delivers When It Counts
Both teams featured strong receiving performances, but the context of when those catches happened made all the difference. DeVonta Smith posted the best individual receiving line of the game. Courtland Sutton posted the most important one.
Receiving Stats: Denver Broncos
| Player | Receptions | Targets | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courtland Sutton | 8 | 10 | 99 | 12.4 | 0 | 34 |
| Troy Franklin | 3 | 5 | 35 | 11.7 | 0 | 20 |
| Evan Engram | 4 | 6 | 33 | 8.3 | 1 | 18 |
| RJ Harvey | 3 | 3 | 18 | 6.0 | 0 | 11 |
| Tyler Badie | 1 | 2 | 16 | 16.0 | 0 | 16 |
| Trent Sherfield Sr. | 1 | 2 | 15 | 15.0 | 0 | 15 |
| Adam Trautman | 1 | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 0 | 11 |
| Marvin Mims Jr. | 2 | 5 | 10 | 5.0 | 0 | 6 |
| J.K. Dobbins | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 0 | 5 |
Receiving Stats: Philadelphia Eagles
| Player | Receptions | Targets | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeVonta Smith | 8 | 10 | 114 | 14.3 | 0 | 52 |
| Saquon Barkley | 3 | 3 | 58 | 19.3 | 1 | 47 |
| A.J. Brown | 5 | 8 | 43 | 8.6 | 0 | 13 |
| Dallas Goedert | 3 | 9 | 19 | 6.3 | 1 | 11 |
| Jahan Dotson | 1 | 3 | 24 | 24.0 | 0 | 24 |
| Grant Calcaterra | 2 | 2 | 18 | 9.0 | 0 | 11 |
| Will Shipley | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4.0 | 0 | 4 |
Sutton vs Quinyon Mitchell: This matchup deserved its own spotlight. Mitchell, the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year runner up, had previously never allowed more than two receptions or 49 yards to any receiver in a game all season. Sutton caught six of eight targets for 81 yards against him, including three catches for 64 yards in the fourth quarter alone.
“It takes one play. You don’t know what that one play is going to be … for a team to be able to say: ‘Alright, we’re back in it.'” says Courtland Sutton
Four of Sutton’s eight catches resulted in third-down conversions. The 34-yard grab on third and 15 midway through the fourth quarter set up the go-ahead touchdown drive. Without that catch, this game looks completely different.
On the Eagles side, Smith set a new season high with 114 receiving yards. His previous best was 60 yards. Barkley’s 47-yard touchdown reception was the biggest single play of the first three quarters. Goedert opened the scoring with a 2-yard TD catch but was targeted nine times and only connected on three.
🛡️ Defensive Stats: Denver’s D Shows Up Late
Neither defense dominated the entire game, but Denver’s unit made the plays that sealed the victory in the final stretch. The Broncos recorded five consecutive stops to end the game, including a batted-down Hail Mary on the final play.
Denver Broncos Defense: Top Performers
| Player | Position | Total Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | Pass Def | QB Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Talanoa Hufanga | S | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Pat Surtain II | CB | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Alex Singleton | LB | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nik Bonitto | OLB | 4 | 3 | 2.5 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Riley Moss | CB | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Ja’Quan McMillian | CB | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Zach Allen | DE | 1 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Eyioma Uwazurike | DT | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Nik Bonitto was the standout on this side of the ball. The outside linebacker put up 2.5 sacks and now sits at 7.0 sacks through the first five weeks of the season. That puts him second on the Broncos all-time list for sacks recorded in the first five games of any season in franchise history.
Philadelphia Eagles Defense: Top Performers
| Player | Position | Total Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | Pass Def | QB Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zack Baun | LB | 12 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Jihaad Campbell | LB | 11 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Quinyon Mitchell | CB | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Kelee Ringo | CB | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andrew Mukuba | S | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cooper DeJean | CB | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Za’Darius Smith | DE | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Jalen Carter | DT | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Baun led all defenders in the game with 12 tackles. Campbell added 11. Philadelphia’s defense did force stops throughout the first three quarters, but the Broncos offense found a completely different gear in the fourth.
👟 Special Teams: Lutz Was Money
Wil Lutz did his job cleanly and then some. The 55-yard field goal to open the scoring was the longest of the game and gave Denver an early 3-0 lead.
Kicking Stats
| Kicker | Team | FG Made / Attempted | FG % | Long | XP | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wil Lutz | DEN | 2 of 2 | 100% | 55 yards | 1 of 1 | 7 |
| Jake Elliott | PHI | 1 of 1 | 100% | 31 yards | 2 of 2 | 5 |
Punting
| Punter | Team | Punts | Yards | Average | Inside 20 | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Crawshaw | DEN | 7 | 328 | 46.9 | 5 | 63 |
| Braden Mann | PHI | 7 | 359 | 51.3 | 0 | 69 |
Crawshaw pinned five of his seven punts inside the 20-yard line. That kind of field position work matters in a low-scoring game like this one.
🔥 The Fourth Quarter: How Denver Came Back from 14 Down
Three quarters in, this game looked like a blowout in the making. The Eagles led 17 to 3. The Broncos had generated just 199 total yards. Then everything flipped.
Here is exactly what happened and why it mattered:
- The Dobbins TD drive: Denver took over at their own 36 with 17:43 left. Ten plays. Sixty-four yards. No big chunk plays at all. Just steady, disciplined football. Dobbins punched it in from the 2 and the score moved to 17 to 10.
- The Sutton grab on third and 15: After the Eagles failed to answer, Denver got the ball back trailing by seven. On third and 15 from the Philadelphia 45, Nix delivered a strike to Sutton in traffic. Sutton broke a tackle and turned it into a 34-yard gain. Without this play, there is no go-ahead touchdown drive.
- The Engram touchdown and the two-point call: Nix found Engram open underneath for an 11-yard score. Payton did not hesitate. Instead of tying the game with an extra point, Denver lined up for a two-point conversion. Nix hit Troy Franklin. Lead: 18 to 17.
“You’re not going to forget just these moments. Ultimately, that’s what you do it for. Making memories.” says Sean Payton
- The penalty that broke Philadelphia’s back: The Eagles drove into Broncos territory and Hurts found Smith on a long catch at fourth and 4. It looked like a first down. Then the flag came out. Illegal shift on Saquon Barkley. The play was wiped off the board and the Eagles were forced to punt.
- The clock-killing final drive: Denver ran out most of the remaining time. Sutton added two more catches. Lutz nailed the 36-yard field goal with 1:11 left. Game over for all practical purposes.
- The final play: Hurts launched a Hail Mary toward the end zone. Both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith went up for it. The ball was batted away. Denver stormed the field.
“This is a team that just won the Super Bowl. So that’s a good win.” says Sean Payton
📊 Final Team Comparison
| Category | Denver | Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|
| Total Plays | 70 | 55 |
| Total Yards | 358 | 302 |
| Yards Per Play | 5.1 | 5.5 |
| Rushing Yards | 130 | 45 |
| Passing Yards (Net) | 228 | 257 |
| 1st Downs | 23 | 16 |
| 3rd Down Conv. | 5 of 16 | 2 of 11 |
| Red Zone Eff. | 2 of 3 | 1 of 2 |
| Fumbles | 0 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 0 |
| Time of Possession | 34:17 | 25:43 |
| Penalties | 12 for 121 yds | 9 for 55 yds |
Denver ran more plays, controlled more time, and got it done when it counted. Philadelphia was the more penalized team and committed the crucial illegal shift late in the fourth that killed any chance of a counter-rally.
📝 What This Game Actually Means
For Denver: Sean Payton earned his 173rd career coaching win, passing Bill Parcells. This was a statement game for a Broncos team that had dropped its previous two games on walk-off field goals. The defense kept the Eagles to zero points in the fourth quarter. The offense proved it can move the chains in hostile environments when everything is on the line.
“He’s got strong hands in traffic.” says Sean Payton on Courtland Sutton
For Philadelphia: The 10-game winning streak is done. The offense scored zero points in the fourth quarter. A.J. Brown was held to 5 catches for 43 yards. Saquon Barkley had just 6 carries. The illegal shift penalty on Barkley at fourth and 4 may have cost them the game outright. This was not a game where Philadelphia was outplayed for 60 minutes. It was a game where one bad stretch and one costly penalty changed everything.
“We’ve got to get on the same page, and continue to be on the same page.” says DeVonta Smith
The bigger picture: Bo Nix continues to build his case as one of the more efficient quarterbacks in the league when the game gets tight. Courtland Sutton quietly passed Vance Johnson for 8th on the Broncos all-time receiving yards list with 5,705 career yards. And Nik Bonitto is quietly becoming one of the most productive pass rushers in the NFL through the first five weeks of the season.
For a full breakdown of every player stat from this game, check out the official ESPN box score and the NFL.com game page. Additional coverage and analysis is available on CBS Sports and the Denver Broncos official site. For in-depth match versus player stats comparisons across the NFL, matchvsplayerstats.com is worth bookmarking.
