On Sunday in the Big Easy, the Denver Broncos won the game on a special teams play that was anything but ordinary.
With the scored tied at 23 and the New Orleans Saints attempting the go-ahead extra point, the Broncos came through with an improbable play that turned the tables.
On the snap, rookie safety Justin Simmons hurdled the line of scrimmage and knocked the kick down. Fellow rookie Will Parks grabbed the loose ball and returned it for the two-point score to give Denver the 25-23 victory.
It is nothing new for the Broncos, who have a host of big special teams plays and players, in their illustrious history.
Going back to the very first game in Broncos history, we see a mark being made by the punt return team.
Future Ring of Famer Gene Mingo would return a third quarter punt 76 yards for a touchdown to give Denver the first win in franchise history, defeating the Boston Patriots 13-10, way back on September 9, 1960.
Since then, we have seen a number of electric players and memorable plays from the special teams.
We may remember them as some of the greatest offensive and defensive players in franchise history, but both Floyd Little and Billy Thompson were highly productive return men in their incredible careers.
Rick Upchurch is one of the most explosive returners in NFL history, and has eight career touchdowns on special teams alone.
Whether it was kicking the tying field goal in the first Monday Night Football game in franchise history, or catching a touchdown pass on a fake field goal against the Oakland Raiders, kicker Jim Turner brought quality special teams play for a long time.
Luke Prestridge and Mike Horan were Pro Bowl punters in the 1980s, and kicker Jason Elam was consistently among the league’s best from 1993-2007.
Glyn Milburn, Vaughn Hebron, Darrien Gordon and Deltha O’Neal were all very dangerous returners, and were capable of changing a game on a single play.
Kicker Matt Prater had some Pro Bowl seasons in Denver, and a number of players from Dennis Smith to Louis Wright to Reggie Rivers to Ian Gold and Shane Dronett all made key contributions on special teams.
And while all of these players came from different backgrounds and played multiple positions, they each had one thing in common: They chipped in with big plays that helped the Broncos win some very crucial games.
And in a season like the current one, when this team is relying on youth at quarterback and running back, and are dealing with a struggling offensive line, the play of the special teams unit could be paramount.
Kicker Brandon McManus looks like one of the best young kickers in the league today, and rookie punter Riley Dixon has been showing steady improvement, logging nearly 42 yards per punt. Cornerback Kayvon Webster is constantly making plays on kick and punt coverage, and we just saw what the young duo of Simmons and Parks are capable of doing.
The Broncos don’t have the experience of Peyton Manning this season, and their defense has been banged up with numerous injuries.
But if they can continue to get solid play from their special teams and generate something from their return game, they could continue to find ways to win some of these close games that we know are coming down the stretch.
