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Ja'Quan McMillian's Red-Zone Pick and Two Blitz Sacks Deliver Broncos' 22-19 Win Over Chiefs

The undrafted slot corner capitalized on Vance Joseph’s blitz calls to cement his value during Patrick Surtain II’s absence.

Overview

  • He became the first Broncos cornerback ever to record two sacks and an interception in the same game.
  • His plays flipped key moments: a sack ended the first half, a third-quarter interception near the goal line set up Denver’s only touchdown, and a late third-and-10 sack preceded Wil Lutz’s walk-off field goal after Bo Nix bled the clock.
  • Denver freed him as a late blitzer from the slot, with McMillian saying he timed Mahomes’ snap cues to hit unaccounted rushing lanes.
  • Head coach Sean Payton awarded him the game ball, with teammates Quinn Meinerz and Riley Moss praising his toughness, and Patrick Surtain II voicing public support.
  • In a larger breakthrough for a 2022 undrafted signee, McMillian has produced this season — including four sacks — while stepping into expanded duties during Surtain’s pectoral injury layoff and rebuffing doubts after Denver drafted first-round CB Jahdae Barron.