Jets vs. Broncos score, results: Denver overcomes late mistakes to get first win of the season

Jacob Hancock

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Jets vs. Broncos score, results: Denver overcomes late mistakes to get first win of the season image

Many expected Thursday night's matchup between the Broncos and Jets to be a "hot mess inside a dumpster fire inside a train wreck." And while at times it was, the NFL bottom feeders provided a fairly entertaining game, with Denver coming out on top 37-28.

Brett Rypien was steady most of the night in the first start of his career, completing 19 of 31 passes for 242 yards and a TD. He threw three interceptions — two of them coming in the fourth quarter — but was able to help Denver convert more of its chances into touchdowns than Jets QB Sam Darnold, who led just one touchdown drive on the night.

Darnold looked fairly competent most of the game, completing 23-of-42 passes for 240 yards. But the offensive line couldn't seem to hold up most of the night, giving up six sacks for 54 yards. Compare that to the Broncos, who didn't allow Rypien to take a sack the entire game, and it's easy to see why the Jets had to rely on kicker Sam Ficken to score 15 of their 28 points.

Jets cornerback Pierre Desir had his name called a lot throughout the broadcast for good and bad reasons. He was picked on early, giving up a touchdown in the second quarter after getting "Mossed" by rookie wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. But Desir bounced back with two impressive interceptions, including a pick-six in the fourth quarter to bring the Jets within two points.

The drive following Desir's touchdown, Brian Poole picked off another Rypien pass to set up a Ficken field goal that gave the Jets a 30-28 lead. But Rypien was able to respond with a big drive that set up a go-ahead 53-yard field goal for Brandon McManus. The ensuing New York possession, Darnold was sacked on fourth down, and on the very next play Denver running back Melvin Gordon iced the game with a 57-yard touchdown run.

Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from Jets vs. Broncos on "Thursday Night Football." Follow below for complete results from the NFL Week 4 game.

Jets vs. Broncos score

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total
Jets 7 6 3 12 28
Broncos 3 14 7 13 37

Jets vs. Broncos live updates, highlights from 'Thursday Night Football'

11:47 p.m. —  Darnold's fourth-down pass falls incomplete and that'll do it. Broncos get their first win, 37-28. Jets fall to 0-4.

11:41 p.m. —  And on the first play, Melvin Gordon is stuffed at the line but is able to bounce it outside and take it 57 yards to the house thanks to a key block by Rypien. Denver leads 37-28 with 1:48 remaining.

11:38 p.m. —  Darnold is sacked on fourth down by Bradley Chubb to take it to the 2-minute warning. Denver gets the ball at the Jets' 43-yard line; New York still has all three timeouts.

11:32 p.m. —  Rypien is flagged for intentional grounding on third down, but McManus is still able to connect from 53 yards and Denver has the lead again, 30-28 with 3:08 left to play.

11:29 p.m. —  Rypien uncorks one to Patrick for a big gain on third down and Denver has the ball down near the red zone with four minutes remaining.

11:28 p.m. — The Jets bring down Rypien on third down, but Tarell Basham is called for a face mask to keep the drive alive. That's the fifth personal foul against New York tonight.

11:23 p.m. —  Darnold completes it to Crowder on third down. First down is originally given but the call is overturned as he was about half a yard short. The Jets opt to kick and Ficken connects from 36 yards out for his fifth make of the night. New York now leads 28-27 with 6:28 to play.

11:13 p.m. —  Rypien is picked off for the third time tonight as Brian Poole snags it. Jets take over, ball at the Denver 44-yard line with 8:37 remaining.

11:05 p.m. —  Guess who: Pierre Desir picks off Rypien's pass for the second time today and runs it back for a TD. Darnold isn't able to complete the pass on the 2-point conversion though, so Denver still leads 27-25 with 10:45 to play.

11:00 p.m. —  A great catch by Jamison Crowder moved the Jets into Denver territory, but Darnold slips on the turf on third down. Ficken is able to sneak it inside the near post though for a 54-yard field goal and it's 27-19 with 11:44 to play.

10:55 p.m. —  Rypien hits Patrick for a 7-yard gain but it's short of the first. Brandon McManus nails a 54-yard field goal and now it's a two-score game, Denver leads 27-16 with 14:11 left in regulation.

10:50 p.m. —  End of 3Q: Denver, 24, New York 16. Broncos have it, third and 8 at the Jets' 42-yard line.

10:47 p.m. —  Darnold is sacked on third down by Josey Jewell and New York punts. Diontae Spencer returns it 41 yards but is brought down by the punter, Braden Mann. Broncos have it, first and 10 at the Jets' 44-yard line with 52 seconds to play in the third period.

10:36 p.m. —  Rypien caps off an impressive drive and hits Tim Patrick in the end zone and Denver leads 24-16 with 4:31 remaining in the third quarter.

10:24 p.m. — A generous PI call puts the Jets in the red zone, but they can't do anything with it. Ficken hits from 32 yards and the Broncos' lead is cut to 17-16 with 11:23 left in the third quarter.

10:01 p.m. —  HALF: Denver 17, New York 13.

10:00 p.m. —  Three-straight incompletions stalls out the drive and Ficken comes out to hit a 38-yard field goal. Denver leads 17-13 with 15 seconds left on the clock.

9:56 p.m. —  Darnold has connected on three straight passes and the Jets have the ball, first and 10 at the Denver 20-yard line with 34 seconds remaining in the half.

9:53 p.m. —  Darnold hits Jamison Crowder for a 26-yard gain to get the ball near midfield, still 1:25 in the half remaining.

9:49 p.m. — Denver gets a successful challenge as Melvin Gordon clearly gets the ball extended across the goal line for the 1-yard TD run. Broncos lead 17-10 with 1:37 remaining in the half.

9:42 p.m. —  After Rypien converts on third down, Jeff Driskel checks in for a play, scrambles for nine yards and is hit as he slides, giving Denver a free first and goal at the five. That'll take it to the 2-minute warning.

9:37 p.m. —  Rypien goes after Desir again and hits Tim Patrick over the top for 41 yards to put Denver in New York territory with less than five minutes to go in the half.

9:31 p.m. —  Darnold scrambles out left but is unable to complete the pass. Ficken hits the kick this time from 26 yards and the game is tied at 10-10 with 6:21 remaining in the half.

9:28 p.m. —  Sam Ficken pulls the kick wide left but an unneccessary roughness penalty gifts the Jets a first down. They have the ball at Denver's 28-yard line, 7:44 to play in the half.

9:24 p.m. —  Darnold is unable to connect with Lawrence Cager as he goes down with an injury mid-route. Injury timeout with 7:48 left in the half, Jets likely looking at a 46-yard field goal attempt.

9:19 p.m. —  Well how about that: Desir makes up for his mistake on the last drive and drags the toes to pick off Rypien's pass. It was ruled incomplete but the Jets win the challenge and take over at their own 37-yard line, 11:04 remaining in the second quarter.

9:10 p.m. —  Darnold comes back in the game on third and 5 but he's sacked by Bradley Chubb and the Jets have to punt again.

9:04 p.m. —  Jerry Jeudy just MOSSED Pierre Desir for the first touchdown of his rookie season. Broncos lead 10-7 with 13:09 left in the first half.

8:56 p.m. —  The Jets stall out after Darnold goes out and that'll end the first period. That sack on Darnold by Alexander Johnson could be a huge momentum swing.

8:54 p.m. —  Darnold is coming off the field after being thrown down on his right shoulder. Really tough luck for him as he looked to be in a groove. Joe Flacco will step in under center for the first time this center.

8:52 p.m. —  The Jets have converted four of four third downs so far as Darnold rolls out to his left to find Jamison Crowder at the sticks. So far so good for Darnold tonight.

8:45 p.m. —  A false start turns third and 2 into third and 7, and Denver can't convert: Brandon McManus hits a 40-yard attempt to make it 7-3 with 4:45 left in the first quarter.

8:42 p.m. —  Back to back Jets penalties (pass interference, roughing the passer) have given Denver back to back first downs. Broncos are in New York territory with eight minutes remaining in the opening period.

8:32 p.m. —  HOLY COW. Sam Darnold just broke free and rattled off a 46-yard touchdown scramble. Jets have their first lead of the season, 7-0 with 11:25 left in the first quarter.

Jets vs. Broncos start time

All Thursday night games throughout the 2020 NFL season will start at 8:20 p.m. ET, though the TV viewing options (more on those below) will change beginning next week.

Denver already played under the bright lights in prime time once this season, against the Titans to cap off Week 1's Monday Night Football doubleheader. Thursday will be the Jets' first night game of the season. Both teams play on Sunday Night Football this season, too - the Jets against Cam Newton and the Patriots in Week 9 and the Broncos against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in Week 13.

For those in Denver, Thursday's game will begin at 6:20 p.m. local time, the first game to start at that time this season as the Broncos shouldn't be too impacted by a body-clock shift thanks to the night start on the east coast.

NFL Week 4 schedule

Below is the complete schedule for Week 4 of the 2020 NFL season.

Thursday, Oct. 1

Game Time (ET) TV channel
Broncos at Jets 8:20 p.m. NFL Network, fuboTV

Sunday, Oct. 4

Game Time (ET) TV channel
Ravens at WFT 1 p.m. CBS, fuboTV
Steelers at Titans 1 p.m. CBS, fuboTV
Chargers at Buccaneers 1 p.m. CBS, fuboTV
Seahawks at Dolphins 1 p.m. Fox, fuboTV
Vikings at Texans 1 p.m. Fox, fuboTV
Saints at Lions 1 p.m. Fox, fuboTV
Browns at Cowboys 1 p.m. Fox, fuboTV
Jaguars at Bengals 1 p.m. CBS, fuboTV
Colts at Bears 1 p.m. CBS, fuboTV
Cardinals at Panthers 1 p.m. Fox, fuboTV
Giants at Rams 4:05 p.m. Fox, fuboTV
Bills at Raiders 4:25 p.m. CBS, fuboTV
Patriots at Chiefs 4:25 p.m. CBS, fuboTV
Eagles at 49ers 8:20 p.m. NBC, fuboTV

Monday, Oct. 5

Game Time (ET) TV channel
Falcons at Packers 8:15 p.m. ESPN, fuboTV

Jacob Hancock