Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior Writer 5y

How Broncos learned the 'how-tos' of game-winning drives

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos officially won their second game of the season on Sunday, when Brandon McManus’ 36-yard field goal went inside the right upright for a 20-19 victory over the Oakland Raiders.

It also was the proof of lessons learned the Friday before and the Friday before that. And a little in the spring, a tad in the summer.

Now every team has some version of reviewing end-game scenarios, but these Broncos are seeing it up close after two last-minute wins, won by a combined four points.

“Every Friday we have ‘Football 101’ and basically put our team in one big room and we talk through situational football," Joseph said this week. “Like two-minute, and four-minute and different penalties and those things -- those guys were very aware that we didn’t have any timeouts and they played it smart.’’

Down two points to the Raiders, with no timeouts, the Broncos were at their own 20-yard line. Here's ow the last 1:58 went down:

First-and-10 at Denver 20, 1:58 to play.

Quarterback Case Keenum, rolling left and looking downfield, was nearly sacked by Raiders defensive end Arden Key as he tossed the ball away. Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles was flagged for holding.

“We were all on the same page right there," Keenum said. “ ... We’re in great shape because all we need is a field goal. We had a lot of time. ... Just being ready for the situation at hand."

First-and-20 at Denver 10, 1:51 to play.

Raiders cornerback Rashaan Melvin knocked the ball away from Demaryius Thomas on what would have been a short completion.

Second-and-20 at Denver 10, 1:47 to play.

Keenum found Emmanuel Sanders for a 21-yard gain on the right sideline, in front of Leon Hall. Sanders immediately popped up and ran ball back to the official standing on the right hashmark so that he could place the ball immediately.

“That is all coaching. I think Coach has done a great job of giving us a lot of two-minute examples, so when I caught the ball, I got up and gave it right back," Sanders said. “ ... That is the stuff that we preach all the time in our room."

Joseph offered his take.

“We have no timeouts," the coach said. “So, if [Sanders] throws it [to the official] outside, that guy throws to the hash and that’s five seconds."

First-and-10 at Denver 31, 1:25 to play.

Keenum overthrew Thomas on right sideline.

Second-and-10 at Denver 31, 1:21 to play.

Keenum found tight end Jake Butt, who cut inside Raiders linebacker Tahir Whitehead for a 14-yard gain before he was tackled in bounds.

“Calm, no worries, everybody, just business as usual," Butt said. “ ... [Joseph] has done a hell of a job at putting us in bunches of different situations: down six, down three, down two. We’ve been in this situation like this before, so everybody was calm."

First-and-10 at Denver 45, 0:58 to play.

Keenum threw too high for Courtland Sutton to the right, but Sutton tipped the ball up in the air and Gareon Conley was close to a diving catch on the deflection. The Raiders bobbled an assignment on a zone blitz and, if Keenum had more time, Sanders was free behind Conley with no other defenders in the area.

Second-and-10 at Denver 45, 0:54 to play.

Keenum didn’t have a throw that he liked, so he pulled the ball down for a 7-yard scramble; he gambled a bit, as he didn't get out of bounds and got down just before being hit by Whitehead.

“I did not think I could get out of bounds at that point," Keenum said. “I know we were close to it. I knew with our kicker, any yards that we could get near midfield, especially here at elevation, makes a big difference."

Third-and-3 at Oakland 48, 0:26 to play.

Keenum found tight end Jeff Heuerman on the right sideline, and Heuerman got out of bounds as he passed the down marker. The Broncos' receivers on the left side of the formation appeared to have some confusion about the play before the snap, but Keenum looked to Heuerman the whole way.

First-and-10 at Oakland 44, 0:22 to play.

Thomas dropped what would have been an easy completion to put the Broncos in field goal range. It was his third dropped pass of the game.

Second-and-10 at Oakland 44, 0:18 to play.

With Sanders and Tim Patrick on the left side of the formation, Keenum hit Patrick, who cut back toward the middle of the field as he evaded Conley and then turned back to the sideline. As Sanders waved for him to get to the sideline, Patrick stepped out of an attempted tackle by Leon Hall to get out of bounds for a 26-yard gain.

“I knew I had plenty of time to go up the field," Patrick said. “The whole purpose was once I went up the field, I just wanted to get as much yardage as I can while getting out of bounds at the same time."

First-and-10 at Oakland 18, 0:08 to play.

McManus kicked a 36-yard field goal.

“Our offense didn’t flinch," Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. said. “They had time. Even with no timeouts, we knew if we got the ball back for them with two minutes that was enough for Case. They knew that situation, and we got the win."

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