EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos have found the most improbable comfort zone. This past Sunday night's 30-26 victory over the Los Angeles Rams was the fourth time in Sean Payton's three-plus-season tenure as head coach the Broncos have won a game in which they were behind 14 or more points in the second half."This team rises," safety Talanoa Hufanga said.Quarterback Bo Nix added that team's high-wire dance "feels like our DNA."Hufanga and Nix's comments form a pushback against proven concepts like regression to the mean or the thought that past results don't guarantee future performance. And yet another comeback win might be rejecting the common-sense belief that the Broncos can't keep winning in this fashion.But this past Sunday was the 10th time since Nix was drafted in 2024 that the Broncos have produced a fourth-quarter comeback victory. And it marked the first time in franchise history the Broncos have had consecutive comeback wins in which they trailed by double-digits in the second half (Denver overcame a 10-point, third-quarter deficit to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2).The Broncos (2-1) have developed a reputation for being second-half escape artists. But as they get set to face the undefeated San Francisco 49ers (3-0) on the road Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, Levi's Stadium, CBS), how do they really feel about their current trend of overcoming lackluster first halves to win in late, dramatic fashion?Payton tried to add some perspective moments after the Rams win, saying that a start like the Broncos had against Los Angeles -- in which they were outgained 273-67 in the first half while falling behind 16-0 -- would be "something we're frustrated about later if we don't get it cleaned up." And "later" could mean as soon as Sunday, given 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy leads the NFL in QBR (93.8) and touchdown passes (nine) while throwing only one interception.The 49ers lead the league in offensive efficiency by a margin of more than 14 points over the second-place Buffalo Bills, who are closer to seventh place than they are to San Francisco. The Niners also lead the NFL in offensive expected points added (EPA) by a little more than 15 points, with the No. 2 team (Buffalo) being closer to No. 8 than it is to the 49ers. So, the Broncos, who have scored only 10 first-half points this season, would rather not be forced rely on a third straight escape act."We'll look at the tape [of Sunday's win] and I'm sure and pull our hair out with some stuff," Payton said. "And be excited about some things, too"While it's not ideal, the Broncos can be excited about their ability to recover and thrive in seemingly hopeless situations. And the win over the Rams was among their most improbable."I wouldn't say it's good to be familiar in those situations, but once you are in those situations, you're familiar and you have been in that environment before and you understand what it takes to overcome the situations," Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton said. "... It allows you to play free, play fast."Every one of the Broncos' two-touchdown-plus comebacks of the Payton era saw them facing a win probability of 6% or less in the second half. His very first win in Denver, a 31-28 victory at the Chicago Bears in Week 4 of the 2023 season, saw the Broncos facing a win probability of 1.3% when they were behind 28-7 with 4:11 left in the third quarter. But two Russell Wilson touchdown passes, a Jonathon Cooper fumble return for a touchdown and a 51-yard field goal by Wil Lutz allowed Denver to score the final 24 points.Nix got two wins on those big deficits last season. The first came in Week 5 at the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, when the Broncos had only a 5.7% chance of victory when down 17-3 early in the third quarter. But Nix led two fourth-quarter touchdown drives to go with a 36-yard Lutz field goal for a 21-17 win. Two weeks later, the Broncos upped the ante. They entered the fourth quarter down 19-0 to the New York Giants and were behind 26-8 with 10:14 left, giving Denver a 0.2% chance to win. The Broncos scored a franchise-record 33 fourth-quarter points to pull out a 33-32 victory.Sunday's game had similar vibes, as the Broncos scored 30 second-half points to win a game in which they ran 20 fewer offensive plays than the Rams. Denver's win probability was 6.9% at halftime and dipped to 6% early in the third quarter. But three Nix touchdowns -- two passing, one rushing -- and a 66-yard interception return for a touchdown by Hufanga allowed the Broncos to defy fate again."Pretty inspiring the fight that we have, the willingness to compete no matter how far we're down," Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II said. "... No matter what the game looks like, we find a way to come back and win. That's what's important."When discussing their performance in comeback mode, most Broncos point to third-down conversions, turnovers and red-zone performance. But they also cite the defense's ability to get the most important stops and Nix's demeanor in the pressure situations, which leads to exemplary second-half play."Bo? He's a dawg," wide receiver Jaylen Waddle said.Nix led the league last season with seven game-winning drives and was third in the league with 1,130 passing yards in the fourth quarter, trailing only the Bills' Josh Allen and the Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott. Nix has two more game-winning drives this season, leading the NFL. His total QBR is 46.6 but jumps to 60.6 in the final period."Having a guy like that in the quarterback room, that doesn't complain ... doesn't cry, doesn't whine, just comes out and encourages us," Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant said. "It's great."While the Broncos would like to start games better than they have and not need the dramatics, they take comfort in knowing that they're capable of rising to the occasion when pushed to the brink."How do you respond?'' Sutton said. "... I think the more times you see that happen, I think it gives you the confidence that you can make a diamond out of a pressurized situation."
