DENVER --The Broncos' special teams have made a habit out of producing big plays throughout the team's 6-0 start to the season – and in Sunday's win over the Jaguars, it was the unit's captain's turn to answer the bell.
David Bruton certainly didn't disappoint.
Bruton broke off a 35-yard run on a fake punt late in the third quarter, keeping the Broncos offense on the field after an apparent three-and-out and vacuuming the momentum of the Jaguars' defensive stand.
And for Bruton, the timing of the play could not have been any better.
"It was just great," Bruton said after the game. "We had the field position where we wanted to, and they gave us the look. Any time we can swing momentum our way, it's been huge, and that's definitely a big thing with our special teams this year -- we've always had a play, some way, that's definitely swung the momentum in our favor in a huge way."
The fake was something that Broncos coaches had taken into consideration in preparing for the game during the week.
"It's something that (Special Teams Coordinator) Jeff Rodgers and (Assistant Special Teams Coach) Derius Swinton had looked at all week," Head Coach John Fox said. "That was the first time we had it up that we had the look that we wanted. It was great execution really on the whole left side of the punt team."
And for Bruton, it was a play that was a long time in the making.
"They just gave us the look that we've been working on for years, since I first played protector," Bruton said. "We've been waiting to run that play for quite some time. They showed tendencies and we took advantage of it."
Bruton's fake punt wasn't the only big play special teams chipped in during the afternoon.
The Broncos also snuffed out a Jacksonville fake punt on the game's opening series, stopping the Jaguars' run attempt easily short of a first down and giving Denver excellent field position for its first offensive possession.
It was a key stop that Bruton credited to the Broncos being aware of the possibility of a fake after other teams had run such a play in similar situations.
"We were just prepared for it, talked about watching the fake, and just being prepared," he said.
Head Coach John Fox agreed that the team was ready for the fake.
"I think that was evident," he said.
And on the subject of his own fake punt, Bruton's 35-yard run is the longest by a Bronco this season – a mark that he appreciates, but certainly won't have much attachment to.
"Hey, I will keep that as long as I can," Bruton chuckled. "Hopefully one of the guys breaks it. And then I'm going to have to do it again."
