How it Happened: Broncos upset Eagles with furious fourth-quarter rally

Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Live updates

FINAL | Broncos 21, Eagles 17

The Broncos made a furious rally in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Eagles 18-0 en route to a 21-17 win over the defending Super Bowl champions in Philadelphia.

Denver quarterback Bo Nix led a 10-play, 64-yard drive that was capped off by a 2-yard J.K. Dobbins touchdown run to open the fourth. Then the Broncos defense forced a three-and-out. Denver’s offense returned with another touchdown, an 11-yarder to Evan Engram. The Broncos converted the two-point conversion to take the lead.

Another three-and-out and Denver had the ball again. They scored on Wil Lutz’s 36-yard field goal to force Philadelphia to go for a touchdown on its final drive. The Eagles threatened but couldn’t capitalize.

Next up for the Broncos: New York Jets in London at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12.

Fourth-quarter updates

Ballgame (2:23 p.m.): BROKEN UP IN THE END ZONE!

What a win for Sean Payton and the Broncos.

The defense shows up. The run game shows up. Bo Nix shakes off a rough three quarters and delivers.

A 14-point comeback on the Super Bowl champs’ field.

These are the kind of wins that change the course of a season. — Schubert

Final chance (2:21 p.m.): The Eagles will get one more shot from the Denver 29 to win this. Broncos may have gotten away with one on the last play. — Schubert

Pass interference (2:19 p.m.): JL Skinner with the pass interference call. First down, Eagles with 15 seconds left. — Nguyen

Philly is going to have a reasonable shot at this. Nine seconds and the ball is at the Broncos’ 29. — Schubert

Last chance (2:17 p.m.): Philly will start at its 25 with 1:06 left and no timeouts. — Schubert

Field goal, Broncos (2:14 p.m.): Wil Lutz nails the 36-yard field goal. Broncos 21, Eagles 17 with 1:11 to go in regulation. Up to Denver’s defense now. — Nguyen

Mature decision from Bo Nix on third down to just take a small gain and run more clock.

Wil Lutz boots a 36-yard field goal, and it’s 21-17 Broncos with 1:11 to go.

This is now on the defense. — Schubert

Lutz drills 36-yarder and head butts Crawshaw. Defense needs one more stop for the biggest win in Payton’s tenure in Denver. 1:11 left. — Renck

Two-minute warning (2:10 p.m.): We’re going to the two-minute warning. Third-and-long for the Broncos. — Schubert

Broncos have heard the criticism. They can’t finish. They are two minutes from changing that narrative in an unlikely comeback on road vs. defending champions who have not lost at home in 13 months. — Renck

What if? (2:09 p.m.): Would’ve been really curious to see what happened on that fourth down had the Eagles not gotten flagged. — Schubert

Penalty (2:05 p.m.): Eagles with an unnecessary roughness call after stopping RJ Harvey to force fourth down. Broncos have the first down. — Nguyen

RJ Harvey is stopped short on a pass into the flat … but a late hit personal foul penalty gives the Broncos a first down. What a break for Denver. — Schbuert

Courtland. Sutton. (2:04 p.m.): The Broncos receiver is having a day. Eight catches for 99 yards. — Nguyen

Penalty (2:02 p.m.): TERRIBLE delay of game penalty on the next play. — Schubert

First down (2:01 p.m.): Bo Nix finds Courtland Sutton for the first down. — Nguyen

And on third-and-6 … Bo Nix drops a dime to Courtland Sutton. First down, and the Eagles will soon have to think about burning timeouts. — Schubert

Intentional grounding (1:59 p.m.): Bo Nix with ANOTHER costly intentional grounding on second-and-short. Rough call for the Broncos. Adam Trautman looked like he was in the area. That one really hurts. — Schubert

Replay assist strikes the flag. Just an incompletion. — Schubert

Now called an incompletion. — Nguyen

Run play (1:59 p.m.): The Broncos’ outside run plays are really doing a number on the Philly defense. — Schubert

Clock is ticking (1:58 p.m.): Bo Nix to Adam Trautman for a first down on the first play. Tight end makes a smart decision to fall down in bounds. Clock is ticking. — Schubert

Fourth down (1:55 p.m.): Jalen Hurts connects with Davonta Smith for the easy first down and a huge gain … is what I would be saying if Philly didn’t have a penalty. Fourth-and-9 and they’re punting. Just a 25-yard punt. Denver gets the ball at its own 32. — Nguyen

Broncos dodge a bullet with an illegal shift on fourth down. That forces the Eagles to punt on fourth down (rather than first down deep in Broncos territory). Run some clock on this drive, and this somehow could be game over. Stunning turn of events in Philly. — Schubert

Run game (1:55 p.m.): The Broncos have taken Saquon Barkley out of this game as a runner. They’ve put this game squarely on Jalen Hurts’ shoulders. — Schubert

Touchdown, Broncos (1:49 p.m.): Bo Nix finds Evan Engram for an 11-yard touchdown to cap off the six-play, 72-yard drive. Then they make a 2-point conversion with a short pass to Troy Franklin. Broncos 18, Eagles 17 with 7:36 to go in the game. — Nguyen

Evan Engram with his second reception on the drive, and he’s in the end zone. The Broncos’ big free-agent addition finally shows up. And right on time. We got a tie game in Philly, folks.

Wait …

Broncos going for two.

Nix to Franklin, and the Broncos are … leading this game?!?!?!

It’s 18-17 with 7:36 to go, and the Broncos defense is playing with its hair on fire right now. What a turn of events. — Schubert

Third-down conversion (1:48 p.m.): Third-and-15? No problem. Bo Nix connects with Courtland Sutton for the first down. — Nguyen

BALL DON’T LIE!

What a throw from Nix to Sutton on third and long. — Schubert

Penalty (1:47 p.m.): ANOTHER drive-killing penalty. This time Pat Bryant gets flagged on what really looked like an inadvertent pick. — Schubert

Engram (1:45 p.m.): Evan Engram sighting!!!

Two straight first-down completions from Bo Nix, and the Broncos are in Eagles territory. — Schubert

Injury update (1:42 p.m.): Mike McGlinchey back in the game. — Gabriel

Sacked (1:40 p.m.): Denver has five sacks this game. Ja’Quan McMillian scores the latest, a 3-yard loss on the play to force fourth down. — Nguyen

Eagles’ bizarre decision to abandon run in late third and early fourth quarter has left Denver in position to pull off upset. The Broncos trail 17-10 with 11:08 remaining. — Renck

The Broncos defense delivers again. This time it’s Ja’quan McMillian with a third-down sack. That’ FIVE sacks for Denver today. They are dictating Philly’s style of play on offense, and it’s starting to pay off. — Schubert

Kevin Patullo is pulling a Sean Payton worse than Sean Payton has pulled a Sean Payton this game. Saquon Barkley has five carries and there’s 11 minutes left. Eagles have completely abandoned the run for … some reason. And the Broncos have a chance to tie because of it. — Evans

Touchdown, Broncos (1:35 p.m.): The run game is working for Denver. J.K. Dobbins caps off a 10-play, 64-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run up the middle. Eagles 17, Broncos 10 with 13:11 left in the game. — Nguyen

As I was saying… suddenly this feels like a ballgame. — Gabriel

Sean Payton listened to his play sheet. Good things happened with J.K. Dobbins. We got a game in Philly. — Schubert

Injury alert (1:32 p.m.): Right tackle Mike McGlinchey down on the field. Alex Palczewski is likely the next man up? — Schubert

Driving (1:31 p.m.): First-and-goal at the 9. Four-down territory at this point in the game. — Schubert

Third-quarter thoughts — Eagles 17, Broncos 3

Parker Gabriel, beat reporter: The Broncos’ weaknesses have been exposed and their strengths haven’t been particularly strong today. And yet their a Talanoa Hufanga tip or a touchdown early in the fourth quarter here from being within striking distance. A 14-point deficit feels like 28, but that’ll change quickly if they get into the end zone on this drive.

Troy Renck, sports columnist: Broncos have to show they can make big play offensively. It would make sense that it would come on the ground. Dobbins needs more carries.

Matt Schubert, sports editor: Either Bo Nix figures this out quickly, or Sean Payton listens to his play sheet and runs the football. Otherwise, the Broncos are looking at 2-3 heading to London.

Third-quarter updates

Running game (1:25 p.m.): The Broncos are averaging 4.7 yards per run right now. Perhaps something to consider? — Schubert

Engram sighting (1:23 p.m.): Bo Nix connects with Evan Engram for a 7-yard gain. — Nguyen

Sacked (1:22 p.m.): Bonitto with sack and flaps his wings to boos from crowd. — Renck

Nik Bonitto’s tremendous start to the season continues. He’s at 1.5 sacks today. — Schubert

Nearly picked (1:21 p.m.): Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga nearly intercepted the ball. He tipped it on the rush on Jalen Hurts and just couldn’t come down with it. — Nguyen

OH MAN, Talanoa Hufanga nearly flipped this game. Deflection … and then a drop on what appeared to be an easy interception. — Schubert

Three-and-out (1:16 p.m.): Broncos now 2-for-11 on third down. Not the blueprint for an upset. — Renck

Poor throw from Bo Nix on third down. This has not been his day. — Schubert

Running game (1:12 p.m.): In one of the stranger developments, Saquon Barkley has run the ball just five times so far in this game. — Schubert

Defensive stop (1:11 p.m.): Pat Surtain II with a pass break-up on third down. The Broncos will get the ball back. Time is running out. Bo Nix and Co. really need to start delivering soon. — Schubert

Penalties (1:08 p.m.): Broncos at eight penalties for 83 yards and we’re roughly halfway through the third quarter. — Schubert

MVP (1:06 p.m.): The Broncos’ MVP continues to be Jeremy Crawshaw, who pins Philly inside its 10-yard line with another beautiful punt. Gotta get a stop here. — Schubert

Intentional grounding (1:03 p.m.): Oof. Thirteen-yard loss and a loss of downs on Bo Nix’s intentional grounding penalty. — Nguyen

Ball has to come out sooner from Bo Nix. He had a crosser he could’ve gone to. Just a brutal intentional grounding. The Broncos offense just cannot get out of its own way right now. — Schubert

Some good, some bad (1 p.m.): Sexy fullback dive from the Broncos. And … then a burned timeout in the third quarter. Not ideal. — Schubert

Bo knows running (12:59 p.m.): Really wish Nix could remember how good he is at running football. He is elite from QB perspective. — Renck

False start (12:58 p.m.): False start on first down, this time from McGlinchey. — Schubert

Injury alert (12:57 p.m.): Looking at the replay on the John Franklin-Myers injury … non-contact. And it didn’t look great. Very awkward plant on his leg. — Schubert

Broncos DL John Franklin-Myers doing some sprint work, side-to-side shuffles on sideline, was slapping his right thigh. — Evans

Sloppy (12:56 p.m.): Another penalty pushes the Broncos back to start their first drive of the second half. Sloppy, sloppy game for Denver. If Denver doesn’t get points here, things are gonna start to look pretty bleak. — Schubert

Touchdown, Eagles (12:51 p.m.): Jalen Hurts connects with Saquon Barkley for the 47-yard catch-and-run touchdown. Alex Singleton doesn’t have the speed to keep up. Eagles 17, Broncos 3 with 13:23 to go in the third quarter. — Nguyen

Hurts finds Barkley for beautiful 52-yard TD on wheel route. Have we mentioned that Broncos needed Dre Greenlaw — and for that matter Evan Engram — to make impact for Broncos to improve this season? — Renck

Air attack (12:49 p.m.): The Eagles seem content to throw the ball against this Broncos defense. Not a lot of action for Saquon Barkley on first down. — Schubert

Halftime thoughts — Eagles 10, Broncos 3

Luca Evans, beat reporter: No rhythm for Sean Payton, no rhythm for Bo Nix, widespread offensive success for the Eagles and yet the Broncos are down by a touchdown at half. Payton started this game with trying to establish the run and then abandoned it. I’d think it’s J.K. Dobbins time in the third quarter.

Parker Gabriel, beat reporter: Broncos started this game with four runs and a pass. Then the rest of the half they dropped back 22 times and ran it just six times.

Vic Fangio’s got Bo Nix in the blender so far.

Troy Renck, sports columnist: Vic Fangio is toying with Broncos offense in general and Bo Nix specifically. Broncos trail 10-3. Abandoned the run after early success. And Nix keeps trying to go deep, and Eagles have plaster coverage in those spots. Looks like only path to upset for Broncos is defensive or special teams score.

Matt Schubert, sports editor: Bo Nix is going for broke … and losing. The Broncos offense is drawing flags at the worst possible time. And the Denver secondary has gotten burned once (and almost twice). Not the formula for beating the defending Super Bowl champs.

Second-quarter updates

Third-and-no (12:33 p.m.): Bo Nix now 0 for 2 on third-down prayers after the flag gets picked up. — Schubert

Third-down stop (12:29 p.m.): And Zach Allen forces an errant throw from Jalen Hurts on third-and-5. Denver is gonna get another shot at this with 1:02 left. — Schubert

Speaking of bad play-calling sequences… man. — Gabriel

Interesting play-calling (12:29 p.m.): Philly playing with fire here on offense. Broncos may get this ball back. — Schubert

Punt (12:26 p.m.): Don’t love chucking a prayer down the field on third-and-5. The Broncos will punt … again … with 1:26 left. — Schubert

What choice do you have on third and eminently manageable but to heave a prayer down the sideline? — Gabriel

Bo Nix is not operating with much rhythm right now. — Evans

First down (12:22 p.m.): And there is answer to where Tyler Badie had been all season. Nice gain on second down as Broncos inch towards FG range. — Renck

Sacked (12:18 p.m.): Zach Allen and Nik Bonitto sack Jalen Hurts for a 3-yard loss. — Nguyen

Allen and Bonitto share a sack. Terrific coverage. Chance to get points before half. — Renck

Zach Allen and Nik Bonitto get the sack at midfield on third and long, but the coverage has to get a fair amount of credit for that. Big response from the Broncos defense. Big opportunity for Denver here. And sort of a must with Philly getting the ball to start the second half. — Schubert

Confirmed (12:16 p.m.): And the incompletion stands. Broncos and Riley Moss dodge a bullet. That second foot was about 2″ out of bounds. — Schubert

Challenge (12:15 p.m.): That’s a really bad challenge from Eagles coach Nick Sirianni. No way that call gets overturned. — Schubert

Yards allowed (12:12 p.m.): Pat Surtain II gives up another catch to A.J. Brown. — Schubert

Pass interference (12:11 p.m.): PI on Riley Moss. That’s five first-half penalties for #Broncos now.

• 7 penalties in Week 4
• 7 in Week 3 loss
• 8 in Week 2 loss

No improvement on that front. — Evans

Riley Moss pass interference on first down. The Broncos secondary really needs to turn this around. — Schubert

Timely moment (12:09 p.m.): Middle eight minutes going to be really important in this game. Eagles have the ball starting this drive with 4:49 to go and leading 10-3. They also get the ball to start the second half. — Gabriel

False start (12:05 p.m.): Another penalty, this time a false start on Garett Bolles, puts the Broncos behind the sticks after multiple positive plays. Can’t have that in these sorts of games. — Schubert

Couple of uncharacteristic issues for the Broncos between a really bad sequence from their CBs and then Garett Bolles having a rough series.

Both have been strengths so far this season. — Gabriel

Touchdown, Philly (11:58 a.m.): Hurts to Dallas Goedert in the flat for a TD.

From third-and-17 backed up deep to leading in a blink for the Philly offense. — Gabriel 

That was an awful sequence from the Broncos’ defense. Riley Moss torched on a 52-yard ball on a 3rd-and-17. Pat Surtain II draws a PI. Eagles score on a short TD pass from Jalen Hurts the next play. Vance Joseph’s defense can’t fold like that. — Evans

Can’t give up first downs on third-and-17. And it can’t be a 52-yard completion. #Broncos Riley Moss and Pat Surtain II both had bad moments on Eagles’ drove. — Renck

PI (11:57 a.m.): Pat Surtain II flagged on a ball near the end zone. Not a great start to Sunday for PSII so far. — Schubert

Burned (11:56 a.m.): Riley Moss gets toasted on third-and-17 by Devonta Smith. Cannot happen. — Schubert

Sacked (11:55 a.m.): Eyioma Uwazurike has been active for #Broncos upfront and in pursuit of Hurts. He gets sack on last play. Broncos stayed patience with him after gambling suspension. He has rewarded them in his second chance this season. — Renck

Jalen Hurts has now sacked himself twice in this game by running out of bounds rather than throwing the ball away. — Schubert

TFL (11:54 a.m.): Talanoa Hufanga shoots through the gap on first down for a tackle for loss. Just a fantastic play from here there. –Schubert

Injury update (11:51 a.m.): Eagles star LG Landon Dickerson questionable with an ankle injury. Been all kinds of injury issues for the Philly OL so far this season. — Gabriel

Sacked (11:47 a.m.): Za’Darius Smith looped inside and sacked Nix on third down. Badie went out in the pass route and Smith ran right past Meinerz.

Just a four-man rush on third-and-8 but the Broncos’ veteran right side didn’t handle a stunt between Jalen Carter and Za’Darius Smith well. Brutal sack, too, as it knocked the Broncos out of field goal range. — Gabriel

Oh, that’s just a really, really bad sack for Bo Nix to take there.

He’s gotta just get rid of that ball.

That sack is gonna cost the Broncos three points. A promising drive is killed by an alignment penalty and a sack. Not great. Quinn Meinerz gets a lot of the blame for that one. — Schubert

Just a little far (11:46 a.m.): Bo Nix juussttt missed Sherfield on a sure-fire TD. — Schubert

Pre-London slump (11:45 a.m.): Interesting stat brought up on the broadcast. Teams that play a road game right before a trip to London are 2-14. — Schubert

Running game (11:45 a.m.): J.K. Dobbins shows tremendous patience and vision in run game. Has 27 yards on six carries. — Renck

Checking in (11:43 a.m.): No. 63 is reporting eligible. The folks at the Linc aren’t as enthusiastic about Palcho. — Gabriel

Keeler: Broncos’ Alex Palczewski loves being Empower Field’s newest cult hero: ‘Why are they all cheering?’

First-quarter thoughts — Broncos 3, Eagles 3

Luca Evans, beat writer: This game might come down to who can win the red zone. Both the Broncos and Eagles have had flashes of offensive flow that’s stalled out in enemy territory. Denver will need to figure out Philadelphia’s play-action game moving forward.

Parker Gabriel, beat reporter: Vance Joseph and Vic Fangio’s groups are each bending but not breaking. Looks like a game that will be decided on the margins. That’s where the Eagles have excelled and the Broncos have faltered. Perhaps Sean Payton’s team can write a different story today.

Troy Renck, sports columnist: Want to beat the Eagles, you can’t fear being boring. Broncos split time of possession equally. Ran enough to keep Philly off balance and took care of the ball. But have to win in the red zone and start getting more pressure on Jalen Hurts. He is getting way too comfortable.

Matt Schubert, sports editor: The Broncos defense has already won in the red zone once. If you were going to draw up a plan for an upset in Philly, that would be one of the first places to start.

First-quarter updates

Nice gain (11:39 a.m.): Bo Nix connects with Troy Franklin for a 20-yard gain. — Nguyen

Field goal, Eagles (11:35 a.m.): Jake Elliott connects on the 31-yard field goal. Broncos stopped the Eagles in the red zone. It’s the first time Philly hasn’t scored a touchdown when they reached the red zone all season. Tied up at 3-apiece. — Nguyen

And there it is, the first red zone stop against the Eagles offense all season. This is what the Broncos defense does.

Dondrea Tillman brought the pressure on third down. If that ball was on target, there’s a chance Riley Moss gets flagged for pass interference. — Schubert

Philly was 11/11 in the red zone. Broncos now have given up only three TDs in 13 red zone trips defended. — Gabriel

Driving (11:31 a.m.): Eagles finding their way on the ground with 29 yards rushing on this drive. And, to no surprise, Eagles feeding drama lama A.J. Brown in passing game. — Renck

Special teams play (11:26 a.m.): That was an odd kickoff return for the Eagles. The returners looked indecisive on who should return it. They ended up getting it to the 18-yard line. — Nguyen

Field goal, Broncos (11:22 a.m.): Wil Lutz nails a 55-yard field goal to get Denver on the board. Twelve plays for 32 yards on that drive. Broncos 3, Eagles 0 with 6:49 to go in the first quarter. — Nguyen

Lutz drills 55-yard field goal. K-Ball. K-Pop. K-Something. Broncos lead 3-0 with 6:49 left in first quarter. 12 play, 32-yard drive, 5:19 seconds. — Renck

Attempting field goals against the Eagles is dangerous business. But Wil Lutz comes through. Not a bad start for the Broncos early on. — Schubert

Hey, remember Vic Fangio’s speal on the new K-balls this week? Might’ve showed up there. Wil Lutz just drilled a 55-yarder. Maybe we are in fact in the Steroid Era of Kickers. — Evans

Overturned (11:20 a.m.): It is overturned. Ruled incomplete. Good call. — Renck

Overturned. It’s an incomplete pass. Big early break for the Broncos. — Gabriel

Strip sack? (11:19 a.m.): Cooper DeJean worked RJ Harvey and hit Bo Nix’s arm, forcing a fumble.

There’s the pass-protection issue popping up for the Broncos’ rookie RB. — Gabriel

Live I thought Bo Nix’s arm was going forward. Ruled fumble. Poor back protection. — Renck

That looks like an incomplete pass to me.

Mike McGlinchey was toast on that protection. — Schubert

Fourth-down conversion attempt (11:17 a.m.): Fourth-and-2 for the Broncos. They draw the Eagles offsides. First down, Denver. — Nguyen

Jalen Carter falling for Nate Adkins being under center is a mistake. Broncos convert on fourth down because of the offsides penalty. — Renck

Can’t believe the Eagles just jumped offisde at the prospect of a Nate Adkins sneak on fourth-and-3. — Schubert

Bootleg (11:14 a.m.): Love the bootleg. Love it a lot less when Adkins is the target not Engram. — Renck

Mimsy (11:14 a.m.): Marvin Mims Jr. already with two offensive touches. Me likey. — Schubert

QB play (11:12 a.m.): Making Jalen Hurts beat them through the air is good strategy for Broncos. But need to get more pressure. Hurts, per Bob Brookover, is 1-for-11 for 3 yards on the Eagles’ last nine offensive series dating to Bucs game. — Renck

Three-and-out (11:09 a.m.): Philly goes with three straight pass plays to start and goes 3-and-out. Jahdae Barron in dime coverage there on overthrow to Dallas Goedert.

Broncos need to generate more pressure on Jalen Hurts, though. Two really clean pockets. — Evans

Three-and-out (11:05 a.m.): The deep ball just went straight through Courtland Sutton’s hands on third-and-4. Gotta catch that. — Nguyen

That’s a ball from Bo Nix on 3rd-and-5 but it went straight through Courtland Sutton’s hands down the right sideline.

Tough drop there to start this off. Notable offensive emphasis from Sean Payton to establish run early. — Evans

Looked like ball went right through Courtland Sutton’s hands on third down. Would have been monster play. Sutton has to catch that in a game like this. — Renck

If Courtland Sutton wants to be considered among the NFL elite, those sorts of balls are non-negotiables. — Schubert

Off and running (11:04 a.m.): Denver starts its drive with a handoff to J.K. Dobbins. — Nguyen

Coin toss (11:01 a.m.): Broncos game captains today: Alex Singleton, Pat Surtain II, Talanoa Hufanga and Bo Nix.

Eagles win the toss and defer. Denver loses the toss for the first time this year and will start with the ball. — Gabriel

Pre-game updates

Key factors (11 a.m.): Many key factors in this game. But one of the reasons the Eagles offense has been awful at times this season is the injury-ravaged offensive line. Great players are playing, but are not healthy. Can the Broncos take advantage of this? — Renck

Perfect timing (10:59 a.m.): Eagles nailed the pregame with an Eagle flying in on cue into stadium during national anthem. — Renck

Bring the hype (10:23 a.m.): Broncos ILB Dre Greenlaw just led the linebackers in a pregame hype-up circle on the turf at the Linc.

Has played in many a game like this. ILB room going to be highly, highly important today vs. Saquon Barkley. — Evans

Broncos inactives (9:32 a.m.):

• QB Sam Ehlinger (emergency 3rd)
• RB Jaleel McLaughlin
• DL Sai’Vion Jones
• OT Frank Crum
• OLB Que Robinson

— Gabriel

Good morning (9:26 a.m.): It’s a beauty of a day here in Philadelphia where the Broncos will look to pull the upset on an Eagle team that’s won 20 of its past 21 games, including 18 straight that quarterback Jalen Hurts has started and finished.

Not a big surprise at this point but Jaleel McLaughlin’s got tennis shoes on and is hanging out on the Broncos bench.

Sean Payton says they consider the third RB spot each week, but doesn’t appear to be any change today.

Looks like Broncos DL Jordan Jackson is going through early warmups and rookie Sai’Vion Jones is in tennis shoes over in the bench area.

Jones got his first game action last week and Jackson was inactive. Might be going back to JJ against a run-heavy Eagles offense. — Gabriel

Scouting report (9 a.m.): Check out how the Broncos match up with the Eagles in Luca Evans’ scouting report.

Game predictions

Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Eagles 26, Broncos 23

The Eagles haven’t really hit their stride yet this season and yet are 4-0. The Broncos haven’t really hit their stride yet — though perhaps Monday night was the start — and are 2-2, with a pair of brutal road losses. Those games matter Sunday in this context: Sean Payton’s team hasn’t learned to close away from home yet. Philly, on the other hand, has won 20 of the past 21 games it’s played over the past calendar year-plus. That and special teams could be the difference.

Luca Evans, beat writer: Broncos 24, Eagles 21

Let’s get a little crazy. Philadelphia has way overachieved its underlying offensive and defensive numbers this year, winning games with fantastic special-teams and red-zone play. The Broncos have one of the best red-zone defenses in the league, and their run game is rolling. Darren Rizzi’s special teams will face its test of the season, but if they play a clean game and don’t spring themselves off any linemen, the Broncos have a real shot here.

Troy Renck, columnist: Eagles 24, Broncos 20

This screams upset … if Denver were at home. The Eagles are vulnerable. Their wings are clipped in the passing game. They have an A.J. Brown problem. They had zero yards through the air in the second half last week. The Broncos could run the ball, take care of the ball, and shock the Eagles. But not in Philadelphia. The Eagles have won 11 straight home games, and haven’t lost there in 13 months. A special teams play will prove the difference.

Sean Keeler, columnist: Eagles 24, Broncos 21

With apologies to the great Reggie Jackson, Sean Payton is the new Mr. October. Since 2016, the Broncos head coach sports a 13-2 record, straight-up, in October road games. Like Tampa and the Meadowlands last year, nobody outside the Front Range gives the orange and blue much of a chance. Bo Nix and the Broncos found something on Monday night. Unfortunately, I think what they mostly found is that the Bengals stink.

Broncos-Eagles NFL Week 5: Must-reads

Renck: Eagles’ Tush Push is pain in the butt. Broncos don’t need it banned. They need it officiated better

The Tush Push is a pain in the butt.

This past spring, the NFL competition and health and safety committees wanted it gone. The NFL owners disagreed, defeating a ban by two votes. So when push came to shove, the play lived on. For now.

As the Broncos face the Eagles on Sunday, a persuasive argument can be advanced for outlawing the play. The easiest is entertainment. The NFL thrives on attracting eyeballs to television sets. While jokes and conspiracy theories remain about how the league is scripted, no one wants to watch a play that is automatic.