DENVER (AP) — If Sunday night felt like a party to the Denver Broncos, on Monday they dealt with the hangover of their 33-32 win over the New York Giants that featured one of the most improbable comebacks in NFL history.

“We gave up five or six third-and-10 or fourth-and-long conversions,” coach Sean Payton said as he prepared for what was sure to be a fire-and-brimstone speech to his players during their day-after film review. "Offensively, we really didn't amount to anything until we got into the end of the game, fourth quarter. Mental errors, mistakes, snaps, wrong reads, you name it."

And yet, somehow the Broncos overcame a 26-8 deficit Sunday with less than six minutes remaining to extend their wild winning streak to four games.

Teams that trailed by at least 18 points in the final six minutes of the fourth quarter have won two of 3,679 NFL games since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

The only other time it happened was on Oct. 10, 2003, when Peyton Manning led the Indianapolis Colts back from a 35-14 deficit to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road with three touchdowns in the final 3:37 of regulation to force overtime, then won it on a short Mike Vanderjagt field goal 38-35.

Manning was on hand to witness the Broncos' historic comeback — along with other members of Denver's Super Bowl 50-winning team — for the halftime posthumous induction of former wide receiver Demaryius Thomas into the team's Ring of Fame.

Thomas' pillar at the Broncos' Ring of Fame plaza outside Empower Field was placed next to Manning's as was his name on the fifth-level facade of the stadium, something Manning said “means a lot" to him.

"We were close and he was so close to my family, as well. It means a great deal."

Most assuredly, so did witnessing the historic comeback that left the Broncos (5-2) all alone atop the AFC West for the first time since Week 4 of the 2016 season.

What’s working

Denver's fourth-quarter offense. The Broncos have outscored their opponents 61-13 in the final quarter during their four-game winning streak, shutting out the Bengals, Eagles and Jets before outscoring the Giants 30-13 with the second-most prolific quarter in league history, behind only Detroit's 34-point quarter in a 37-27 win over Chicago on Sept. 30, 2007.

What needs help

Denver's dawdling offense through three quarters. In their last three games and excluding an end-of-half possession, the Broncos' drives prior to the fourth quarter look like this: 17 punts, two field goals, one touchdown, a fumble, a safety and a turnover on downs after stalling at the opponent's 1-yard line.

Stock up

QB Bo Nix has three fourth-quarter comebacks this season. With two TD keepers and TD throws to Troy Franklin and R.J. Harvey, Nix became the first quarterback in NFL history with multiple rushing and passing touchdowns in a fourth quarter. He also extended his streak of games with at least one touchdown throw to 15. Only Lamar Jackson (28) and Patrick Mahomes (17) have longer active streaks. Nix's six fourth-quarter comebacks since the start of his rookie season last year are tied for the NFL lead with Tampa Bay's Baker Mayfield.

Stock down

Denver's defense, which has been stellar all season, had a major hiccup Sunday. They stumbled on a half-dozen third- or fourth-and-long situations:

—3rd-and-11 at Denver 13: Jaxson Dart 13-yard touchdown pass to Cam Skattebo.

—3rd-and-10 at New York 2: Defensive pass interference on Ja'Quan McMillian

—3rd-and-12 at New York 38: Dart 13-yard pass to Wan'Dale Robinson plus face mask by cornerback Riley Moss for another 15 yards.

—3rd-and-17 at Denver 41: Dart 41-yard touchdown to Theo Johnson.

—4th-and-19 at New York 26: Dart 19-yard pass to Robinson plus roughing the passer on John Franklin-Myers for another 15 yards.

—3rd-and-10 at Denver 40: pass interference on Moss on incompletion to Beaux Collins at the 2. Payton also was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for running onto the field to argue the call, but that only cost Denver a yard. Still, when Dart scored on the next play with 37 seconds left, it could have been the dagger.

Injuries

The Broncos came out of the game healthy.

Key stats

300 Club: Sunday marked Payton's 300th game as head coach, including playoffs. He's the 20th coach in NFL history to reach that milestone. Other active head coaches in that club are: Andy Reid, Mike Tomlin, Pete Carroll and John Harbaugh.

Seventh-round sensation: With 1 1/2 sacks against the Giants, OLB Jonathon Cooper now has 29 1/2 career sacks. That marks the most by any seventh-round draft choice in their first 71 career games since the league switched to a seven-round draft format in 1994.

Next steps

The Broncos host the high-powered Dallas Cowboys (3-3-1) who are coming off a 44-22 victory over the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

Broncos LB Dre Greenlaw has been suspended by the NFL for 1 game for unsportsmanlike conduct

DENVER (AP) — Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw was suspended by the NFL for one game on Monday for berating an official after a wild 33-32 victory over the New York Giants.

The NFL said Greenlaw violated Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1(b), which prohibits “the use of abusive, threatening or insulting language or gestures to opponents, teammates, officials, or representatives of the League.”

The 28-year-old Greenlaw has three days to appeal his suspension under the league’s collective bargaining agreement. The AFC West-leading Broncos (5-2) host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

Greenlaw signed a $31.5 million, three-year contract with Denver in the spring after spending his first six seasons with San Francisco. He came off IR on Saturday after recovering from a quadriceps injury that had bothered him for months.

After the Broncos’ historic comeback against the Giants, Greenlaw chased after referee Brad Allen and verbally threatened him as he tried to leave the field, the league said. He had six tackles in 21 snaps Sunday.

Avalanche off to a strong start behind deep lineup and stellar goaltending from Scott Wedgewood

DENVER (AP) — In breaking down Colorado's fast start, Nathan MacKinnon got to the point about as quick as he moves along the ice.

“Our lineup," the speedy forward said, “is really good.”

The Avalanche (5-0-1) have recorded at least a point in all six games this season. It's tied for the fifth-longest point streak to begin a season in franchise history.

This is quite a contrast to a year ago, when the Avalanche dealt with several key injuries in beginning 0-4. They can extend their stellar start Tuesday in Utah. The franchise's longest point streak to kick off a season is 11 games (9-0-2) in 2000-01. That squad, featuring Joe Sakic & Co., went on to win the Stanley Cup.

“It’s far from perfect hockey,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said of his team's strong start, which includes a 3-0 road mark. “But it’s pretty good for this time of the year.”

Calming presence

Captain Gabriel Landeskog provided a boost last season with his comeback for the playoffs after sitting out three full regular seasons due to a chronically injured right knee.

Now, he's around full-time in his 14th season as the Avalanche’s captain.

“I don't think we're playing necessarily to the standard, all the time, that we want,” Landeskog said Saturday after a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins. “Having said that, I think to be able to figure out your game as a team and as individuals as you're winning, that always helps. We'll keep working at it.”

This could've easily led to a slow start: Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood missing the beginning of the season with a lower-body injury. But in stepped backup Scott Wedgewood, who has a league-leading five wins to go with a 1.48 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage.

His only hiccup was in a 5-4 shootout loss to Dallas, but still helped earn the team a point. He's appeared in net every game this season and is tied for the fourth-longest point streak to open a season by any Avalanche/Nordiques goaltender. Wedgewood trails only the Hall of Famer Patrick Roy (nine games in 2000-01 and 1997-98) and Mario Gosselin (seven games in 1985-86).

"He's been average,” Landeskog said of Wedgewood before breaking into a grin. “He deserves all the credit he's getting because he's huge for us.”

Dynamic combo

The speedy combination of MacKinnon and Martin Necas has been difficult to contain. They each have 10 points through the opening six games. It’s the second straight season where multiple skaters have notched double-digit points within Colorado's opening six contests. Last year, it was MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Mikko Rantanen, the player that Colorado dealt to Carolina for Necas (Rantanen was later traded by the Hurricanes to Dallas).

“Our chemistry has been better game by game,” said Necas, who chalks that up to having a full training camp with MacKinnon this fall.

The third member of that top line, Artturi Lehkonen, has seven points.

“He works well with everybody," said MacKinnon, who's among the league leaders with six goals. "Everyone is feeling good — physically, mentally. The players we have are elite. It’s nice to get off to a good start.”

Power play blues

The Avalanche brought in former Seattle and Philadelphia head coach Dave Hakstol this season to put a charge into their stagnant power play. Colorado went 3 of 22 on the power play in a first-round playoff loss against Dallas last season that went seven games.

So far, Colorado is 3 of 25 with the man advantage. It's early, though, Bednar cautioned. MacKinnon, Makar, Necas and the rest of the power-play unit are still learning a new system.

“You can’t say better or worse or any of that," Bednar said. “It’s just different. I think the guys are refreshed a little bit here with some of the messaging that he’s (giving), and that’s why I have faith in the power play."

Health watch

The Avalanche do have their share of banged-up players with Blackwood, forward Joel Kiviranta (lower body) and defenseman Samuel Girard (upper body) currently sidelined. Forward Logan O’Connor could return next month after undergoing hip surgery in June.

“It's a good hockey team," Bednar said. "It's not the same when you're missing five, six top players and they're sitting on the shelf because of injuries like last year. ... Our guys are slotted right where they should be and they're all playing well.

“When you’re healthy, which doesn’t happen often in this league — as healthy as we can be — you’ve got to make hay when the sun shines."

Christian Braun agrees to $125M, 5-year extension with Denver Nuggets

DENVER (AP) — Shooting guard Christian Braun agreed to a $125 million, five-year contract extension with the Denver Nuggets on Monday.

His agent, Bill Duffy, confirmed the deal to The Associated Press. It was first reported by ESPN.

The 24-year-old Braun is coming off a season with the Nuggets in which he moved into the starting lineup. He averaged 15.4 points and 5.2 rebounds.

Known for his high-energy defense and hustle, Braun fits seamlessly alongside Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. Braun's sporting a new hairstyle this season, too, with his buzz cut.

The 6-foot-6 Braun was taken by Denver with the 21st pick in 2022 after finishing his career at Kansas with a national title. He then helped the Nuggets to their first NBA championship during his rookie season.

Braun scored a career-high 30 points last April against the Indiana Pacers. He averaged 12.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in a playoff run last season that ended with a second-round loss to the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games.

The Nuggets are among the favorites to win an NBA crown this season. They have a new look after trading Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn for Cam Johnson and swinging another deal with Sacramento for big man Jonas Valanciunas. Denver also added Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown, who along with Braun was a key piece off the bench when the Nuggets won in 2023.