Nik Bonitto pick-sixes Adonai Mitchell, gets flagged for ‘illegal demonstration’
Denver Broncos (9-5) linebacker Nik Bonitto has been a nightmare for opposing offenses to deal with this season, and that continued in Sunday’s Week 15 home game against the Indianapolis Colts (6-8).
In the fourth quarter with Denver clinging to a 17-13 lead, the Colts drew up some trickery. Quarterback Anthony Richardson threw a designed screen to receiver Adonai Mitchell, who threw it right back to Richardson — well, attempted, that is. Bonitto read the play from the jump, intercepting Mitchell’s pass back to Richardson and taking it the other way for six.
Bonitto went beast mode as he crossed the plane, breaking out the iconic Marshawn Lynch celebration. The officiating crew didn’t like that one too much, flagging him for illegal demonstration.
Nik Bonitto continues stellar season for Broncos
Making matters worse for Mitchell, Bonitto is a former Oklahoma Sooner, a horrible outcome for the former Texas Longhorn. Bonitto’s incredible play helped lift Denver to a 31-13 victory, its fourth consecutive win.
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Bonitto has taken a jump in his third season in the league. He entered Sunday’s game with 11.0 sacks this season, tied for second with the Cleveland Browns’ (3-11) Myles Garrett.
With his touchdown against Indianapolis, Bonitto became just the ninth player in NFL history with a pick-six, a fumble return for a touchdown and at least 10 sacks in a single season, according to Andrew Mason of Denver Sports 104.3. Bonitto is the first with that stat line since J.J. Watt in 2014.