Locals in the NFL: Devaughn Vele's triple-tipped TD helps Broncos clinch playoff spot

AROUND THE SHIELD — The Denver Broncos had everything to play for against AFC West rival Kansas City in Sunday's regular-season finale.

Devaughn Vele helped make sure it wasn't the Broncos' last game with one of the wildest touchdowns of the year.

The former Utah wide receiver caught four passes for 50 yards and a touchdown, part of Bo Nix's four-touchdown day that helped Denver clinch its first playoff berth since 2015 with a 38-0 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

When Nix called the first-and-goal play with just under seven minutes left in the second quarter of Sunday's game, Vele wasn't the Broncos signal caller's primary target. Or even secondary, perhaps.

But the rookie quarterback rolled to his right, fired a missile in the back of the end zone to tight end Adam Trautman, and watched his pass carom off two Chiefs defenders before Vele snatched it out of the air for his third touchdown of the season.

"Vele ran the wrong route," Nix said of the play, per the Associated Press, "but he didn't give up on the play. ... Actually, it was perfect. I'm glad he did exactly what he did and he got a touchdown out of it."

The catch kept Nix a perfect 17-for-17 on the day, giving the Broncos a 21-0 lead they would never give up.

Nix ended the game with 321 yards and four touchdowns on 26-of-29 passing, and also ran for a team-high 47 yards on seven carries to lead the Broncos to the No. 7 seed in the AFC.

Vele, the 27-year-old rookie who was a seventh-round pick in April, caught 51 passes for 425 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie.

"My hat goes off to Denver. Great opportunity for them to get into the playoffs and did a nice job today," said Chiefs coach Andy Reid, the former BYU offensive lineman and graduate assistant whose team had already clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC. "Sean (Payton) has done a good job with that group. A positive for us we got to play a lot of young guys. That experience is invaluable, especially against a good football team."

Here's a look at how other former Utah high school and college football standouts performed in the regular-season finale of the 2024 NFL season.

Sunday Night Football

Detroit 31, Minnesota 9

Lions (14-2)

• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (via Oregon): Started at right tackle
• Sione Vaki, RB, Utah: Reserve running back also played on special teams
• Tim Patrick, WR, Utah: Starting receiver caught two passes for 15 yards
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Inactive for Week 18

Vikings (14-2)

• No locals on the active roster

Sunday afternoon

Carolina 44, Atlanta 38

Panthers (5-12)

• Brady Christensen, OL, BYU/ Bountiful: Reserve offensive lineman also played special teams
• Deven Thompkins, WR/RS, Utah State: Inactive for Week 18

Falcons (8-9)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Reserve tailback ran for 52 yards on nine carries, caught two passes for 17 yards
• Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah: Reserve cornerback totaled three tackles, a tackle for loss, two passes defended and a forced fumble
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho): Starting linebacker had a team-high 10 tackles

Washington 23, Dallas 19

Commanders (12-5)

• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting linebacker posted eight tackles, two tackles for loss and a pass defended
• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Reserve cornerback also played on special teams

Cowboys (7-10)

• Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State/Fremont: Reserve linebacker also played on special teams

Chicago 24, Green Bay 22

Bears (5-12)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Starting cornerback posted five tackles, a pass defended and forced a fumble
• Noah Sewell, LB, Orem (via Oregon): Inactive for Week 18

Packers (11-6)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Starting quarterback completed 7-of-12 passes for 69 yards before leaving with injury (arm)
• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury: Inactive for Week 18
• Chris Brooks, RB, BYU: Reserve running back had 59 yards on eight carries

Indianapolis 26, Jacksonville 23

Colts (8-9)

• Blake Freeland, OT, BYU/Herriman: Reserve offensive tackle also played on special teams
• Julian Blackmon, S, Utah/Layton: Starting safety had five tackles and an interception
• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Kicked field goals of 49, 36, 45 and 38 yards with two extra points

Jaguars (4-13)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker made six tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss and a quarterback hit

New England 23, Buffalo 16

Patriots (4-13)

• Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU: Reserve linebacker made one tackle

Bills (13-4)

• Cole Bishop, S, Utah: Reserve safety had three tackles and a pass defended
• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Inactive for Week 18
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Inactive for Week 18

Tampa Bay 27, New Orleans 19

Buccaneers (10-7)

• No locals on the active roster

Saints (5-12)

• Nephi Sewell, LB, Utah/Orem: Starting linebacker had eight tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack in his first career start
• Dallin Holker, TE, BYU/Lehi (via Colorado State): Reserve tight end caught two passes for 11 yards
• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Starting running back ran for 15 yards on eight carries, caught one pass for 7 yards

Houston 23, Tennessee 14

Texans (10-7)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford): Starting tight end caught three passes for 29 yards

Titans (3-14)

• No locals on the active roster

Denver 38, Kansas City 0

Broncos (9-7)

• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton: Starting linebacker made three tackles
• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake: Started at left tackle
• Jonah Elliss, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker had two tackles
• Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah: Reserve receiver caught four passes for 50 yards and a 3-yard touchdown
• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Inactive for Week 18

Chiefs (15-1)

• Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU/Orem: Reserve tackle also played on special teams

Seattle 30, Los Angeles 25

Seahawks (10-7)

• Sataoa Laumea, OG, Utah: Started at right guard
• Jaren Hall, QB, BYU/Maple Mountain: Inactive for Week 18

Rams (10-7)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem: Inactive for Week 18

Los Angeles 34, Las Vegas 20

Chargers (11-6)

• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem (via Notre Dame): Starting safety made three tackles

Raiders (4-13)

• Andre James, OC, Herriman (via UCLA): Started at center
• Jackson Powers-Johnson, OG, Corner Canyon (via Oregon): Started at left guard

New York 32, Miami 20

Jets (5-12)

• No locals on the active roster

Dolphins (8-9)

• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Starting quarterback completed 25-of-41 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions and four sacks taken, ran for 16 yards on three carries

Saturday afternoon

Baltimore 35, Cleveland 10

Ravens (12-5)

• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker had three tackles, a sack and a quarterback hurry in 32 defensive snaps
• Marcus Williams, S, Utah: Inactive for Week 18

Browns (3-14)

• Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker made five tackles in 64 defensive snaps
• Winston Reid, LB, Weber State/Copper Hills: Starting linebacker totaled five tackles in 53 defensive snaps

Cincinnati 19, Pittsburgh 17

Bengals (9-8)

• Ryan Rehkow, P, BYU: Punted three times for 146 yards (48.7 yards per punt) with one punt downed inside the 20-yard line in eight snaps on special teams
• Tanner McLachlan, TE, Southern Utah (via Arizona): Inactive for Week 18
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham (via USC): Reserve defensive tackle made one stop in five snaps

Steelers (10-7)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East (via Oklahoma State): Reserve tailback ran for 21 yards on six carries in 23 offensive snaps, returned two kickoffs for 57 yards (28.5 yards per return) in six snaps on special teams
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety made one tackle in 18 snaps on special teams

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