DENVER (AP) — The boos only brought out the best in Jerry Jeudy as he returned to Denver.
"They only boo you,” Jeudy reasoned, “when they know there’s something great in you.”
The explosive Cleveland Browns wideout turned in an electric performance Monday night with nine catches for 235 yards — the most in NFL history by a receiver against his former team. He also had a 70-yard touchdown in a 41-32 loss to the Broncos.
Jeudy, who played his first four seasons with Denver, was jeered every time he caught the ball. He loved all the noise directed at him, even motioning at times for the crowd to get even louder.
His only regret? The Browns (3-9) couldn't close out the win, as quarterback Jameis Winston threw a pair of pick-6s to go with four TD passes and a franchise-best 497 yards passing.
“Came up short,” Jeudy said. “Got to find a way to finish, find a way to win.”
Jeudy has formed quite a connection with Winston, catching 28 passes over the last four games.
Winston and Jeudy got rolling early against Denver with a 44-yard completion on the Browns’ first offensive play. Jeudy reminded Broncos fans of his vast potential when he caught a deep pass and raced 70 yards for a score. He paused at the goal line before falling backward into the end zone to punctuate the play.
Jeudy, a first-round draft pick in 2020, was traded to Cleveland this spring after an up-and-down tenure in the Mile High City.
“He’s phenomenal. Beginning of the week he knew what time it was," said Winston, who threw three interceptions. "He was hungry, he was prepared, he was ready to get back here and show up and show off. And he did that. It’s unfortunate that we didn’t get this win for him, but I’m happy he had a career day. I’m happy he did amazing. He’s an amazing receiver.”
For Winston, it was a game in which many things went right — and wrong.
Ja’Quan McMillian returned an interception 44 yards for a game-sealing touchdown with 1:48 remaining. Nik Bonitto also intercepted Winston and took it 71 yards to the house late in the second quarter. Winston became the first NFL quarterback to throw for 400 or more yards with four or more TD passes and two pick-6s.
“It was my fault,” Winston said. "I’ve got to play better.”
The plan by the Browns was to target Jeudy often. They did, too — 13 times. He averaged 26.1 yards per catch.
“Jerry executed the plan really well,” Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Got him open. Jameis made some throws. It’s hard in the losing effort to feel good about anything.”
No matter who lined up on him, even star Denver cornerback Pat Surtain II, Jeudy found a way to get open.
“It’s always great going against Pat,” said Jeudy, who played at Alabama with Surtain. "He’s a great corner in this league, been going against him my whole life. He’s always going to give you a challenge.”
Jerry said there's no lingering bitterness or animosity toward the Broncos (8-5).
“At the end of the day, it’s football. It’s competitive,” Jeudy said. "Everybody has juice when it’s time to play. Everybody wants to be great. Everybody wants to win. That’s it. No beef.”
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Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) celebrates his 70-yard pass reception for a touchdown with wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy reacts after his successful 2-point conversion during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) celebrates his 5-yard reception for a touchdown with wide receiver Jerry Jeudy during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy waves to fans as he exits the field after an NFL football game against his former team, the Denver Broncos, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
CHESSY, France (AP) — A cutting-edge nighttime show at Disneyland Paris featuring lasers used at the Paris Games is heralding a bold new chapter for Europe’s most-visited theme park, as a raft of ambitious developments comes to fruition under a 2 billion euro ($2.05 billion) expansion plan.
The overhaul includes the completed revamp of the luxury Disneyland Hotel, the upcoming renaming and doubling in size of Walt Disney Studios Park, and the much-anticipated arrival of The World of Frozen and a first-of-its-kind The Lion King land — cementing the resort’s gains after the wilderness years for theme parks during the pandemic.
Disney Tales of Magic, an immersive 20-minute spectacle blending mind-boggling drones, synchronized fountains, high-definition projections and ultra-bright lasers, was unveiled this month, wowing crowds.
The show’s standout feature — ultra-bright lasers — has been used only once before, at the Paris 2024 Olympics at the Eiffel Tower during the iconic opening ceremony featuring a performance by Celine Dion. The lasers, which travel 23 miles (37 kilometers), deliver extraordinary power while remaining safe near crowds.
“The Paris Olympics used it first. But we saw it first,” said Dana Harrel, executive entertainment director at Disneyland Paris.
Featuring Disney and Pixar tales brought to life amid drone-made 3D figures dazzling the night sky, synchronized fountains and a 100-piece orchestra, the show is elevated further by the original anthem “Live in Magic.”
Audiences of any age have been awestruck. “It’s marvelous. We’ve never seen such a beautiful light show,” said Sacha Tellier, a 33-year-old mother visiting with her family. “It gave me goosebumps,” added Nathan Ruiz, a graphic designer from Madrid. “The combination of music, lights, and the drones felt like pure magic. I’ve been to Disney before, but this show is on another level.”
“For the very first time, not only will we be projecting onto Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, but also Main Street USA,” said Tim Lutkin, artistic director of the production, referring to the park’s main commercial artery lined with boutiques and merchandise.
The spectacle also reflects Disney’s storytelling evolution. Lutkin noted the shift from classic ballgown tales to modern narratives like “Encanto” and “Inside Out 2,” which delve into deeper themes such as anxiety and depression. The level of the latter’s box office success, Lutkin said, “was a big surprise for everybody."
It was "an indicator the world and its relationship with Disney are ready to embrace more complex stories.”
This shift is mirrored in the show’s selection of movies, spanning Disney’s timeless classics and emotionally resonant modern hits.
At the heart of Disneyland Paris’ expansion is the transformation of Walt Disney Studios Park, doubling in size and reimagined as Disney Adventure World. Opening in spring 2025, a new park entrance, World Premiere, will greet visitors with the glamour of a Hollywood film premiere, leading them into immersive themed areas.
“These projects reflect our commitment to innovation and storytelling,” said Natacha Rafalski, head of Disneyland Paris, adding that they will further strengthen it as Europe’s top tourist destination.
Already Europe’s most-visited theme park and France’s top tourist attraction outdrawing the Louvre, Disneyland Paris welcomed over 10 million visitors in 2023.
The expansion includes two eagerly awaited themed lands. The World of Frozen, debuting in 2026, will transport guests to Arendelle with a central lake hosting water performances and the Frozen Ever After boat ride, alongside themed dining, shopping, and accommodations. Meanwhile, The Lion King land will bring the Pride Lands to life with a log flume cascading from Pride Rock and encounters with beloved characters like Simba and Timon.
The COVID-19 pandemic delivered one the toughest challenges to Disneyland Paris, as with all resort parks around the world, forcing an eight-month closure in 2020 and another in 2021.
But Disney doubled down.
The ongoing €2 billion expansion is part of a $60 billion global investment announced in September 2023, aiming to redefine Disney parks, cruises and attractions over the next decade.
A centerpiece of the Paris overhaul is the revamped Disneyland Hotel, with suites themed around classic Disney royalty.
Disneyland Paris opened in 1992 under its original name, Euro Disney Resort. Situated just outside Paris in Marne-la-Vallée, it marked Disney’s first foray into Europe. However, the park’s early years were fraught with challenges, including cultural missteps, financial struggles and lower-than-expected visitor numbers. Critics in France derided it as an American cultural invasion, dubbing it a “cultural Chernobyl.”
To reverse its fortunes, the park underwent significant rebranding, changing its name to Disneyland Paris in 1994 to emphasize its French location and connection to the capital. Over time, strategic changes, including the addition of new attractions and a shift in marketing, helped the resort recover. It is now a cornerstone of Disney’s global operations.
A light show is projected on the castle of Sleeping Beauty as fireworks explode in Disneyland, in Marne-la-Vallee, east of Paris, Friday Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
A light show is projected on the castle of Sleeping Beauty as fireworks explode in Disneyland, in Marne-la-Vallee, east of Paris, Friday Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
A light show is projected on the castle of Sleeping Beauty as fireworks explode in Disneyland, in Marne-la-Vallee, east of Paris, Friday Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
A light show is projected on the castle of Sleeping Beauty as fireworks explode in Disneyland, in Marne-la-Vallee, east of Paris, Friday Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
A light show is projected on the castle of Sleeping Beauty as fireworks explode in Disneyland, in Marne-la-Vallee, east of Paris, Friday Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
A light show is projected on the castle of Sleeping Beauty as fireworks explode in Disneyland, in Marne-la-Vallee, east of Paris, Friday Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
A firework display lights up the castle of Sleeping Beauty in Disneyland, in Marne-la-Vallee, east of Paris, Friday Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
