ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Michael Bandy is a 5-foot-10 dynamo who once gave up football for rugby, was cut nine times as a pro and waited five NFL seasons to reach the end zone.
A former FCS star at San Diego, Bandy ran an underneath crossing route, hauled in Bo Nix's pass and turned up the sideline to scoot into the end zone, igniting the Denver Broncos' 34-26 win over the Green Bay Packers last weekend.
So, what was it like to finally hit pay dirt at age 28?
“I can honestly say I don't really remember, like I blacked out,” Bandy said. “It was just so much emotion. I've been in the league five years now and it's been a while since I've scored a touchdown, since college.”
Bandy had to watch the replay on his phone.
“So, I couldn't tell you exactly what it feels like,” he said, “but it was every emotion and it was pretty cool.”
Nix and wide receiver Courtland Sutton were so excited for Bandy that they chased him into the end zone. Both halted and made a beeline for the ball that Bandy had dropped as he stomped across the orange-painted end zone, roaring as much as any fan.
“Yeah, we were able to get the football. Courtland and Bo grabbed it and brought it to me, which was pretty cool,” Bandy said of the memento, now safely back home.
With rookie Pat Bryant (hamstring) ruled out, the Broncos needed to elevate a wide receiver from their practice squad in Week 15 and it was somewhat surprising it was Bandy and not new acquisition Elijah Moore.
After Marvin Mims Jr. went to the sideline with a stinger early in the game, Bandy got his chance and made the most of it.
“It was supposed to be Mims' play,” coach Sean Payton said. “There was a minute when he was out, and so Bandy jumped in because he knows every position and ends up catching Mims’ touchdown.”
Bandy, who carries 190 pounds on his compact frame, said the only way he's been able to keep his NFL dream alive is to be versatile: “That's the easiest way to get on the field is just knowing what to do at all the different spots. The more you can do, the better.”
Payton took pride in seeing Bandy score his first touchdown.
“He's played five years in this league. He’s been in 12 games,” Payton said. “Each week, I say to the offensive guys, ‘We have to find a way to get him up.’ He does so many things well, and that was his first touchdown. That was pretty cool to see because his journey is different. ...
“Five years is a long time. He embraces the role, and like I said, he can go in at any position and not flinch. That’s not easy considering all the formations and plays we have.”
Nix called Bandy's score special.
“I think that was awesome for several reasons,” he said. “Mike has not necessarily had the easiest road to the NFL. He hasn’t had the most opportunities to have a situation like that, but I think it goes to show that with a little bit of grit, a little bit of determination, you can do what you put your mind to.”
What made Nix and the rest of Bandy's teammates so excited for him was knowing how hard to works at practice and on the scout team.
“For Michael, it’s just awesome to see. I know he’s had a very long road, a lot of ups and a lot of downs, a lot of times unfortunately getting cut and then having to fight his way back out. He just continues to do it with a smile on his face, has a great attitude,” Nix said. “I think every team needs a Bandy, and I think we have the best one.”
The Broncos (12-2), who host Jacksonville (10-4) on Sunday, activated G Ben Powers (biceps) from injured reserve to their 53-man roster Saturday. Powers started 39 consecutive games for Denver before he was injured in Week 5 at Philadelphia. The Broncos also elevated QB Sam Ehlinger and S Delarrin Turner-Yell from their practice squad and signed G Calvin Throckmorton to the practice squad after he was waived earlier this week.
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Denver Broncos' Michael Bandy celebratesw his touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos' Bo Nix celebrates after throwing a touchdown to Michael Bandy during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Another double for Erling Haaland, who is motoring along at better than a goal a game.
Another three points for Manchester City, whose winning streak is up to five matches.
That's still not enough to stop Arsenal being top of the Premier League on Christmas Day.
A 1-0 victory at Everton, secured by Viktor Gyokeres' first-half penalty, means Arsenal — seeking a first English top-flight title since 2004 — will spend Dec. 25 in first place for the fifth time since the Premier League was formed in 1992.
On none of the four occasions so far did Arsenal go on to win the title.
History isn't the only thing the Gunners are fighting.
City is the closest challenger, just two points behind in second, and continued its strong recent form by sweeping aside West Ham 3-0.
Haaland scored in each half to move to 19 goals in 17 matches in this campaign — in doing so passing Cristiano Ronaldo on the Premier League's all-time scoring list — and also set up Tijjani Reijnders for the other goal.
City manager Pep Guardiola is still not completely satisfied and revealed his locker-room message to the team.
“I said to the players, ‘Merry Christmas everyone but it will not be enough if we don’t improve,'" Guardiola said.
Liverpool won at nine-man Tottenham 2-1 but lost record signing Alexander Isak to a left ankle injury sustained when scoring the first goal.
Chelsea came from two goals down to draw at Newcastle 2-2.
Haaland has 38 goals in a combined 28 games for City and Norway in what is shaping up to be the most prolific season of his career. Injury permitting, the season will end in him going to his first World Cup.
Haaland scored at the second attempt from Phil Foden’s cross to give City a fifth-minute lead and took advantage of a defensive mix-up by West Ham to make it 3-0 in the 69th.
In between, Haaland slipped a short pass to Reijnders, who took a touch and rifled a shot into the roof of the net in the 38th.
His two goals gave Haaland 104 in the Premier League, one more than Ronaldo — who had two spells at Manchester United — having played 122 games fewer.
Isak just can't catch a break at Liverpool.
The Sweden striker has struggled in his first few months as British soccer's record signing, having joined Liverpool after training mostly alone in the offseason. He then recently had time out with a groin injury.
On as a sub against Tottenham, Isak scored within 11 minutes but in the act of converting his finish his left ankle was hurt by a challenge from Tottenham's Micky van de Ven and he was helped off the field.
Tottenham was already down to 10 men at that point after Xavi Simons' red card for a studs-up foul on Virgil van Dijk, and Hugo Ekitike doubled Liverpool's lead with a header.
Richarlison reduced the deficit for Spurs in the 83rd and there was time for Cristian Romero to become the second home player to be sent off after kicking out at Ibrahima Konate.
Liverpool climbed to fifth place.
What a difference a week made for Nick Woltemade.
Last weekend, he scored an own-goal to consign Newcastle to a derby loss at fierce rival Sunderland. Six days later, he netted twice in the opening 20 minutes to give his team a fast start against Chelsea.
Chelsea recovered, though, to draw 2-2 with Joao Pedro’s equalizer coming off an assist from goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
Reece James launched Chelsea’s fightback by curling a free kick in off the post after halftime.
Chelsea stayed in fourth place and has won only one of its last five games in the league. Newcastle, one of England's representatives in the Champions League this season, is languishing in midtable after one win in its last four games — and that was against next-to-last Burnley.
Last-placed Wolverhampton remained without a win and on just two points after losing at home to Brentford 2-0.
The latest defeat meant Wolves tied Sheffield United’s 2020-21 record of 17 games without a win from the start of a Premier League season and has lost a club record-extending 10 league matches in a row.
Keane Lewis-Potter scored Brentford's goals.
Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo is reportedly a target of some of the Premier League's biggest teams, including Man City and Manchester United.
He underlined his worth by curling home his team's goal in a 1-1 draw with Burnley, which ended its seven-match losing run on its tough return to the top flight. Armando Broja grabbed Burnley's equalizer in the 90th.
Sunderland and Leeds are doing much better since promotion. A 0-0 draw at Brighton left Sunderland in sixth place, while Leeds beat Crystal Palace 4-1 to move six points clear of the relegation zone.
Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Arsenal's Viktor Gyoekeres celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal from the penalty spot during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Arsenal in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Liverpool's Alexander Isak reacts after sustaining an injury during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham and Liverpool in London, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
Manchester City's Erling Haaland, left, gestures to teammates Manchester City's Rico Lewis, as he celebrates after scoring his sides third goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and West Ham United in Manchester, England, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's Erling Haaland reacts after missing a chance to score a goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and West Ham United in Manchester, England, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Newcastle's Nick Woltemade, right, scores the opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and FC Chelsea in Newcastle, England, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Chelsea's Joao Pedro celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and FC Chelsea in Newcastle, England, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Chelsea's Joao Pedro, left, scores his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and FC Chelsea in Newcastle, England, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Newcastle's Nick Woltemade celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and FC Chelsea in Newcastle, England, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
