PHILADELPHIA — In Week 17 last December, quarterback Bo Nix put up two fingers in the hope the Broncos would go for a two-point conversion late in a game at Cincinnati.

They didn’t.

That wasn’t the case in Denver’s 21-17 win Sunday over the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. After Nix threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Evan Engram with 7:36 left in regulation to cut the deficit to 17-16, Broncos coach Sean Payton signaled for a two-point conversion.

“Next thing I knew he was just giving the hash, gave me the call, and we had one play to go get the job done,’’ Nix said.

Nix threw a successful two-point pass to a wide-open Troy Franklin on the right side of the end zone to give the Broncos the lead for good at 18-17.

“Troy ran a great route we’ve been practicing for a couple of weeks, and he got in the end zone,” Nix said.

Payton had received some criticism last season when wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. caught a 25-yard touchdown pass with Nix with 8 seconds left in regulation at Cincinnati to pull the Broncos within 24-23. Payton opted to kick the extra point, with one reason being a tie would have clinched a playoff berth. Denver lost 30-24 in overtime but did clinch a berth the following week on the last day of the regular season.

On Sunday, there was a lot more time left in the game. But Payton didn’t hesitate going for two.

“I had two or three calls that I loved,’ Payton said. “Sometimes you use those calls inside the 5. I got to a call that I had a lot of confidence in and the guys executed. It was perfect. … Let’s keep being aggressive.”

Franklin sure loved the aggressiveness.

“I’ve been doing it all week,’’ Frankin said of practicing the play. “So, I kind of just put my mindset as like, ‘All right, just trust your technique.’’’

After the two-point conversion, the Broncos got a 36-yard field goal by Wil Lutz with 1:11 left in the game for a 21-17 lead. So by having a four-point lead — rather than a three-point lead — the Eagles had to score a touchdown to win after they got to Denver’s 29 with 9 seconds left. Two throws by Jalen Hurts were incomplete.

Bonitto takes over sack lead

The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year has endorsed a possible successor.

Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II won the award in 2024. Now, Denver outside linebacker Nik Bonitto is a strong candidate to claim it in 2025.

“Pat says he’s the DPOY right now,’’ said Broncos defensive lineman Zach Allen. “I think it’s pretty accurate.”

Bonitto on Sunday tied his career high with 2.5 sacks and has taken over the NFL lead with seven. Bonitto also had 2.5 in Week 4 of 2023 at Chicago.

Bonitto recently told The Denver Gazette it is “very reasonable” he breaks Von Miller’s 2012 team record of 18.5 sacks in a season. Bonitto is now on pace to finish with 24 sacks, which would break the NFL record of 22.5.

“He’s a super pass rusher,’’ Payton said.

Bonitto’s seven sacks are the second most by Broncos player in the first five games of a season. Elvis Dumervil had eight in 2009.

“Obviously, I had the sacks, but I felt like everybody was really rushing well (Sunday),” said Bonitto, whose Broncos sacked Hurts six times.

London bound

After defeating the Eagles, the Broncos flew to London, where they will take on the New York Jets on Sunday.

“(It’s) definitely a lot nicer than going there with a loss,’’ said defensive lineman Zach Allen. “That’s probably why everybody is so excited they’re just going to have a good time in London.”

Well, perhaps the excitement will be restrained after the Broncos arrive. Payton talked about it being a business trip.

“It’s going to be exactly like a practice week. You want the schedule?’’ Payton said, giving daily practice details. “No sightseeing. We’re staying in the middle of nowhere. … The guys will have some dinner I’m sure. It’s a normal work week.”

The Broncos announced after Sunday’s game that guard Ben Powers (biceps) and quarterback Jarrett Stidham (not injury related, personal) did not travel with the team to London. The Broncos said their status will next be updated when Wednesday’s injury report comes out. Powers finished the game for Denver.

Game ball for Payton

After Sunday’s game, Broncos owner Greg Penner presented Payton with a game ball for passing his mentor Bill Parcells and moving into a tie for No. 15 on the NFL’s coaching wins list.

Payton now has 173 wins. That’s one more than Parcells, who had Payton as an assistant with Dallas from 2002-05. Payton then took his first head coach position with New Orleans in 2006.

“(Parcells) and I spoke this past week and we don’t keep track of that kind of stuff,’’ Payton said.

Payton said he and Parcells reminisced about how Parcells had stints in the NFC East with the New York Giants and Dallas and faced the Eagles regularly in division battles. He said the two were “talking about coming to Philly,” where Payton broke into the NFL as an Eagles assistant from 1997-98.

“I grew up here as a kid,’’ Payton said. “My first NFL job was here.”

Briefly

Bonitto told The Denver Gazette before the game the Broncos weren’t going to Philadelphia just to “make it a close game” but were “going there to win.” After the game, he said, “We’re a good team. We have aspirations and we knew we weren’t trying to come here just to be close and lose the game. We wanted to come in here and win.” … After rookie defensive lineman Sai’vion Jones was active last Monday against Cincinnati and Jordan Jackson wasn’t, those roles were reversed Sunday. Also inactive for Denver were running back Jaleel McLaughlin, outside linebacker Que Robinson, tackle Frank Crum and quarterback Sam Ehlinger. … Denver’s Jeremy Crawshaw had another strong game, averaging 46.9 yards gross and 41.9 net on seven punts.