Facing a second-and-9 with 2:36 left in the fourth quarter — and in need of one first down to ice the game — the Broncos turned to Phillip Lindsay in the “wildcat” formation.

The running back took the direct snap and bolted around left tackle for 16 yards and a win-clinching first down. That play polished off another solid showing by Lindsay, who had nine rushes for 92 yards and a touchdown.

Another Sunday, another indication that the Denver offense often goes through Lindsay, a second-year standout who’s proving his Pro Bowl rookie season was only a hint of the offensive linchpin he’s become.

“We had repped (the wildcat) a lot in practice this week,” Lindsay said. “We were actually going to do it earlier in the game, and we called it off, which probably was the right thing to do. But that call shows the confidence (the coaches) had in myself and the offensive line to finish it off.”

The formation and subsequent run surprised the fans in the stands at Mile High as much as it did some of Denver’s own players. But call it a pleasant surprise, especially after Denver faced a similar situation in Indianapolis last week, needing one first down to win the game against the Colts. That time, Lindsay was stuffed on a critical third-and-5 run into the line.

“I didn’t expect that,” cornerback Chris Harris said. “That was huge for us. Phil made a great play of staying in bounds to keep that clock moving, too.”

Denver ran out the clock from there with Cleveland out of timeouts to secure its third win of the season, in a first NFL start for quarterback Brandon Allen (12 of 20 for 193 yards, two touchdowns). Allen’s day was made much easier by the home team’s ability to run the football. Related Articles Jackson: Broncos tight end Noah Fant knows how to dance. Now he needs to learn how to get dirty

Broncos Briefs: Phillip Lindsay doubtful to play Sunday, but progressing from toe injury

After Broncos let him walk in free agency, Tampa Bay’s Shaquil Barrett returns to Denver as one of NFL’s best pass-rushers

The next opportunity in Jeff Driskel’s winding football journey: Starting at quarterback for Broncos

Broncos rookie wideout KJ Hamler, fully healed from hamstring injury, poised for NFL breakout

“It made the play-action passes so much more effective, so getting (Lindsay) going, and the big runs he busted out — it opened up the play-actions in the second half,” Allen said.

Counting his Week 9 performance, Lindsay has recorded the third-most yards from scrimmage (2,022) among players with two or less years of NFL experience. The two guys ahead of him? The Giants’ Saquon Barkley and the Browns’ Nick Chubb, the latter of whom Lindsay outperformed on Sunday as Denver held Chubb to 65 yards on 20 carries.

Lindsay said he’s seen growing respect for the Broncos’ run game this year — or from an unbiased standpoint, maybe it’s a lack of respect for the Denver passing attack. Either way, big-play yards on the ground have been hard to come by for the Broncos, who saw Lindsay reel off a 40-yard scamper in the second quarter for the team’s longest rushing play of the season.

“Defenses lately have been playing eight, nine (men) in the box,” Lindsay said. “It’s going to be tough for us to run here and there, but if you can pop one, it’s going to be a long one.”

Lindsay, a product of Denver South High School and the University of Colorado, now has 584 yards rushing with five touchdowns.