*Congrats to Jay Cutler for winning NFL Rookie of the Week!!!!*

Game Recap

1st Quarter:
No Score
Denver won the toss and elected to receive. KR Quincy Morgan brought the ball out 28 yds to the 30 where the Broncos would begin their drive. On the 1st play of the game, Broncos QB Jay Cutler's pass intended for TE Tony Scheffler was intercepted by Bengals S Dexter Jackson who returned the ball 46 yds to the Denver 5.
The Broncos defense returned the favor when 3 plays later, CB Darrent Williams intercepted Carson Palmer in the end zone for a touchback. The Broncos got only to the 34 with the help of a 14 yd reception by WR Brandon Marshall. Cutler was also sacked by Bengals DT Domata Peko for a loss of 6.
On the ensuing drive, the Bengals drove 46 yds before Carson Palmer was sacked by Kenard Lang and Elvis Dumervil for a loss of 14. He also fumbled on the play but the ball was recovered by Bengals G Eric Steinbach. Palmer threw incomplete on 3rd and 21 and Cincy was forced to punt.
7 - 0 Bengals lead
The Broncos went 3 and out after Cutler was sacked for a loss of 9 to set up 4th and 16 at the 1 yd line. Paul Ernster's punt was short, only 34 yds and the Bengals took over at the Denver 35. Palmer threw incomplete twice and then connected with RB Kenny Watson for 12 yds and a 1st and goal. On the next play, RB Rudi Johnson ran in the TD from 6 yds out to put the Bengals on the board first.
Denver again went 3 and out with the help of another Cutler sack, this time for 4 yds by Bengals DT Sam Adams. With 4th and 1 at the Denver 29 they punted back to Cincy. Three plays later, Broncos CB Champ Bailey picked off Carson Palmer at the 43 and ran it back 20 yds to end the quarter.

2nd Quarter:
7 - 7 Tie Game
Denver opened the 2nd quarter with a trick play and a pass to WR Brandon Marshall for 36 yds to set up the Broncos on the 1 yd line. Cincinnatti challenged that the receiver was inbounds but the play was upheld. On 3rd and 1, Tony Scheffler caught a short pass in the end zone to tie the game.
14 - 7 Broncos lead
The Bengals started their ensuing drive with a 13 yd completion to WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh and a 7 yd rush by RB Rudi Johnson. On 2nd and 3, WR Chad Johnson caught a pass for 13 yds and was taken down by Broncos CB Domonique Foxworth, who forced a fumble. The ball was recovered by Champ Bailey, who ran it 4 yds to the Bengals 39 yd line. On the next play, Cutler threw deep right to WR Javon Walker who took the ball to the end zone for a 39 yd TD.
14 - 10 Broncos lead
The Bengals answered with a FG by K Shayne Graham from 46 yds out after a 12 play, 52 yd drive. Key Plays: TE Reggie Kelly 18 yd reception, WR Chris Henry 11 yd reception.
17 - 14 Bengals lead
Both teams went 3 and out and the Broncos got the ball on the 20 with 2:45 remaining in the half. RB Tatum Bell ran 5 yds before he was hit by Domata Peko and fumbled the ball. It was recovered by Bengals CB Deltha O'Neal at the 30. Cincy drove to the 5 to set up 1st and goal. On the next play, Palmer was sacked by Broncos DE Ebenezer Ekuban for a loss of 6. Palmer then completed an 11 yd TD pass to Chris Henry to put the Bengals up by 3.

3rd Quarter:
21 - 17 Broncos lead
Cincinnatti ate 4:26 off the clock with their opening drive in the 2nd half but were unable to score. Denver got the ball back at their own 1 yd line and drove 99 yds on 14 plays in 7:17 to regain the lead. Key Plays: RB Mike Bell 14 yd run, TE Tony Scheffler 25 yd recpetion, WR David Kircus 18 yd reception, WR Javon Walker 17 yd reception.
On 2nd and 5 of the ensuing Bengals drive, Carson Palmer threw deep left to Chris Henry for a 75 yd TD pass but the play was nullified by an illegal shift penalty. Palmer then threw 2 incompletes and the Bengals were forced to punt.

4th Quarter:
24 - 17 Broncos lead
Denver opened the 4th quarter with a 24 yd FG by K Jason Elam. Key Plays: Mike Bell 12 yd run, Tatum Bell 20 and 10 yd runs.
The Bengals drove to the Denver 24 where on 1st and 10, Rudi Johnson was tackled by John Lynch who forced a fumble. The ball was recovered by Ebenezer Ekuban and returned 13 yds to the 36. The Broncos drove 23 yds with the help of an 18 yd defensive pass interference call on Cincy and were forced to punt.
Bengals RB Rudi Johnson was hit by CB Darrent Williams and fumbled but regained the ball at the 31. On the next play, Palmer threw to Chris Henry for 14 yds but the Broncos challenged the completion and the call was reversed, setting up 4th and 9 and the Cincy 39.
24 - 23 Broncos win
The Broncos did not score on their next possession and the Bengals got the ball back at their own 10. They ran the clock down to 00:46 with a 90 yd TD drive that included 26 and 22 yd receptions by Houshmandzadeh, a 13 yd run by Johnson and the 10 yd TD pass, also by Houshmandzadeh. The extra point was aborted due to a botched snap and the Bengals gained only 6 on the score.
The Bengals kicked onside 16 yds and recovered the ball at the 46 but LB Ahmad Brooks was called for offensive offside and the ball was rekicked, this time for 35 yds and recovered by Denver. Cutler then knelt to run out the clock and preserve the win.

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