Fourth-quarter notes and random thoughts …
4:44 p.m. MST: Stadum music interjection: Nothing says Christmas quite like Hot Stuff by Donna Summer as the cheerleaders slide across the south end zone. You Sexy Thing would have been better; at least it was sung by Hot Chocolate.
4:45 p.m. MST: Back-to-back Tatum Bell carries bisecting the quarters have the Broncos at the 10-yard-line … although they can get a first down without getting a touchdown.
4:46 p.m. MST: Denver settles for a field goal after a third-down Mike Bell run went into the line but no farther. Jason Elam kicks the field goal, and the 70,223 on hand cheer a seven-point Broncos lead.
4:52 p.m. MST: This snow may look magical on television, but I’ve seen way too much of it in the last five days. Enough already.
4:53 p.m. MST: Should we be surprised that John Lynch has come up with a series of big hits in the biggest game of the year so far? It’s almost as though he wanted to show the world that he really did belong in the Pro Bowl, demonstrating it again by slamming into Rudi Johnson in the backfield and jarring the football loose.
4:55 p.m. MST: A second pass-interference infraction against Cincinnati has the Broncos at the Cincinnati 42 on what is becoming a huge possession — or at least a huge opportunity for the Broncos.
4:57 p.m. MST: Two plays later, it is an opportunity lost, as Jay Cutler’s pass sails incomplete.
4:58 p.m. MST: With the wind against him, Paul Ernster picked the wrong time for an lengthy punt, sending the football into the end zone for a touchback and a net of just 21 yards.
5:06 p.m. MST: Chris Henry … what first appeared to be a killer catch was revealed by instant replay to be incomplete, forcing a Cincinnati punt with 6:57 remaining.
5:08 p.m. MST: Christmas Eve dinners from coast to coast sit idling on tables while families near and far continue to congregate around their warmly glowing televisions, imbibing both egg nog and a thoroughly engrossing duel between the Broncos and Bengals.
Can I write advertising copy or what?
5:10 p.m. MST: “False start, 77, offense.” When did Dwayne Carswell come back? It was actually against George Foster. Meanwhile, the Broncos’ regular-season finale will come against a team with no playoff chances; San Francisco was eliminated with a loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
5:13 p.m. MST: Denver continues to look towards Walker to carry the ball; this was an end-around that didn’t go anyplace, leaving the Broncos in third-and-9.
5:15 p.m. MST: Four minutes and 13 seconds left, and Denver is out of timeouts.
5:17 p.m. MST: Paul Ernster did what he had to do … drop a punt at the 10-yard-line. Cincinnati has two timeouts, 3:52 on the clock and 90 yards to the game-tying touchdown The lower level of the stadium is on its feet as the snow lightens up.
6:37 p.m. MST: Back in the press box after a trip to the field, witnessing first a 90-yard drive, then a botched extra point, then two on-side kicks, then a trip to the locker room. More to come as we disseminate the words from the locker room.
FYI, Domonique Foxworth is okay after being treated in the locker room. He hyperventilated following the game, but is okay and will not even require hospitalization, according to vice president of media relations Jim Saccomano.
Tags: Cincinnati Bengals
Okay, now I am getting p—– at Mike Shanahan. Those reverses are his calls, Heimerdinger isn’t known for that. He is stuck on “conservative.” And right now, conservative might cost him like it has in their previous losses. I think he has football PTSD…
I still can’t believe our luck. How does something like that happen?!? Anyway, I went to the evening church service right after the game, and thanked the Lord for the ‘W’! One more folks!
Merry Christmas indeed! Way to go Broncos. Very nice win against a quality opponent. Weakness = Def Coordinator. Our players on defense made us look good. Coyer is too conservative and not scheming properly…still think the line needs to have more stunts thrown in and some blitzes more often.
Offense – looking good gentlemen…very good indeed. I am thoroughly enjoying watching the future of our franchise develop. We’re in it THIS year. I think this team can handle anyone on the road in the playoffs. Indy is the only scare. We’ve already shown we can play with San Diego, Baltimore, and New England. Whoop up on the 49ers next week and then tell the rest of the AFC to freakin bring it!
Win, lose, or draw, I’m pretty darn proud of how this team has handled itself this season. They’ve been handed a lot of adversity and they are fighting through it. This team is getting very scary…and that’s before I start thinking about what we can do in the off season and another year of practice for Cutler….
Another squeaker for sure. It is so fun to see Jay Cutler and the other rookies doing so well. The young one from Santa Claus helped deliver a good Christmas to all of us devoted Bronco fans. I loved the 99 yard drive. Flashes of the past – the present – and for sure the Future.
John Lynch, he jacked up so many people.
What a gift we received from Cincy! Bailey and Lynch are just studs on defense. Not many defenders are fun to watch like those too. I loved the razzle dazzle…it’s about time. Denver’s been playing some conservative football for way to long. That will keep defenses honest. I agree with the comments above in regards to Denver’s lack of pass rushing. It killed us last year against Big Ben in the playoffs and it has improved marginally this year. Payton showed us what happens when we give a QB all day. He killed us. If we put some heat in his yap..we could of won that game easily. Elvis has been a solid pass rusher this year. We need to draft or trade for a DE that can flat out get to the QB. The Giants seem to have more than enough pass rushing ends…
What about the O-Line???? It has been absolutely horrid this year! We need help on that line. In the past we were smaller, stronger, and faster than most d-lines but now we are just smaller. There are D-lineman that are 30-40 lbs bigger and still as quick and a lot stronger. We need to upsize our o-line and give the QB some more time. Cutler can pick a d apart if he get enough time. I watched him take a step drop from the gun and as soon as he took that 3rd step he had d lineman all over him. That is unacceptable. GO Denver! Bring on any team right now we are ontop of the world and we will go rolling into the playoffs. We have a lot of momentum and i truly believe we can carry it into the playoffs.