15:00: The Broncos have a second-and-7 at the Buffalo 21-yard line to start the second quarter. Selvin Young proceeds to take the handoff from Jay Cutler and pick up seven yards and the first down.

On first down, Young takes another carry but is dropped for a loss of a yard. On second down, Cutler drops back and finds Tatum Bell for a three-yard gain.

That sets up third-and-8, and Cutler drops back but can’t find Brandon Marshall — the ball falls incomplete and sets up a fourth down.

Matt Prater jogs onto the field and kicks his second field goal of the game through the uprights. It’s a 30-yarder, and the Broncos’ lead over the Bills is extended to 13-0.

13:12: Prater is back to kick for Denver, with the always dangerous Leodis McKelvin waiting to receive for the Bills. Prater kicks it short, bouncing it just in front of McKelvin. He picks it up and gains 16 yards before being dropped at the 25-yard line by Herana-Daze Jones, his second special teams stop of the day.

On first down, Marshawn Lynch takes a carry but is swallowed up by a group of Broncos defenders after a gain of three. On second-and-7, Edwards takes the snap with Lynch behind him in the backfield. He drops back and finds Josh Reed for a gain of nine and a first down. Champ Bailey was in coverage and got a hand in the play — Reed just made a nice catch falling to the ground.

11:33: Lynch picks up nine yards on a run that seemed to be stopped on the left side — he reversed field and picked up the yardage. On second down, Lynch takes the handoff again and spins to pick up the first down.

It’s a first-and-10 for Buffalo at the Denver 48-yard line. Edwards takes the snap as Lee Evans goes in motion. He hands off to Fred Jackson, but he’s met immediately by D.J. Williams. It’s a pickup of two yards.

9:48: Edwards takes the snap, drops back and tries to find Lee Evans on a comeback route, but Dre’ Bly has good coverage and the ball sails out of bounds. That sets up a third-and-6 for the Bills at the Denver 46-yard line.

The crowd at INVESCO is on its feet as Elvis Dumervil looks like he’s careening in for a sack. He lays a big lick on Edwards just as he gets the ball away on a screen pass to Roscoe Parish. Parish picks up 14 yards before being drilled out of bounds by Josh Barrett. Dumervil is called for roughing the passer, however, and 15 more yards are tacked on the play.

Marquand Manuel was shaken up, but he walks off the field with the help of the trainers.

9:35: When play resumes, Buffalo has a first-and-10 at the Denver 17. Chants of “Defense!” are echoing in the stadium. Lynch is the ballcarrier on the sweep play out to the right, but Jamie Winborn tracks down the play and brings him down for a loss of five yards.

Second-and-15 at the 22, now. Edwards drops back and can’t find anyone downfield, checking off down to Josh Reed for a gain of three yards. Now it’s third down and the INVESCO Field faithful are on their feet.

Edwards is in shotgun and tries to get the ball out to Parish for another screeen, but the ball skips on the way. The Broncos defensive line was in his face almost immediately.

7:48: Now it’s fourth down, and Rian Lindell is in to attempt a 37-yard field goal for the Bills. It’s good, and Buffalo puts its first points on the board. The Broncos now lead 13-3.

7:35: After a 26-yard return by Selvin Young, the Broncos offense takes over at its own 32-yard line. On first down, Eddie Royal goes in motion and Cutler hands off to Young for an eight-yard gain. On second down, Young takes another handoff but is wrapped up for a loss of three yards.

INJURY UPDATE: Marquand Manuel has a right ankle sprain, his return is questionable.

It’s third-and-five and Cutler takes the snap and fires to Royal on a slant — he picks up eight yards and the first down.

5:45: Cutler sends Young in motion — he as an empty backfield behind him. He takes the snap, drops back and can’t find anyone downfield so he takes off running to his left. After a gain of four yards, he’s forced out of bounds by Marcus Stroud.

5:06: On second-and-6, Denver calls its second timeout of the half. When play resumes, Cutler drops back, avoids pressure and finds Royal for a 12-yard gain. First down, Denver.

On the next play, Tatum Bell takes the handoff up the right side, finds a hole and bursts forward for another first down at the Buffalo 27-yard line. It’s a 12-yard pickup.

Now Cutler pitches to Bell again, but he’s wrapped up after a quick gain. There’s a holding penalty called on the Broncos, and it’s first-and-20 from the Buffalo 37, now.

3:42: Cutler is in the shotgun, sending his running back in motion before bootlegging to the left side. The Bills defense is all over the play, however, and Cutler is forced out of bounds for a loss of six.

Now it’s second-and-26 at the 43, but there’s a delay of game penalty on Denver. That sets up second-and-31 from the Buffalo 48-yard line. Cutler fakes a quick pass out to Brandon Stokley in the flats on the right side before swinging around and tossing it to Selvin Young in the flats — the ball bounces off his fingers, however, and it’s now third-and-31.

Cutler is in the shotgun and he fires quickly to Marshall. He gets the ball to the Buffalo 36-yard line — a 12-yard gain — and the clock runs down to the two-minute warning.

2:00: Prater is out to attempt a 54-yard field goal. Roscoe Parish waits in the back of the endzone for the Bills. The kick is up — and short. It’s over Parish’s head, however, so the Bills take over at the Buffalo 44-yard line.

1:28: After a six-yard pass to Lee Evans and an eight-yard run by Fred Jackson, the Bills call their first timeout of the half with a first-and-10 at the Denver 42-yard line.

When play resumes, Edwards lines up in the shotgun formation. Evans goes in motion, Edwards takes the snap and hands off to Lynch, who picks up five yards.

The Bills hurry up to the line and Edwards finds Josh Reed for a first down at the Denver 26. Hurry up again and Edwards finds Evans quickly near the sideline. He picks up another first down before he’s forced out of bounds by Josh Bell.

0:36: Now Buffalo has a first-and-10 at the Denver 14-yard line. Edwards takes the snap, drops back and tries to find a receiver — Jamie Winborn is there to break up the play.

Now it’s second-and-10, and the Bills are back at the line. Edwards takes the snap with Lynch behind him. He backs up and finds Reed near the first-down marker. He’s pushed out of bounds by Bell, and Buffalo has a third-and-1 at the five-yard line.

Edwards takes the snap and hands off to Lynch, who picks up the first down.

0:19: Buffalo calls its second timeout of the half with a first-and-goal from the two-yard line. When play resumes, Edwards pitches to Lynch, who takes the ball out left and runs into the endzone for a touchdown. Rian Lindell’s extra point is good, and the Bills pull within three of the Broncos.

Denver still leads it, 13-10.

0:11: After the Broncos field the squib kick, Cutler and the offense walk onto the field. Cutler takes a knee to end the half.

The score at the end of the first half is Denver 13, Buffalo 10.

-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com

Tags: Gray Caldwell, Live Blog, Second Quarter, Week 16

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