Broncos push lead to 10-0With 3:24 remaining in the second quarter, the Broncos have made it 10-0 on a 2-yard touchdown run by running back Lance Ball, capping a seven-play, 57-yard drive that took 4:23.
Denver began the drive on its own 43-yard line and needed seven plays to find pay dirt. The biggest gain of the series came on a 20-yard completion from quarterback Caleb Hanie to tight end Cornelius Ingram. Hanie went 3-for-3 on the drive for 32 yards passing.
Miller’s Fumble Recovery Leads to Field GoalThe Broncos took over inside the Chicago red zone after a fumble by Bears running back Michael Bush was recovered by linebacker Von Miller.
Miller returned the fumble 16 yards to the Chicago 6-yard line.
As the Broncos’ offense took the field, quarterback Caleb Hanie joined the huddle, meaning the end of Peyton Manning’s day.
Manning finished 4-of-7 for 44 yards and an interception.
The Broncos took advantage of the turnover with a 28-yard field goal by Matt Prater that made the score 3-0 in favor of Denver.
Manning Leads First DriveAfter the Broncos won the toss to start Thursday’s preseason opener at Chicago, quarterback Peyton Manning took the field to start his first drive as a Bronco at the Denver 38-yard line.
After throwing an incompletion on his first play, Manning went 4-of-6, including a 12-yard pass to Jacob Tamme for his first completion of the game.
Manning then hit Eric Decker for a 10-yard pickup and Lance Ball for 3 yards.
Facing a third-and-17, Manning found Decker again for a 19-yard gain into the Bears’ red zone.
That’s where the drive ended, however as a Manning pass intended for Brandon Stokley was deflected into the air and intercepted by Major Wright for the Bears.
On the team’s next drive, Caleb Hanie replaced Manning at quarterback, so Manning finishes the day 4-of-7 for 44 yards in his preseason debut.
Coin Toss, Captains and StartersThe Broncos chose tails on the coin toss and won. The visitors have elected to receive the football, which means quarterback Peyton Manning’s first series as a Broncos is just moments away.
Denver’s captains for tonight’s game are cornerback Champ Bailey, offensive tackle Ryan Clady, defensive end Elvis Dumervil, punter Britton Colquitt and quarterbacks Caleb Hanie and Peyton Manning.
The Broncos’ starters this evening on the offensive line are Ryan Clady at left tackle, Zane Beadles at left guard, J.D. Walton at center, Manny Ramirez at right guard and Orlando Franklin at right tackle. The starters at the skill positions are Willis McGahee at runnning back, Peyton Manning at quarterback, Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas at the wide receiver positions and Joel Dreessen and Jacob Tamme at tight end.
Check back for the defensive starters.
Broncos at Bears Roster UpdateThough there are no official inactives for preseason games, a few Broncos players are not expected to take part in tonight’s game. Those players are:
#97 DT Justin Bannan
#57 LB Keith Brooking
#28 S Quinton Carter
#13 WR Tyler Grisham
#73 G Chris Kuper
#45 S Jim Leonhard
#89 WR Greg Orton
It is expected that Mitch Unrein will be starting for Justin Bannan at defensive tackle, Mike Adams for Quinton Carter at safety and Manny Ramirez for Chris Kuper at right guard.
Lightning Clears FieldDue to inclement weather, the players for both teams have left the field. The players were in the midst of pregame warmups before thunder and lightning moved into the area.
At this time, the game is still scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. CDT.
Stay tuned for further updates.
UPDATE: The fans are returning to their seats and the players are taking the field.
Ready for Soldier FieldAs Broncos players began their trip from the team hotel to Soldier Field, they took to social media to voice their excitement for tonight’s game.
Below are tweets from players leading up to Thursday’s game. To watch the game live online in high definition, click here.
Fans can also follow the action on Twitter via the Broncos’ official gameday account, @BroncosGameday.
Lance Ball (@LanceBall35) - Time to put some work in! #Blessed for another opportunity to show what I got. #letswork #bronconation
Derek Wolfe (@DerekWolfe95) - Its been a long time comin #whendreamsbecomereallity
Mitch Unrein (@MitchellJUnrein) - Headed to Soldier Field! #GoBroncos
Brock Osweiler (@BrockOsweiler) – Tonight in Chicago a life long dream becomes a reality…THANK YOU to my family and friends who have supported me since day 1. #LYL
Virgil Green (@VGreen85) – Game State of Mind #Grindtime #BLESSED
Zane Beadles (@zanebeadles) – The journey begins #GoBroncos
Elvis Dumervil (@EKD92) – In route to the stadium….gotta love it!
David Bruton Jr. (@D_Brut30) – On bus to the stadium. #BroncosCountry
Tony Carter (@tonycarter904) – 1st Pre Season game tonight vs the Bears #letsgetit
Chris Harris (@ChrisHarrisJr) – Headed to Soldier Field #broncosup
Willismcgahee @WillisMcGahee – U kno the world is waiting waiting waiting
Broncos Preseason Schedule Released
The month of March was a big one for Broncos fans. Free agency began, and Peyton Manning became a Bronco along with 10 other free agents.
April is set to possibly top it.
The end of the month brings the 2012 NFL Draft and the full schedule release. But the excitement got started early this month, as on Tuesday, the NFL unveiled all 32 teams’ new Nike uniforms.
On Wednesday, the Broncos’ preseason schedule was announced:
Week 1: at Chicago Bears — Thursday, Aug. 9, 7:30 p.m. CDT (KTVD-TV Ch. 20)
Week 2: vs. Seattle Seahawks — Saturday, Aug. 18, 7 p.m. MDT (KUSA-TV)
Week 3: vs. San Francisco 49ers — Sunday, Aug. 26, 2 p.m. MDT (Nationally televised on FOX)
Week 4: at Arizona Cardinals — Thursday, Aug. 30, 8 p.m. MST (KTVD-TV Ch. 20)
It marks the 15th consecutive season the Broncos have opened the preseason on the road, extending the franchise record.
Click to continue reading “Broncos Preseason Schedule Released”
Prater Wins Top Professional Moment
Matt Prater’s performance against the Chicago Bears — including a 59-yard field goal to tie the game and send it to overtime, and a 51-yard game-winner in the extra frame — has earned plenty of fanfare.
It made Broncos TV’s Top 10 plays of the season, the Chicago comeback as a whole won the GMC Never-Say-Never Moment of the Year, and last night Prater took home yet another award.
Click to continue reading “Prater Wins Top Professional Moment”
Vote For Never Say Never Moment of the Year
During the 2011 season, the Broncos won the GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Week five times.
The first four wins were for the team’s comeback, overtime win at San Diego in Week 12, game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter against the Jets in Week 11, hard-fought victory at Kansas City in Week 10 and overtime win at Miami in Week 7.
But it was the club’s fifth and final win of the season that is now up for the Never Say Never Moment of the Year.
Click to continue reading “Vote For Never Say Never Moment of the Year”