As the Broncos took the field Thursday afternoon, a few rain clouds loomed in the distance but the sun was shining at Dove Valley. About 10 minutes into the stretching period, a strong wind started to blow and the camera towers started to shake. But despite the wind gusts, the team started the session strong in full pads to the delight of the 1,130 fans in attendance.

The Broncos turned in a productive workout as they began to ready for Sunday’s preseason opener in Cincinnati. Most of the 11-on-11 sessions were designed for either the offense or defense to simulate the Bengals with select players sporting red jerseys corresponding to Cincinnati players. Intensity took a back seat to learning for most of the day as both sides practiced against a variety of packages and formations.

The session ended on a good note when Matt Prater booted a 61-yard field goal to earn the team’s offseason champions a night without curfew. Several of his teammates started getting loud and the crowd joined in, but everyone was excited when the kick — hit with the wind at his back — easily cleared the uprights.