BRONCOS AT BEARS

We’re live from Soldier Field in Chicago for the much-anticipated kickoff to the Broncos’ 2012 preseason. With kickoff approximately an hour away, the tarp has been taken off the field and a few players have already started warming up. This blog will keep you updated on all the action from tonight’s game.

BRONCOS ON TWITTER: Fans can also follow the action on Twitter via the Broncos’ official gameday account. @BroncosGameday will keep fans updated with live, in-game updates throughout tonight’s contest.

PRESEASON LIVE: You can watch tonight’s game on KUSA TV’s sister station, KTVD-TV (Channel 20) in Denver. The broadcast will feature Dave Logan (play-by-play) and Ed McCaffrey (color commentary), with Rod Mackey providing reporting from the sidelines. Fans outside the Denver area can watch the game live online in high definition here.

READY FOR SOLDIER FIELD: The players are excited for tonight’s game to kick off. Click here to see some of their tweets.

LIGHTNING CLEARS FIELD: The players have left the field due to thunder and lightning in the area.

BRONCOS AT BEARS ROSTER UPDATE: A few Broncos players are not expected to play in tonight’s preseason opener.

COIN TOSS, CAPTAINS AND STARTERS: Denver won the toss and elected to receive to start the game.

MANNING LEADS FIRST DRIVE: The Broncos’ first drive of the season sees quarterback Peyton Manning go 4-for-7, but the drive ends when a pass intended for wide receiver Brandon Stokley is intercepted by Chicago’s Major Wright.

MILLER’S FUMBLE RECOVERY LEADS TO FIELD GOAL: Broncos linebacker Von Miller scoops up a fumble by the Bears’ Michael Bush. Denver takes advantage of field position inside the Bears’ 10-yard line on a 28-yard field goal by Matt Prater.

BRONCOS PUSH LEAD TO 10-0: The Broncos made it 10-0 on a seven-play, 57-yard scoring drive capped by a two-yard touchdown run by running back Lance Ball.

BRONCOS AT BEARS: HALFTIME RUNDOWN: Denver leads the Bears by a substantial margin in several key stats at halftime of the team’s preseason opener.

FOX’S HALFTIME QUOTES: At halftime, Broncos Head Coach John Fox talked about what he thought of quarterback Peyton Manning and his team’s defensive effort.

BRONCOS LEAD 17-0 AFTER OMON’S TD: Denver has stretched its lead to 17 thanks to a seven-play, 52-yard drive that ended with a 3-yard touchdown run by running back Xavier Omon.

BRONCOS STRETCH LEAD TO 24-0: Denver makes it 24-0 as rookie quarterback Brock Osweiler hooks up with wide receiver Jason Hill for the Broncos’ first passing touchdown of the evening.

BEARS ON THE BOARD: Chicago has cut Denver’s lead to 24-3 on a 47-yard field goal by Bears kicker Robbie Gould.

DENVER AHEAD 31-3: Denver’s lead is now 31-3 thanks to a five-play scoring drive that ended with a 25-yard pass from quarterback Adam Weber to tight end Cornelius Ingram.

FINAL SCORE: BRONCOS 31, BEARS 3

Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos won their first preseason game by a score of 31-3.

Manning played for only the opening drive in the first quarter, and marched the offense down the field on 4-for-7 passing with 44 yards. But near the goal line, a pass to wide receiver Brandon Stokley was tipped and bounced off of Stokley into the hands of a Chicago Bear for an interception.

Lance Ball, Cornelius Ingram, Xavier Omon and Jason Hill each scored a touchdown in the Thursday night game at Soldier Field.

The Broncos outgained the Bears with 338 total yards to 132, as the defense allowed just eight first downs.

Check back to DenverBroncos.com for more coverage of tonight’s game.

Broncos quarterback Adam Weber found tight end Cornelius Ingram for a 25-yard touchdown pass that gives Denver a commanding 31-3 lead with 5:02 remaining.

The drive started with a 9-yard run by running back Xavier Omon followed by an 8-yard gain by running back Jeremiah Johnson. The drive covered 39 yards in five plays and took 2:08.

Chicago has made it 24-3 on a 47-yard field goal by Robbie Gould. The field goal capped a drive that covered 51 yards in 10 plays and took 5:42. The drive was highlighted by a 28-yard completion from Bears quarterback Matt Blanchard to wide receiver Chris Summers.

Rookie quarterback Brock Osweiler recorded the first touchdown of his career on a 19-yard strike to wide receiver Jason Hill. The touchdown capped a drive that covered 60 yards in six plays and took 2:29.

The drive started off with an 18-yard pickup by Mark Dell on an end-around. On the ensuing play, a 4-yard reception by running back Xavier Omon turned into a 19-yard gain thanks to a horse collar penalty against Chicago.

After an incompletion and a short run, Osweiler found Jason Hill over the middle for the score.

Denver makes it 17-0 on its second rushing touchdown of the evening, this one a 3-yard burst by running back Xavier Omon. The drive covered 52 yards in seven plays and took 3:10.

Rookie quarterback Brock Osweiler completed 1-of-2 passes for 10 yards on the drive. Omon picked up 21 yards rushing on three carries, including the touchdown. The scoring march was helped along by a 12-yard pass interference penalty against Chicago’s Isaiah Frey.

At halftime of Denver’s preseason opener against the Bears, the Broncos have not only a 10-0 lead on the scoreboard, but also a sizable advantage in several other statistical categories.

Denver has piled up 14 first downs while limiting to Chicago to just three. The Bears have gone 0-for-5 on third down conversions, while the visitors have gone 5-for-10 on third down. The Broncos also hold a 177-41 advantage in total yards, including 75 yards rushing to the Bears’ total of 11. In net passing yards, Denver has outgained the Bears 102-30. The Broncos’ defensive effort was highlighted by a fumble recovery by linebacker Von Miller and three sacks — two by rookie defensive lineman Derek Wolfe and one by defensive end Robert Ayers.

Peyton Manning finished 4-of-7 for 44 yards passing and one interception in his one series of work. He was relieved by Caleb Hanie, who finished the first half 7-of-14 for 79 yards.

Lance Ball scored the game’s only touchdown on a 2-yard run in the second quarter.