8:59 P.M. MST: Quite possibly the most important quarter of this season to date … John Lynch is back in the game.

9:01 P.M. MST: Broncos get the third-down stop; Rob Bironas gets the 37-yard field goal. Broncos, 27-20.

9:04 P.M. MST: Well, here we go … Broncos need a clock-chewing possession here in the worst way.

9:05 P.M. MST: Impressive 10-yard scramble by Jay Cutler … gets past Keith Bulluck into the open field … and a great block by Cecil Sapp to make the last few yards of the run unimpeded.

9:07 P.M. MST: Well, Andre Hall said he might make a big play this week … As he said Thursday afternoon, “I think this might be the week” … Well, he didn’t expect it on the ground; he expected it on a kickoff return, but he did break one … Welcome to the spotlight, young No. 23.

9:11 P.M. MST: Hall’s touchdown was the longest scoring run for a Bronco since Javon Walker at Pittsburgh last year … and for those of us who keep up with South Florida football, didn’t we all see a run like that coming?

9:16 P.M. MST: A vital three-and-out for the Broncos … Now the Broncos take over, and they’re going to start pounding Hall … he carries twice for six yards on the drive … but gets hurt on the second carry … now Selvin Young, with a sprained knee, is back in on third-and-4 … and Brandon Marshall took the third-down reception and went backwards. Broncos now in fourth-and-17

9:18 P.M. MST: Todd Sauerbrun’s punt eventually gets downed at the Denver 20, but the Titans will start at the 10 after a personal-foul penalty.

9:22 P.M. MST: Tim Crowder finally gets the sack on his old college temamate … Titans now in second-and-25 after a 15-yard loss, standing at their 27 … Clock ticking, down towards the seven-minute mark … Young quickly steps up to find Eric Moulds for 18 … Third-and-7 now upcoming for the Titans … Young scrambles for it and gets it.

9:24 P.M. MST: Vince Young is the reason why the Titans are still in this game … the clock ticking down, the odds against him … this just seems like his kind of moment. It’s what scares you when you’re looking at this through the Broncos prism … also, we’re seeing a lot of Domonique Foxworth at safety on this series; Lynch is in pads and in helmet, but on the sidelines.

9:26 P.M. MST: Young looks for Eric Moulds … but Dre’ Bly ends up with the football … A 16-yard return follows…. Bly did a nice job playing the football … Huge takeaway.

9:27 P.M. MST: Hall back in … I think Woody Hayes would have loved this fellow; he’s a three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust kind of power back, and he can burrow for some tough yards in traffic.

9:29 P.M. MST: Selvin Young spells Hall on third down; he picks up four yads on the reception. Hall returns for the next play.

9:34 P.M. MST: Titans take over at their 15 … Hall now at 89 yards on seven carries tonight; 62 on the touchdown run and 27 more on six other carries … Hall and Selvin Young have combined for 143 yards on 21 carries; not too shabby.

9:37 P.M. MST: Interception, Ian Gold … two-minute warning … Titans out of timeouts … That’s game; Broncos will be tied for first place in the AFC West at 5-5.

8:13 P.M. MST: Broncos open the half off the kickoff toucback with a 3-yard Selvin Young carry; he now has 45 yards on 11 carries tonight.

8:17 P.M. MST: After an on-field delay, Jay Cutler one-hops it to Brandon Marshall near the left sideline … which, of course, does no good in football. Broncos in third-and-7 … and they convert, as Cutler proceeds to phaser one to Marshall for 11 yards.

8:20 P.M. MST: Media-relations intern Jason Taylor has a chili dog coated in ketchup and mustard. I consider this to be a nasty, wretched collection of toppings; I would never put ketchup and mustard on a chili dog. Taylor insists, “They do this lots of places.” Where, I ask? Help me out here.

8:20 P.M. MST: Two third-down receptions for Marshall on this drive … these are his first catches of the night so far.

8:21 P.M. MST: Selvin Young very slow to rise after a 4-yard gain; he’s on his feet but is being treated on the field.

8:22 P.M. MST: Looks to me like Young might have turned his right ankle … we’ll wait for the official report.

8:22 P.M. MST: Brandon Marshall — nice touchdown reception, but very dangerous to hold the ball out like that before crossing the goal line. Maybe I’m just out of touch with modern celebrations of football, but to me, it just seems like that’s a way to get yourself in trouble. Nevertheless, the Broncos lead 27-10.

8:26 P.M. MST: Injury report — Selvin Young is fine and is expected to return.

8:30 P.M. MST: Young is getting the ball to his targets deep … but they can’t hang on. Bo Scaife couldn’t get that deep pass on second-and-10.

8:32 P.M. MST: Denver’s defense gets the stop … but Glenn Martinez gives it away on the punt return; he muffs the catch and the Titans take over at the Broncos 27 with 9:34 left in the quarter.

8:33 P.M. MST: Young makes a move in the backfield on first down that just froze Ian Gold … Young proceeds to sprint 19 yards to first-and-goal at the Denver 8 … Crowd getting noisy now at the south end … and LenDale White powers to the 4-yard-line.

8:36 P.M. MST: Young is forced out of bounds at the left sidelune at the 1-yard-line … Now third-and-goal at the 1 … Crowd roaring and on its feet … Ian Gold has the first pass rush, forcing Young back … V.Y. eludes to the left, but Marcus Thomas and Tim Crowder chase him to the outside … Crowder forces him out … but somewhere amidst the din, Denver called timeout, so there’s no play.

8:36 P.M. MST: Oy gevault.

8:38 P.M. MST: And now because the Broncos called timeout, the Titans can challenge the second down on which Young was forced out of bounds … because the third-and-goal never happened. Tennessee has challenged the play.

8:40 P.M. MST: And the Titans win the replay challenge and get the touchdown.

8:42 P.M. MST: What an odd game this has been.

8:45 P.M. MST: Broncos will begin at their 32 after a 26-yard Andre Hall return.

8:46 P.M. MST: Vince Young is probable to return with a contusion of his quadriceps muscle.

8:48 P.M. MST: A Selvin Young carry for a first down is wiped out by an Erik Pears holding penalty … and then the rookie running back is slow to arise. Fellow Texas alumnus Michael Griffin was hurt for the Titans one play earlier … the Longhorns dropping as though they’re in a slaughterhouse.

8:50 P.M. MST: Andre Hall now in for Young … Broncos have third-and-10 from the 32. Key play forthcoming.

8:51 P.M. MST: Cutler loses seven yards as Vince Fuller came untouched on a safety blitz … Todd Sauerbrun now with his first piunt of the night … he uncorks a 58-yarder … Chris Davis fumbles on the punt return, but the Titans manage to recover … Vince Young will come back in the game for Tennessee.

8:53 P.M. MST: Titans now with first-and-5 at their 44 … John Lynch and Dre’ Bly trying to marshal the fans to make more noise … LenDale White takes the carry and slams forward five yards for the first down … White starting to find a groove for the first time tonight.

8:54 P.M. MST: Vince Young to Bo Scaife for 12 yards to the Denver 39 … but of far greater significance is the fact that John Lynch was hurt and had to be treated on the field … Scaife stiff-armed Lynch, knocking his helmet back … Lynch was wincing pretty badly as he hit the ground … Domonique Foxworth now in at safety for Lynch.

8:57 P.M. MST: Another 12 yards for the Titans … now at the Denver 24.

8:57 P.M. MST: Selvin Young is questionable to return with a strained right knee.

8:57 P.M. MST: Broncos can’t recover another loose ball; Brandon Jones lost it but the Titans recovered. Titans have landed on all three fumbles this quarter.

8:58 P.M. MST: John Lynch is back in; the quarter is over.

7:15 P.M. MST: Second quarter … here we go.

7:16 P.M. MST: Nice tackle by Hamza Abdullah on Roydell Williams, who slammed the Tulane alumnus to the ground … third-and-2 now for the Titans … who continue their third-down success with a Vince Young-to-Justin Gage pass.

7:18 P.M. MST: Young finds Brandon Jones in front of Dre’ Bly … 21 yards, touchdown … Young pumped left, went right … the pump allowed Jones to find just enough space to break from Bly’s watch … 14-7, 1:45 into the second quarter.

7:20 P.M. MST: A disconcerting statistic — Tennessee is 5-of-7 on third downs. Titans have run 24 plays to the Broncos’ 6, and the Titans have controlled the ball for 14:02 to the Broncos’ 3:13. Denver’s offense needs to chew some clock on this series, because the defense could be getting a tad tired.

7:25 P.M. MST: Broncos use a timeout after gaining 20 on a pass from Jay Cutler to Brandon Stokley.

7:28 P.M. MST: Titans find a way to stop the Broncos’ passing game — commit a 38-yard pass-interference penalty. Broncos now at the Tennessee 11.

7:29 P.M. MST: Broncos settle for a 21-yard field-goal attempt after Selvin Young loses a yard on third-and-short … Broncos now lead 17-7 after Jason Elam knocks it home.

7:33 P.M. MST: Todd Sauerbrun’s kickoffs getting shorter as they go north to south, against the wind; this one didn’t make it to the end zone … Crowd getting loud now; forces Vince Young to take a timeout on first-and-10 from the Tennessee 10.

7:35 P.M. MST: Titans get out of purgatory quickly; Young finds Denver native Bo Scaife for 20.

7:36 P.M. MST: Broncos liberally using two defensive linemen who weren’t even with the team just 14 days ago — Josh Mallard and Kenny Peterson.

7:37 P.M. MST: Nate Webster loses his helmet … it’s just like training camp again.

7:38 P.M. MST: Young starting to get into hold-your-breath territory … just moving around, making plays by himself, keeping them alive … getting very dangerous. Crowd coming to life on third-and-3 … and Young finds Justin Gage for eight yards to keep the drive alive. Again, Young and the Titans are devouring the Broncos ‘D’ on third downs.

7:40 P.M. MST: LenDale White fumbles … Broncos recover … defense gets the big play it needs just as it was starting to wheeze a bit … Marcus Thomas with the square-up tackle to force it; Ian Gold recovers … Huge play, because the defense was getting gassed.

7:41 P.M. MST: Broncos now face third-and-5 after Cutler’s pass for Brandon Stokley overshoots the wideout; it’s Cutler’s first incompletion after connecting on his first six tosses.

7:42 P.M. MST: Nice call on the toss pitch to Young … get him the ball in space … picks up the yardage the Broncos need … the crowd has filled in quite nicely, by the way.

7:44 P.M. MST: Great creativity by the Broncos on the playcalling … Brandon Marshall on the end-around for 16 with the pump-fake to the right side … nicely done.

7:48 P.M. MST: Back from the two-minute warning … Jay Cutler’s pass for Glenn Martinez is low and incomplete.

7:49 P.M. MST: Broncos now up 20-7 after Elam hits a 39-yard field goal … It is the 384th of his career, passing Nick Lowery for fifth all-time.

7:50 P.M. MST: Titans have 1:45 to get downfield … they pick up 14 yards on the first play, a Young-to-Gage pass … Chris Brown takes a short pass and runs through the secondary, two members of which miss potential tackles … Titans at the Denver 48; 1:10 left; Titans with two timeouts.

7:54 P.M. MST: Young continuing to dissect the defense … Titans now at the Denver 38 … I’m quite stunned, frankly, that the officials aren’t reviewing the Young-to-Scaife play … it looked like Scaife might have had his left hand under the football … Broncos catch a break.

7:55 P.M. MST: After a failed third-down deep pass … Rob Bironas comes onto the field for a 56-yard kick with 14 seconds left … he missed the first kick, but the Broncos call timeout.

7:57 P.M. MST: And Bironas hits the rekick. “The ice melts,” says ESPN’s Mike Tirico. Broncos’ lead is now 20-10.

7:59 P.M. MST: A 9-yard Selvin Young run takes us to halftime.

6:23 P.M. MST: A somewhat late-arriving crowd so far tonight … and frankly, the air in the stands was a little bit lackadasical. Maybe everyone’s mentally checked out because of the holiday week; maybe the day was so nice that people have been lulled into taking a more serene, almost Buddhist approach — as Niles Crane would say — to the game?

6:29 P.M. MST: Blue Steel, from the U.S. Air Force Academy band, sings the national anthem. Very nice, albeit it seems like they’re channeling the Ray Conniff Singers.

6:32 P.M. MST: Were there accidents on Interstate 25? Way too many vacant seats as kickoff nears.

6:34 P.M. MST: As Tony Kornheiser reminds viewers, tonight’s coaches are the two longest-tenured in the league.

6:36 P.M. MST: Hamza Abdullah introduced as a starter at home for the first time in his NFL career … looks like he’s done this before. John Lynch draws a loud roar as he is the final player introduced.

6:38 P.M. MST: Titans win the toss — calling heads — and will receive.

6:41 P.M. MST: Standard starting ‘D’ — Abdullah for Nick Ferguson, as expected — as the game opens following a touchback on the kickoff … third-and-7 forthcoming.

6:42 P.M. MST: Vince Young with the adept scramble on third-and-7 … knew exactly where he needed to go. That’s what makes him so dangerous — he runs judiciously and with awareness; no willy-nilly to his style.

6:44 P.M. MST: Titans now 2-of-2 on third downs already … crowd is still settling in; very little noise on that third down. This place needs Dan Hawkins to tell the onlookers that “this ain’t intramurals.”

6:45 P.M. MST: Broncos catch a break after Brandon Jones sprinted past Champ Bailey up the right sideline, only to drop a pass that landed perfectly within his grasp.

6:46 P.M. MST: Young now 2-of-2 on third downs after finding Roydell Williams to move the Titans 15 yards to the Denver 44; Tennessee 3-of-3 on third downs already.

6:47 P.M. MST: Another third down now coming — third-and-8.

6:48 P.M. MST: Nice job by Josh Mallard to stay at home and tackle Young … Broncos get the stop after the Titans control possession for 12 plays and 6:34 of clock time … Broncos will take over at their 20.

6:51 P.M. MST: Broncos open in the I-formation … Selvin Young sprints for a quick eight yards on the game’s first play … Denver goes two tight ends on the game’s second play — Tony Scheffler enters — and Young gets another five yards.

6:53 P.M. MST: Nice job by Scheffler to hang on to a 16-yard catch with Michael Griffin draped all over him … Young goes for no gain on first-and-10 from the Denver 49.

6:54 P.M. MST: This first quarter is zipping on by … already below six minutes.

6:55 P.M. MST: Three wide on third down … Jay Cutler loooks like he’s going to run, but then finds Brandon Stokley right across the middle … Stokley turns and dashes upfield … showing speed that I didn’t think he’d had since his Baltimore days … outruns the entire Titans defense … touchdown, 48 yards. Great play all around … Cutler firing a phaser shot (I watched some old original series Star Trek episodes this morning) … and Stokley showing some zip that I remember witnessing in person on his touchdown in Super Bowl XXXV when he was a Raven.

7:01 P.M. MST: Kenny Peterson seeing some time up front … Titans will have third down, but it’ll be short yardage for the first time tonight (third-and-1).

7:02 P.M. MST: Broncos knew exactly what was coming … LenDale White as the lone setback … D.J. Williams crashed through for the 1-yard loss; Champ Bailey was also there. Titans go three-and-out.

7:03 P.M. MST: Glenn Martinez an early game MVP candidate … took advantage of the low line-drive punt by Craig Hentrich and just shot through … first touchdown on a punt return since Rod Smith against San Diego in 2003 … great blocking by Steve Cargile, holding off two guys … another splendid block by Jamie Winborn … 14-0, Broncos.

7:06 P.M. MST: One good re-turn deserves another, but the Titans can’t quite go as far with theirs; they’ll start following the kickoff at their 35.

7:08 P.M. MST: Now we’ve got the crowd yelling … a “DE-FENSE” chant as the Titans retake possession.

7:09 P.M. MST: Patrick Smyth of media relations informs me that this is the 17th punt-return touchdown for a player under special-teams coordinator Scott O’Brien’s watch — and the 32nd touchdown by an O’Brien-coached unit.

7:11 P.M. MST: Just like the first series … Young knows what to get. He needs 11 on third down; he gets 12. Beware of Young … if he starts doing the improv thing, the Titans could trim this deficit in as much time as it takes Young to get to the corner — which he just did for a first down, even with the speedy Elvis Dumervil bearing down upon him.