3:32 P.M. MDT: One can only imagine that concession-stand sales were light this afternoon as Terrell Davis, the man Broncos President/CEO Pat Bowlen calls “one of the greatest players to play the game” was inducted into the Ring of Fame.
“Does this guy belong in Canton or what?” asked Bowlen.
Per Bowlen’s encouragement, the 75,000-plus in attendance saluted the team’s all-time leading rusher — and then Davis closed his speech by getting the fans to rise and share a salute.
Bowlen began the ceremony by reciting Davis’ accomplishments before a highlight film chronicling Davis’ accomplishments ran on the video-replay boards around the stadium.
“Terrell, we love you and we always will,” Bowlen said.
The ceremny consumed all but 90 seconds of halftime, and was still in progress when the Broncos and Jaguars traipsed back onto the field for the second half.
3:35 P.M. MDT: From bad to worse … Domenik Hixon fumbles the kickoff and the Jaguars recover at the Denver 18 … Just before the Jaguars are about to run their first play of the half, the Broncos challenge the call.
3:37 P.M. MDT: The on-field ruling stands.
3:38 P.M. MDT: Pressure from Elvis Dumervil forces David Garrard to settle for a first-down incompletion … Fred Taylor charges up the middle to the Denver 13, leaving third-and-5.
3:39 P.M. MDT: Garrard keeps it, and is stopped by a swarm of Broncos, led by Champ Bailey … With fourth-and-1 left after the 4-yard run, the Jags settle for a John Carney field goal. The Broncos dodge a bullet, and still trail by two scores.
3:42 P.M. MDT: After fumbling the previous kickoff, Hixon comes achingly close to breaking one before being stopped by the ankle at the Denver 26.
3:44 P.M. MDT: Justin Durant leads a horde of Jaguars to Travis Henry in the backfield … Broncos now in third-and-7 at their 29 … Cutler out of the shotgun, finds Brandon Stokley, but the pass is two yards short of the needed yardage, and some fans boo.
3:46 P.M. MDT: Sauerbrun’s gross average is getting a boost today; he just uncorked a 65-yard punt that lands in the end zone. The net is 45 yards, and the Jaguars take over at their 20 with 10:57 left in the quarter.
3:48 P.M. MDT: A helmet falls off a Bronco. Shockingly, the helmet is Nate Webster’s.
3:49 P.M. MDT: Webster misses a tackle on the next play, and Marcedes Lewis takes a short pass and turns it into an 18-yard gain. Aside from the boos after the failed third down on the last possession, this crowd is church quiet.
3:50 P.M. MDT: Jaguars keep on chugging forward … now at the Denver 45. Clock down at 7:45.
3:51 P.M. MDT: Lewis can’t hang on as Garrard twists to throw across his body and avoid the pass rush of Simeon Rice … noe third-and-6 from the Denver 45 … Garrard swallowed by Elvis Dumervil, the ball comes loose and the Broncos recover … with Dumervil himself getting the football.
3:56 P.M. MDT: Cutler locates Brandon Marshall for 17 yards across the middle … Denver now at the 25 now with second-and-8 after Henry gains two yards.
3:57 P.M. MDT: This Cutler-to-Marshall thing might have some potential; they hook up for another 13 yards to get Denver to the JAX 12. Marshall already has 125 yards on six receptions today.
3:58 P.M. MDT: Henry chugs up to the 8-yard-line … Broncos in second-and-6 … Cutler in an empty-backfield formation … finds Walker for four yards. Denver at third-and-two with 4:40 to go in the quarter.
3:58 P.M. MDT: Broncos use their second timeout; they now have one remaining.
4 P.M. MDT: Mike Peterson makes a clutch tackle on Selvin Young, leaving the Broncos a long yard short of the first down … and the Broncos subsequently take their final timeout after bringing Travis Henry and Cecil Sapp back onto the field for fourth down.
4:03 P.M. MDT: It was a long one yard … Cutler sneaks it … and the Broncos come up short. Denver turns it over on downs at the Jaguars 3 with 3:44 left in the quarter. Jacksonville’s Daryl Smith came around from the side and seemed to pull Cutler back as he attempted to burrow forward behind the offensive line.
4:05 P.M. MDT: The crowd boos as Sam Adams is called for encroachment … Fred Taylor turns the first-and-5 into another first down after a 7-yard run to the JAX 15 … Jaguars keeping it on the ground as the drive begins they call four straight runs and are now at the JAX 25.
4:07 P.M. MDT: Jaguars called for holding on third-and-1 from the 25 … the penalty is declined after the Broncos stop them about a half-yard short … Denver will have decent field position at its 40 after Adam Podlesh’s 36-yard punt bounces out of bounds.
4:11 P.M. MDT: Broncos now have third-and-5 after Cutler takes a deep shot down the right sideline for Marshall, who was in double coverage.
4:12 P.M. MDT: Cutler finds Brandon Stokley for 14 yards and a first down to the Jacksonville 41 as the quarter ends.
