Broncos Tack On Field GoalMatt Prater hit a 41-yard field goal to put the Broncos on the board in the second half.
Denver now trails 42-10 after the 14-play, 58-yard scoring drive. Prater’s conversion comes after Brodrick Bunkley forced a fumble by Patriots running back Stevan Ridley that Marcus Thomas recovered for Denver.
2:14 remains in the third quarter of play.
Brady Finds Hernandez for TDSteelers Cut Deficit in HalfThe Steelers have found the end zone for the first time today, on a 1-yard touchdown reverse run by receiver Mike Wallace to bring Pittsburgh within one touchdown. The Broncos now lead 20-13 with 4:29 left in the third quarter.
Wallace’s run capped an 11-play, 92-yard drive for the Steelers that took 5:56 off the game-clock. Pittsburgh moved methodically down the field, although at one point it appeared as if the Broncos recovered a backwards pass. However, the play was ruled to be not reviewable and the drive continued.
The Broncos had a chance to stop the Steelers, but on third-and-2 from the Broncos 33-yard line, Issac Redman burst up the middle and ran all the way down to the one-yard line to set up Wallace’s score on the next play.
The Broncos offense will take over on its own 20-yard line following the touchback.
-Kenny Legan
Bills Add Three MoreDave Rayner hit another 25-yard field goal and the Bills now lead 23-14 with 2:32 left in the third quarter.
Big gains from C.J. Spiller moved the Bills into scoring position but the Denver defense once again stood tall to force a field goal, forcing three incompetions in a row from their own 7-yard line.
Bills Answer With FGThe Bills have extended their lead to 20-14 thanks to a 25-yard field goal by Dave Rayner.
Backed up on their own 2-yard line, the Broncos defense stopped the Bills for no gain on second-and-goal and Elvis Dumervil sacked Ryan Fitzpatrick for a 5-yard loss on third down. The sack marks the eighth consecutive game that Dumervil has recorded at least half a sack — the longest active streak in the NFL.
Click here to listen to the audio highlight of the sack courtesy of AM 850 KOA.
Woodhead Extends Patriots LeadThe Patriots added to their lead in the third quarter, driving 85 yards in eight plays, capped off by a 10-yard touchdown run by Danny Woodhead.
New England leads 34-16.
The highlights of the drive included a 21-yard pass from Tom Brady to BenJarvus Green-Ellis, a 13-yard connection from Brady to Wes Welker and an 8-yard pass to Aaron Hernandez that was made longer by a 15-yard facemask penalty on the Broncos.
The Broncos have a first-and-10 on their own 8-yard line after a short return with 36 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Bears Take 7-0 LeadMarion Barber scored on a 9-yard run and Robbie Gould added the PAT to give Chicago a 7-0 lead over the Broncos with 5:19 to go in the third quarter.
A 26-yard punt return from Devin Hester set the Bears up at the Denver 42-yard line. From there, Barber ran the ball for 36 yards on five carries, the last of which ended with the 9-yard score.
After a touchback, the Broncos are now taking over at the 20.
Miller Ties Broncos Rookie RecordWith his third-quarter takedown of Bears quarterback Caleb Hanie, Von Miller increased his season sack total to 11.5.
That ties Miller with Rulon Jones for most sacks in team history by a rookie.
The Broncos now have three sacks — the other two came via D.J. Williams — in a game that remains scoreless with 10:29 remaining in the third quarter.
Click here to listen to the audio highlight from AM 850 KOA.
Broncos Strike BackJust one play after Minnesota retook and eight-point lead, the Broncos answered with a touchdown of their own as Minnesota now leads 22-21 with 2:44 left in the third quarter.
After Quan Cosby’s 63-yard kickoff return to Minnesota’s 41-yard line, quarterback Tim Tebow scrambled left, thought about running, then just as he was about to go out-of-bounds, he hit a wide open Demaryius Thomas. Thomas turned upfield, put on an ankle-breaking juke move and churned into the end zone for his second touchdown of the day.
Click here to listen to the audio highlight of the play from AM 850 KOA.
-Kenny Legan
Broncos Score to Open HalfThe Broncos marched down the field to start the second half, finishing the drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Tim Tebow to Demaryius Thomas to make the score 15-14 in favor of the Vikings.
Denver reeled off chunks of yards out of the gates, gaining 10+ yards on the first four plays of the possession. Tebow connected with Eric Decker for a 17-yard completion to start the drive. Willis McGahee followed with runs of 11, 14, then 9 yards to take the Broncos to the Vikings 36-yard line.
Lance Ball then picked up five yards on a third-and-1 carry. The Broncos scored on another third-down conversion when Tebow connected with Thomas in the back corner of the end zone. It is the ninth touchdown pass of the season for Tebow and the second touchdown catch of the year for Thomas.
Click here for the audio highlight of the play, courtesy of AM 850 KOA.
-Stuart Zaas