Ware recovers fumble to seal Broncos’ 20-17 win over Bengals

DeMarcus Ware beat AJ McCarron to a fumbled snap in overtime, sending the Denver Broncos into the National Football League playoffs with a 20-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night.

“I’m 24 years old and I don’t think I’ve ever kicked the ball like that in my life: grade school, elementary school, or anything like that”, McManus said. And yet it was one of those contests that felt a bit like a vintage dead-ball era National Football League game, where defenses were the dominant paradigm on both sides of the ball. “We thought we were going to finish it with the field goal but at the end of the game, it’s all about that win”.

Should they defeat San Diego at home Sunday, the Broncos will win their fifth consecutive AFC West championship and secure no worse than a No. 2 seed in the playoffs, which gives them a first-round bye.

We basically know which teams are in the playoffs: Carolina, Arizona, Minnesota, Green Bay, Washington and Seattle have clinched the six NFC spots.

Unless Pittsburgh wins at Cleveland on Sunday, and the New York Jets stumble further down Lake Erie in Buffalo at the same time (or if Denver loses the Monday night game to Cincinnati and loses again on Sunday at home to San Diego), it’ll be the third time in four years the Steelers fail to reach the post-season.

McCarron capped Cincinnati’s first drive – a 15-play, 80-yard march – with a 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver A.J. Green.

On second-and-10 from the Bengals 33, center Russell Bodine’s shotgun snap sailed past McCarron, who was making his second start in place of injured Andy Dalton, and Ware beat him to the loose ball at the 23.

Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler was 27 of 39 for 299 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions while playing with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder. At times, they employed a no-huddle attack and ran plays quickly, denying the Bengals opportunities to make defensive substitutions.

Kubiak said in training camp that the season is about memory.

After Monday Night, Denver now is 3-0 when trailing by 14 points. The penalty aided the Broncos in their drive toward a field goal in overtime. “I wanted a chance to redeem myself, obviously”, McManus said. “I mean, back to square one”. Honestly, the Patriots are the only team here that I’m sure is better than the Chiefs.

Sanders passed the 1,000 receiving yards mark in the first half on a 35-yard reception.

-LB Brandon Marshall sustained an ankle injury during the game Monday. With 10:51 left in the second quarter the Bengals took a 14-0 lead.

Ward practiced last week for the first time since exiting in the first half against the New England Patriots on November 29.

The Broncos grabbed their first lead on Anderson’s 39-yard run with 11:17 remaining in regulation. Having a lead in Denver with a playoff bye on the line, something the team needs to get their starting quarterback back for the playoffs, doesn’t excuse easing off.

Texans: Quarterback Brian Hoyer is in the last phase of the NFL’s concussion protocol and will start Sunday against Jacksonville if he is cleared to play.

-Denver’s victory against Cincinnati was its 28th all-time in overtime, including three this season.

Thomas caught the most passes with seven for 59 yards but it was Daniels that helped Osweiler truly seal the win.