Will Bengals have a healthy, viable quarterback for Week 17?

The Broncos outscored Cincinnati 17-3 after halftime.

But in the end there was only more angst for a fan base waiting for a sign that the Bengals have crested the big-game hill as the Denver Broncos rallied from 14 points down to win 20-17 in overtime.

But their hopes of winning the game with a touchdown or extending overtime with a field goal ended two plays later when AJ McCarron failed to handle a shotgun snap and Denver’s Demarcus Ware fell on the ball to seal the win and clinch a playoff berth.

Quarterback Brock Osweiler #17 of the Denver Broncos passes against the Cincinnati Bengals during a game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 28, 2015.

“We knew what we have in front of us, an opportunity to get the bye”, said Carlos Dunlap, who collected all three sacks of Osweiler.

Denver allowed 85 rushing yards in the first half, just 23 in the second.

“It was my fault”. “Our team has a lot of special guys on it, and those guys are willing to fight for sixty-plus minutes”. “I looked up to see the coverage and the snap caught me by surprise”. “Diving for the football, and it just happened”, McCarron said after the game.

Osweiler moved the Broncos in position to win in regulation, but Brandon McManus duck-hooked a 45-yard field-goal attempt, sending the game into an extra period and raising the pressure.

“I was just thinking to myself: I’m 24 years old, and I don’t think I’ve ever kicked the ball like that in my life – in grade school, or elementary school or anything, McManus said”.

He did, and Ware’s follow-up capped Denver’s second comeback from a 14-0 deficit at home this season.

The Broncos improved to 11-4 with the 20-17 overtime triumph over Cincinnati and hold a one-game lead over the Chiefs (10-5).

For New England, it means, basically, the same thing it meant before Monday night’s kickoff: The Pats will clinch the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC playoffs with a victory Sunday in Miami. The Broncos would be in jeopardy of losing the AFC West if the Chiefs win; Denver would also be the 6th seed if the Jets defeat the Bills.

“That’s extremely impressive, but it’s also extremely impressive in the first half not to have the football at all and keep your poise”, he explained.

Kubiak said he was confident Manning could compartmentalize his emotions and focus on football. But, to make sure there are enough arms throwing passes to receivers this week in practice, Kafka will likely get some practice reps and could even be an emergency quarterback in Week 17 against the Baltimore Ravens. “Our mindset right now goes to (playing) San Diego”. It’s going to be very tough on us physically. “Let’s go to the two minute, Brock will handle them”. “I could feel that already”.

The next, McCarron took his eye off the snap from Russell Bodine and it was by him. “We’ll proceed just like we have”.

Translation? It’s time for the running game to come alive.

Kubiak said nothing has changed with the quarterback situation and that he plans to stick with Osweiler. “But we’ll leave that out there on the field”.

Denver, which was in danger of becoming the first team since the 1970 merger to miss the playoffs after starting 10-2, snapped a two-game skid with its third overtime win of the season.

Patriots Lose, Broncos Win, Bengals Win: The Broncos would claim the 1st seed with a three-way tiebreaker over the Patriots and Bengals, while the Patriots have the tiebreaker over the Bengals and would be the 2nd seed. McCarron at-least gives the Bengals a chance should they be forced to play a Wild Card round game but if Wenning is forced to play their season is surely doomed. They’ve never won a playoff game on the road in 13 tries.