Broncos clinch playoff with victory, but Chiefs still can win division

Ware’s recovery followed a 37-yard field goal by Brandon McManus, whose shanked 45-yarder at the end of regulation made necessary the extra drama.

On November 17, I wrote that the Denver Broncos quarterback job would be Brock Osweiler’s to lose – among the first to make such a bold claim.

He said it was such a clumsy mistake that he didn’t bother getting nervous for his chance to win the game in overtime.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning talk prior to an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 28, 2015, in Denver.

Linebacker DeMarcus Ware had the final say in the victory that clinched a playoff berth for the Denver Broncos.

Quarterback Brock Osweiler threw for a touchdown and led the overtime drive that ended in McManus’ game-winning field goal, helping the Broncos improve to 11-4.

“We knew what we had in front of us, an opportunity to get the bye”, said defensive end Carlos Dunlap, who had three sacks. The Broncos’ stout defence snapped to attention at halftime and smothered the Bengals for most of the rest of the evening. The Alabama product was razor-sharp on the quick passes, helping A.J. Safety George Iloka missed the past two games with an injured groin. “Each team is going to have runs”, Bengals cornerback Adam Jones said.

“It’s tough”, Green said. “There were a lot of things we wish we could’ve had back”. We then had the possibility of several AFC playoff outcomes determined by what was clearly a bad call, but the Bengals saved Hochuli’s bacon on the very next play.

The Broncos pulled to 14-3 at halftime on McManus’ short field goal, and the Broncos came out a different team in the second half — a reversal of last week at Pittsburgh, where they jumped out to a 17-point lead but were outscored 24-0 after the break.

The way that they lost in Denver was as disappointing as anything. A Cincinnati ground game that put up 85 yards in the first half managed just 23 more yards in the second half and into overtime, and McCarron was grounded.

“I was diving for the football and it just happened”, McCarron said, adding he wasn’t sure how bad it was hurt. He finished with 22 completions in 35 attempts for 200 yards and a touchdown, but just 81 yards came after the first half was done. “He did everything right”.

The Cincinnati Bengals have a new quarterback on their 10-man practice squad. “I told the team and the offensive guys that”. “That is what it comes down to”. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis and his coaching staff are preparing with the expectation that McCarron plays Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, a team source told Werder. It’s his non-throwing hand, so he’s expected to start against the Ravens on Sunday.

The loss probably knocks Cincinnati out of a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs.

Up next: The Raiders will look to end their season on a high note with a trip to Kansas City (10-5) with hopes of ending their nine-game win streak. “I just wrapped my foot around it”.

The 6-3, 225-pound Kafka, a third-year player and fourth-round draft choice of Philadelphia in 2010 out of Northwestern, has played in four National Football League games. He was with Minnesota and Tennessee earlier this season…. In fact, there’s still much fun to be had on the final Sunday of the regular season (remember: there’s no Monday night game in Week 17).