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Published on 09/13/2009 at Sun Sep 13 14:32.
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Wild finish leads to 12-7 Broncos victory over Bengals

Posted Sun Sep 13th by

Denver Broncos receiver Brandon Stokley (14) celebrates in the end zone after scoring an 87-yard pass reception in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Cincinnati. Denver won the game 12-7. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

Denver Broncos receiver Brandon Stokley (14) celebrates in the end zone after scoring an 87-yard pass reception in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Cincinnati. Denver won the game 12-7. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

The game was over.

After being shut out for 54 minutes, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer led his team 91 yards down the field for a touchdown. After trailing the entire game, the Bengals were suddenly facing a sure-win, up one point with less than 40 seconds to go against a Denver Broncos offense that had stumbled all afternoon. No one on the Broncos offense had made a play.

Then, Brandon Stokley made a play.

In what will be remembered as perhaps the greatest opening day play in Broncos history, Bengals DB Leon Hall tipped an Orton throw intended for Brandon Marshall high into the air. Brandon Stokley, without a catch up to that point, just happened to be at the right place at the right time. The third-year Bronco took the tipped ball 87 yards untouched to the end zone, and the Broncos went on to win 12-7.

The Bengals, on the other hand, are left reeling, wondering how in the world they let this one get away. As the Associated Press puts it:

A half-hour after it ended, a fan in an orange Rey Maualuga jersey sat alone in the otherwise vacated section of green seats behind the very end zone, staring at the field, trying to comprehend what had just happened.

There was no explaining it.

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco (85) is tackled by Denver Broncos safety Brian Dawkins (20) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco (85) is tackled by Denver Broncos safety Brian Dawkins (20) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)

The Immaculate Deflection didn’t just bail out the Broncos defense, who had been stiff against the Bengals offense all night before breaking in the fourth quarter. It didn’t just bail out Marshall, who had several dropped balls, including an early thirty-yard toss over the middle that might have gone for six. It bailed out Kyle Orton.

Orton had been shaky all afternoon. While the plethora of WR drops didn’t help, his biggest blunder happened just moments before Palmer started his would-have-been-game-winning drive. On third down in Cincinnati territory, Orton inexplicably took a sack and loss of seven yards, turning a makeable 54-yard field goal attempt into an impossible 61 (Matt Prater has yet to miss a kick in 2009 and was already good from both 48 and 50 yards).

No harm, no foul; Stokley’s catch wiped the goof away and added 87 yards and a TD to Orton’s stat line. The quarterback finished with a 100.7 passer rating; without Stokley’s grab, he finishes with a 75.7.

Sloppiness was the story of the game until that wild fourth quarter. Both teams’ offenses were plagued by drops, missed blocks and penalties.

The Broncos defense, however, showed what a difference an offseason makes. Brian Dawkins was everywhere, Darrell Reid followed-up his preseason interception with a big third down sack on Carson Palmer, and the boys tallied two interceptions.

Granted, one of them was a game-ender on a Hail Mary by Tony Scheffler (you read that right), but still, an interception is an interception.

The Broncos successfully defend the AFC’s best opening day record and look toward their home opener against the Cleveland Browns. The Bengals are left to regroup after one of the flukiest, luckiest, most incredible plays in recent memory.

And Josh McDaniels is 1-0.

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  • soxbigdog

    OMG !!!! BRANDON STOKLEY !!!!!

    It was a great performance by the defense that was on the verge of being spoiled by one last drive by Cincy.. but what a finish !!!!

  • kerry

    wow. pure dumb luck. plain and simple. Orton was bad all day and our offense was horrible. defense was much better today until that last drive when Nolan decided to go conservative instead of stay on the attack.

    our O-line was pretty bad today also. having a mobile QB really helped them last year and now with a statue back there it means more sacks will come. lots of dropped passes, running game was terrible. Moreno seems to be a RB who cant take a hit without going to the sidelines for a few plays. not good. all in all it was a rather terrible offensive performance but a good defensive performance. so about a C+ or B- for the team today. if Orton cant move the ball better and score points then we will lose alot of games because our defense wont hold up that well against teams like Philly and Pittsburgh and New England.

  • robtink242

    Great game that honestly we won by luck. Orton’s inability to make multiple big plays held us back. we could of killed if champ was on 85 all game long.

  • http://broncotalk.net Joe

    Kerry

    Agreed with Orton. I do not like Orton, and will not like Orton. But I have a feeling, or it might just be more of a hope, that he will play better than this. He sucked today. On a good note, our defense kicked ass. The only storm that came in today was Stokely’s TD. Our defense played amazing considering the fact that they were on the field forever. Especially in that first half. So if we can get our offense to do something throughout the whole game and get our defense more rest, our D can be dominant. I love the addition of Dawkins.

  • robtink242

    right on Kerry. its always a passing down when jordan’s in the game he seriously doesnt scare anyone.

  • http://www.kellyleephipps.com Kelly in Carolina

    THIS DAY, WE FOUGHT! AND WON!

    I’ll take it like that all year baby! Exciting as hell. My throat hurts from screaming!

  • milehigh

    Fire fire fire fire fire fire fire fire Kyel Orton he almost lost the game.HE PLAYS SCARED WHAT A WIMP.HE SUCK ASS!He playes like scared little girl.Fire his ass.

  • kerry

    yeah its pathetic. Orton is horrible. so many times i saw Stokley and Scheffler open and he never looked at them. he did a Cutler and went to a double covered Marshall. only difference is Cutler can thread the needle, Orton cant. we got damn lucky today. for all intents and purposes we should have lost this game.

    but seriously does anyone see that Moreno is very fragile? the guy got hit once and headed to the sideline, hit again, went to the sideline, the guy spent more time with the trainer then on the field. someone said Moreno is gonna go for 2,000 total yards this year. not a chance. the guy cant take a hit and stay in. and Marshall………………..he looked SOOOOOO uninterested today. anyone see the rotoworld report that Shanahan had planned to release MArshall had he stayed head coach?? here check it out:

    http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=NFL&hl=150958&id=3653

    people better seriously worry about our offense. and i dont mean worry as in they are to be feared either. ill say one thing that really impressed me though. Alphonso Smith looked really good today in both coverage and tackling. Bailey gave up a few catches to Chad Johnson that a younger Bailey never would have.

  • http://birty.blogspot.com mikebirty

    was the good old fashioned hook and ladder as wild as torro torro torro?

    I agree with the other posters. The broncos were so bad that they should give the win back to the nfl and drop out of the league for 5 years, although they’re only one of 16 teams that can go unbeaten.

  • Steeplebomb

    Right on kerry. 99 times out of 100 that’s a loss. The defense looked a lot better than last year. Champ Bailey’s tip was awesome. The run game was underwhelming: Moreno needs to follow his blockers and he needs to be more consistent. Aside from a few plays, Orton was a statue. He also displayed poor decision making skills throughout.

  • http://cdn0.sbnation.com/profile_images/111140/La_La_Mascot.jpg WhidbeyBronco

    Go Broncos! McD is a freaking genius for that last play call! Orton executed it perfectly!

  • robtink242

    yeah he’s kind of Kerry. But, I dont think we are using are backs properly. a lot of dumb plays ran on 2nd and 3rd and short. we need to develope a decent run game. Especially how we have the browns next. Who was ran all over today.

  • soxbigdog

    like they say.. sometimes its better to be lucky than good…

    … do they look like a contender … no… are there issues… many…

    but hell… just enjoy it as a win

  • Arvada62

    Orton better buy Stokley dinner tonight because Stokley saved him from being the goat of the game. Orton stunk today as I predicted he would and he won’t be getting any better. Wake up coach McD, Orton IS NOT A STARTING QB!

    OTOH, the defense was everything I expected and more. Great job guys. Giving up only 7 points after being on the field 2/3 rds of the time is quite commendable.

    Also, it certainly was apparent that the Bengals got the better pick in Mauluaga (sp) than Denver got with NoShow Moreno. The Broncos could have drafted that stud LB and had the foundation for a strong defense for years. Instead we get 4 yards and a cloud of dust then a limp off the field. A truly wasted first round pick since he’s not even the best running back on the team.

  • stav

    Wow – what a bunch of bitches most of you are. End of the day, no injuries, three sacks, two turnovers, and most important, 1-0. Winning on the road when we were picked to lose. Luck? Sure it was a lucky play, but that’s what happens when coincidence and preparation meet. Stop bitching, we won. I agree we are not using the backs correctly and Orton was subpar, but maybe the receivers can catch some of his passes too? Defense was solid, not great, until Nolan got confused and thought we were winning 24-0.

    One thing though, is it just me, or were Fouts and Johnson almost rooting for the Bengals? They were all over the Broncos early on, but whenever the Bengals did anything positive Gus Johnson got a little too crazy for my taste.

    Like I said a few weeks ago, let everyone think we’re crap, let them look past us. We’re going to bite a few people in the ass this year, nothing crazy, but a few surprises. Offense was disjointed, but they need to find their identity. Boring first half, except for the defense holding fast, but I’m not going to sit here and complain like most of you when we walk out of a road game with a win.

  • Joey

    you haters are pathetic. a win is a win. period. what is our record now? 0.5 W 0 L?

    Shut the hell up and take the win for what it is. Was it luck? Sure, but a smart guy like Stokes thought quick and came away with it. Deal with it and back off.

  • stav

    thank you Joey. Some people forget that a win is a win.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    The Broncos weren’t “lucky” to win. That last play was luck to be sure, but they put themselves in a position to be down by one with 40 seconds to go. Anything can happen in football, and that’s why you play the game.

    The Bengals defense is a lot better than people think too. I am definitely worried about the offense but HOLY COW ENJOY IT PEOPLE!

  • robtink242

    no Stav
    no ones bitching. the defense was great. But you cant honestly say that was our best performance from the OLine, RB’s and most importanly our QB. He was horrible and you guys told me Bradstater had deer in headlights. We’re talking about a vet. that we trade for. I much rather have TomBradstater in the game where by it’s an exciting learning process.

  • soxbigdog

    after all the crap that has happened around this team… all the BS and all the talk…

    it was good to just be a fan again and watch my team win…

  • Arvada62

    Yes stav, you are right about the announcers. My wife made the same comment. They seemed all geared up for a Bengals victory and were really disappointed in the outcome.

    You homers that are satisfied with the Broncos as long as they win will be the ones in shock when a similar performance against a top rung team leaves them on the short end of blow-out. The Broncos problems are clearer now that we’ve actually played a game that counts. So coach McD needs to go to work to fix those problems as well as he can before the competition gets really tough. I’m glad the Broncos won, but I don’t have my head in the sand or elsewhere for that matter.

  • JP

    just got back from game….all i can say is WOW!! it was surreal to be sitting in the endzone which stokely came running into. I still cant believe it. Enjoy it folks.

  • Steeplebomb

    wow you people are upset. I don’t say any of this because I get off on being negative. I really think that our offense will get into a rhythm as the season progresses. I’m pumped by the performance of our D, especially considering how long they had to stay on the field. I think McD is going through growing pains and will get noticeably better as the season progresses.

    Obviously I’m stoked that we won (I was screaming my head off for about ten minutes after that play) but the fact that we are 1-0 doesn’t just make our problems disappear. So we won one game against a mediocre team because of luck. If we play like we did today against the majority of the teams on our schedule, we’re going to be in trouble.

  • Broncos Fan in AL

    I’m happy we won’t have an 0-16 season this year, but dang the offense was, well, offensive. 3 and out should be Kyle Orton’s nickname. The defense rocked, though. It was like watching the exact opposite of last year’s team.

  • AtomicLeo

    Nice to get a break in Cincinatti after some of the bizarre games we’ve had there.

    Orton is awful. This isn’t even debatable now. The team was in FG range and the idiot took a sack instead of throwing the ball away. Dumb dumb play. The running game looks just like it did preseason, lethargic.

    If this keeps up we are going to get killed this season.

  • robtink242

    yeah AtomicLeo its not that the running game is lethargic its that the opposing defense isnt affraid of our QB and his ability to spread the football.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kris Burghart

    Guys and gals 8 new starters on defense all better than last years players. Cinncinatti punted more in this game than our opponets did the entire 2nd half of last season. Yet we still question personell moves by our new head coach and why because he refuses to suck up to the media. The offense will get better but we actually hit people and delivered some blows. By the way baby Jay will get his but kicked tonight at Green-Bay. coach McD some of us think all you are doing is excellent.

  • FoCoBrOncO

    Hopefully this W gives this team the confidence we need to go in next week with all cylinders firing ready to compete. I liked what i saw on the defensive side of the ball and our secondary played great, especially against recievers that Ochocinco claims “would best the USA Olympic relay team” lol i dont like loud mouth players but i love hearing from ocho, hes always good for a laugh. Havent looked at the stats yet but it seems like our corners and safetys all had more tackles than the front. Thats good they are making stops but in good defenses not many people get past the front 7, only improvement i think we need on defense is our stops up front. Offense…looked pretty miserable, Kerry your right Knowshon looked very fragile, and thats never good, but we switched our blocking scheme from the zone and I love our o-line but i dont think we have the right personel group to play the power block scheme they run in New England, well see, time will tell. Orton looked just like he did in Chicago, like shit, he looks scared on the field and he stares his no. 1 read from the moment the ball is snapped to the second it left his hand. No wonder he missed all the wide open reads this offense is supposed to create, hes a mediocre game manager at best(and hes dumb as a rock, know the situation, thats why you have breaks between plays, dont take a sack when your barely in field goal range). Our recievers are way too good to have a dink and dunk dumbshit trying to get them ball, thats where we will struggle and until we get the ground game going we wont have great success in the air. Overall im happy with the win and i got atleast one pass play i can watch all week over and over on the dvr for the next week lol. MNF SD and the Raiders, i just hope they beat the crap out of eachother tomorrow and it will be us and KC in the running for 1st in the AFC West, but the chiefs looked real good today against a very good baltimore team, and im pretty sure cassell fulfilled his lifelong role as a backup again today (why did McD want him again?) oh well, Good game glad we escaped with the win.

  • http://BroncoTalk.net Mr.East

    The offense needs a few games to get in sync. However, no turnovers.

    The defense was solid. Only gave up one score, three sacks, and two picks. Was that luck?

  • Vince_Marine

    Wow, what a game! The D was awesome! The O has some things to fix but give it time. Enjoy the win, and QUIT CRYING…KERRY!!!!

    Why do you guys watch and cheer the Broncos if all you are is negative towards the team? If you don’t like it don’t watch and stop being a fan, otherwise get on the band wagon and cheer like a real fan and stop bitching!!!

  • FoCoBrOncO

    Vince Marine- band wagon talk is for fair weather fans! Get on the Bronco Bus where most of us have been for years! some days the bus doesnt work to well but other days its truckin! lol GO BRONCOS!!

  • from philly

    Just want to say that you guys are lucky to have B. Dawkins. he is an animal and the most fun athlete to watch. enjoy! I now have to be a denver fan.

  • anthony33

    Defense, with the exception of the last drive, was soooo much better than last year. Special teams did a nice job as well. Alonso Smith. Dawkins, Davis and Haggen were all over the field. Williams looked and Bailey looked weak.

    Offense was just awful. Orton has zero confidence and lacks pocket presence, his throws almost got several recievers killed. Moreno looked fragile. Hillis was under ultilized. Stokely and Grahm and Sheffler were decent. O-Line looked bad. Have no idea what to think of Marshall, one drop, one through his hands and seemed uninterested.

    Too early to pull the plug on Orton just yet, but that was horrid. Hopefully the defense can keep us in games until Orton pulls his head out and this offense shows some life or he is replaced. I don’t think McD is the type that will put up with that crap very long.

    All that said, a win is a win. Hopefully the good karma will carry on and is a sign of things to come.

  • anthony33

    I take back what I said about WIlliams. Stats show otherwise (10 tackles 3 solo). Just seemed like everytime I saw him he was getting blocked out of a play.

  • cbbroncos

    IS IT JUST ME…OR DID IT LOOK LIKE BRANDON MARSHALL WAS REALLY LOAFING OUT THERE?? HE DROPPED TWO GREAT PASSES AND DIDN’T MAKE A PLAY FOR THE OTHER BALLS THROWN TO HIM. IF HE IS TANKING IT………WE NEED TO GET HIS SORRY ASS OUTTA HERE.

  • Tom9798

    We won one of the easy one’s! . . . . I screamed and yelled and am thrilled! . . . . Geez . . . we sure made it look easy . . . eh? . . . we are now 1-0 . . . . undefeated . . . .

    To Mike Nolan . . . hat’s off . . . our defense did everything I hoped it would . . . hold the other team to less than 17 points and give our offense a chance to win . . . . although keep the QB pressure on . . . .when we actually gave Carson Palmer the time to make the throws . . . . guess what . . . . he did! . . . .

    Offensively . . . . both field goals were jaw-dropping!

    We desperately need a QB . . . . Kyle “The Statue” Orton . . . . when he took a sack and dropped us out of winning field goal range . . . . even McD gave him a ration on the sidelines . . . .

    If this is the offense that is going to play the Brown’s, Steeler’s, Cowboy’s, Giant’s, Patriot’s, Raven’s, Eagle’s, Redskin’s and the Colt’s . . . not to mention the Charger’s, Raider’s and Chief’s twice . . .

    I can only hope we make it look so easy the next time . . .

  • broncoNM

    Orton’s play today was horrible and is a cause for worry… The defense played a lot better and the O line gave Orton time. Its time to explore every avenue at the QB position… Simms? Brandstater? Jeff Garcia?
    Im happy to see us start 1-0 but the offense needs major improvement. We didnt move the ball at all! Im excited about the defense and nolan but cinn still had a lot of drop passes and miscuses.

    Why did hillis not get any carries?

  • http://broncotalk.net Kris Burghart

    yes the offense was disappointing but remember really only a couple days of practice with the guys who played. BM just off suspension, KM just back fron injury, KO not throwing much last couple of weeks. also a great deal of the pressure came over our back-up guard. we need cooper back. Special teams and Defense 100 % improvement except kern who had a couple shanks. Next test for Josh McD be the offensive guru we hope you can be. Cassle strted slowly last year also.Go Broncos ugly orton takes down pretty boy Quinn

  • broncoNM

    Also i think Alphonso smith look good and will only get better. I understand that the price tag was steep but he contributes to the improvement of our D.

  • Waylon

    Let’s not allow a win to get in the way of our pity party. I’d been strutting around NYC all day in my broncos tshirt, enjoying all of the reactions from other teams’ fans. Glad to come home and see that the real ‘fans’ aren’t going to do something silly like enjoy a miraculous victory.

    Let’s spend some more time grumbling about Orton and mcdaniels. I know that’s why I became a football fan in the first place. :)

    GO BRONCOS!!!!!

  • Jeff Garcia

    I am available if you need me!!

  • http://www.dbaumgartner.com db

    The Broncos could win the Superbowl and Kerry would find something to complain about. Take the W and be happy! (And no…not saying they WILL will the Superbowl)

  • BroncoinVA9986

    Wow some people on hear wanted the Broncos to lose from the sounds of it. I want to give props to the Defense no touchdowns or field goals for like 8 quarters almost. Pittsburgh won games like this all last year with defense creating oppurtunities. I still need to watch it but from what I am reading it was a slugfest….Sorry to those who want McD to fail Broncos are 1-0 and looking like they are heading in the right direction.. It is about time our defense started playing well

  • jbirchbronco

    Can I just say the football Gods were looking down upon us today. After our horrendous offseason we deserve something like this to happen. I agree with everyone else that are O was pathetic and D was great. Know-Mo sure did take a shot on the sweep. I don’t know of too many backs that could take a shot like that and go back to the huddle

  • Barto51

    Let’s give credit where credit is due. On Defense we held the Bengals out of the end zone pretty much the entire game with out any offense to speak of. Three sacks, 2 ints and a lot of great play from some new Broncos Alphonso Smith and Brian Dawkins just to name a few. The D will only get better the longer they play together.

    On Offense we did not turn the ball over and….. I’m not sure what else. Our WR’s need to step up and we need to get Hillis more involved in the game. I agree with anothony33 Hillis is way under utilized.

    Great game Denver D, Pick it up Denver O.

  • IWILLX2

    Alot of people that watched the Broncos-Bengals gams forgot to meention that whem McDaniels correctly calles the referree’s over to correct the mistake they made when he called the time out after the Bengals scored made the officials put 18 seconds back on the clock, it gave us (the Broncos) a whole new way to think to get the bll down field to field goal position or in a position to score a touchdown. It gave us alot more confidience with the more time we had. Although Orton threw a terrible first pass. the second pass wasn’t much better but the tipped pass bounced in our favor and money and play making Brandon Stokley wasin the right play at the right time to make that catch,run the 86 yards to the 1 yard line run along the endzone line to waste more time off the clock then score. Brandon Stockley is a beast! He’s always made crucial plays to win games for his teams for every team he’s played for and today was no different. He’s a great guy and player and I am proud to have him as a Broncos!!! GTo Broncos…. We will get much better as the season goes on and we will be a much better team than peoople give us credit for. We will SHOCK the N.F.L. world. You heard it from me first IWILLX2 I LOVE THE DENVER BRONCOS and will forever !!!!!!!! GO BRONCOS !!

  • flbronc

    anyone have a count for dropped balls? both teams had a bunch, but man it seemed like we dropped a lot compared to preseason.

    was it me or did marshall not even try to get the 2-pt conv? he didnt even put his hands up…

  • IWILLX2

    josh McDaniels is a GREAt coach AND HE IS PUTTING THIS YTEAM IN POSITION to be one of the greatest ever fielded. IT MIGHT TAKE HIM A LITTLE TIME TO GET THE PERSONNEL he needs to have the pieces of the puzzle he needs to succed but he will and Pat Bowlen will back him and give him What and who ever he needs to be CHAMPIONS. Mark my words!!! IWILLX2 I am looking for a successful 2009-2010 campaign and we will only get better. Watch out N.F.C. west , then The N.F.C, then The N.F.L because we are coming and coming soon and very,very HARD !!!!! IWILLX2

  • RCT930

    Orton looked horrid the first few series. He looked afraid standing in the pocket. But then he settled in and did alright, especially with a hurt throwing finger. If not for all the dropped passes, his numbers would have been pretty good.

    Alphonzo Smith is a man. Will the fans who criticized McD’s decision to move up and get him finally shut their pie holes?

    Moreno will be fine. He’s not 100 percent and he needs reps to get in “football shape,” that’s all. This is what happens when a rookie running back holds out.

    Buckhalter looked explosive.

    Dawkins was a beast.

    Marshall looked like he was drunk. If he wants his big payday, he better man up and get on the ball.

  • Brian

    I am just happy Collin Cowherd (the heard sports talk show personallity ) has to eat his words. This dude announced this was a sure pick for a”Suicide League”. The Bengals would win as the Broncos were totally screwed and had no hopes of winning. I actually like when no one gives the Broncos respector any hope of winning. That way, the Broncos make a lot of people look stupid. I enjoy what Kerry writes as there are more truths in his statements than we give him credit for. Listening to the negatives well, it just makes the victory that much sweeter.

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