Spectacular Finish - Broncos Win against Bengals

It was an amazing break for the Broncos after the Bengals scored a touchdown and extra point making the score 7 to 6, but even with just a few seconds left, the fates were blowing a wind the Bronco's way.




Having just given up a long, final drive to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Broncos were at their own 13-yard line with 28 seconds remaining in the game. Kyle Orton and his bandaged right index finger lofted a pass near midfield intended for Brandon Marshall but tipped straight up in the air by Bengals cornerback Leon Hall.

Running over from the other side of the field was Stokley, who until that point did not have one reception. Stokley grabbed it in stride and took off down the left sideline, toward the end zone, with Bengals star linebacker Dhani Jones in pursuit. Stokley not only outraced Jones, but he also had the presence of mind to run perpendicular to the end zone along the 1-yard line, to help run out what was left in the clock.

Stokley crossed, and the Broncos had an improbable 12-7 win.

The head-coaching debut of Josh McDaniels was answered with a Hail Mary.

Most credit to the Broncos win goes to their defense. For all but 38 seconds of a 60-minute game, the Broncos' D stopped the passing of Carson Palmer, the receiving of Chad Ochocinco and the rushing of Cedric Benson.

They almost could not overcome their own dreadful offense.

When Orton was sacked away from game-clinching, field-goal position midway through the fourth quarter, Palmer and the Bengals got one more chance to score.

At this point I would have put Tom Brandstater in the game, but not McDaniels, no way jose'

A long, Palmer-to-Ochocinco heavy drive was capped when Benson plowed in from the 1 1/2-inch line, and the Cincinnati Bengals went up 7-6 with 38 seconds remaining.

Then came the deflected, 87-yard touchdown pass to Stokley.

This was the luckiest moment in the game and one the Broncos and the Bengals will not soon forget. The entire stadium went silent and the Bengals hung their heads as Stokley ran into the end zone, only after skirting the goal line while burning up one or two additional seconds from the clock.

Broncos 12 Bengals 7 - Fantastic Finish - Now maybe McDaniels will count his lucky stars and put Tom Brandstater in the game to save the sacks coming next week!