The Broncos celebrate their victory after recovering an A.J. McCarron fumble (photo/Denver Broncos-Ben Hayes)
Denver kicker Brandon McManus got another chance to win it for the Broncos in overtime and he made good on his 37-yarder giving his team a 20-17 come from behind win over Cincinnati. McManus had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation and shanked a kicked that looked like something that would come from some fan they plucked out of the stands.
“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 of his potential 45-yard miss. “I just wrapped my toe around it, and I knew I had to bounce back.”
With the victory, the Broncos kept control of the AFC West. They not only can clinch the division, but a playoff bye next week with a win over the 4-11 Chargers. The Chiefs were perhaps one botched snap away from jumping into first place in the AFC West.
In overtime, after Denver went ahead, Bengals quarterback A.J. McCarron mishandled a snap out of the shotgun out their own 33 and Denver recovered the loose ball at the 23 ending the game.
“It was my fault. I told the team that,” McCarron said. “I looked up to see the coverage, and the snap caught me by surprise.”
I’m not blaming Cincinnati or McCarron for the Chiefs issues. I certainly remember the two TDs they allowed to Denver in the final 36 seconds of their week two matchup to realize each team controls their own destiny.
The Chiefs still have a chance at winning the AFC West. Right now, they are the No. 5 seed, and need to beat the Raiders this week at Arrowhead and have the Chargers beat the Broncos in Denver.
Regardless of how this plays out, it’s been a remarkable run for the Chiefs who have won nine straight after starting 1-5 and for the Broncos, they were dangerously close to becoming the first team since the 1970 merger to miss the playoffs after starting 10-2.
