Costly 'little League' Play

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OFFENSE — C A boring grade for an outing that was anything but. Bo Nix and the Broncos turned in several highlight-reel plays and one big-time drive late in regulation to send the game to overtime. But in between the Marvin Mims Jr. insanity was far too much ineffectiveness. They mustered just three first downs over their final three first-half possessions while the Bengals racked up a massive time-of-possession advantage.

The Denver Broncos lost to the Cincinnati Bengals 30-24 in overtime at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on Dec. 28, 2024. Related Articles Denver Broncos | Broncos QB Bo Nix on Sean Payton’s decision to play for overtime: “We thought we could move the ball in overtime, but we didn’t” Denver Broncos | Broncos grades: In a game full of big swings and big plays, hidden yardage and decision making loom large Denver Broncos | Renck: And then there was one.

CINCINNATI — The fans were screaming “M-V-P!” Then they were yelling “O-M-G!” The game was over. Then it wasn’t. It went off the rails. Then it went off the left upright. My word, it was unbelievable. The only thing that made any sense in context with the past eight years was the final result in overtime. Bengals 30, Broncos 24. The Broncos remain wanting, yearning, stewing.

CINCINNATI — Sean Payton felt good about the Broncos’ standing in the moment and overall. He liked the paths to the finish line from eight seconds left in regulation at Paycor Stadium. Not just to a win or a tie, but to a long-elusive postseason berth. He liked the way his offense hit its stride and the way his defense had rattled Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow through a wild first 59 minutes, 52 seconds. Instead of victory and a postseason berth, however, the path Payton chose eventually led Denver to a second straight week of heartbreak. The Broncos’ fate remains unsettled after a 30-24 overtime loss to the Bengals that pushed what once looked like a glide path to the playoffs to the uncomfortably steep terrain of Week 18. Take Our Poll (function(d,c,j){if(!d.getElementById(j)){var pd=d.createElement(c),s;pd.id=j;pd.src='https://www.denverpost.com/wp-content/plugins/polldaddy/js/polldaddy-shortcode.js';s=d.getElementsByTagName(c)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(pd,s);} else if(typeof jQuery !=='undefined')jQuery(d.body).trigger('pd-script-load');}(document,'script','pd-polldaddy-loader')); “We’ve got to turn ourselves into winners and we’ve got to make sure that, when we control the outcome of certain things, that we finish,” Denver right tackle Mike McGlinchey lamented after his team fell to 9-7. For the second straight week, Denver had a chance to do just that.

CINCINNATI — Riley Moss didn’t hide from his mistakes Saturday afternoon at Paycor Stadium. He owned up to them. In Denver’s 30-24 overtime loss to the Bengals — Moss’ first game since Week 12 — he was at a complete disadvantage against Tee Higgins. The veteran wide receiver had seven catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning reception against Moss, according to NFL’s Next Gen Stats. “Sometimes you eat a (explicit) sandwich and you have to own it,” the second-year defensive back said. Throughout the game, quarterback Joe Burrow rarely let Moss rest, especially on the Bengals’ final scoring drive of the game. Facing second-and-10 from Denver’s 34-yard line, Burrow found Higgins for a 31-yard pass along the sideline.