As the ball bobbled, once, twice, more than three times off the gifted hands of Brandon Marshall, Broncos fans were left to applaud what they are about to lose.
Why, oh why, must the Broncos begin the season without their freakishly gifted receiver?
On a pass heaved down the left sideline late in the first half by Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler, Marshall toyed with Green Bay Packers cornerback Tramon Williams, then bounced the ball in midair toward the goal line before hauling it in for a 49-yard touchdown.
The score not only highlighted an otherwise meaningless preseason game that the Packers rallied to win 27-24 Friday night at Invesco Field, it reinforced the quandary the Broncos will be facing once the season begins.
“Hey, I’m just glad I got a chance to play some preseason ball,” Marshall said.
The Broncos are planning to play their first two regular-season games, against AFC West rivals Oakland and San Diego, without Marshall after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell ruled the receiver had violated the league’s personal conduct policy.
Privately, the Broncos are hopeful Marshall’s suspension will be reduced upon appeal. Packers middle linebacker Nick Barnett just had his one-game suspension for a personal conduct violation reduced to a fine. Marshall was suspended three games, with the caveat that Goodell will consider reducing it to two games if the receiver meets certain conditions.
Besides the conditions, Marshall will be granted an appeal, which is expected to be heard next week. Can he get his suspension reduced to one game?
The Broncos have good reason to wish and hope. For all the talk about having other offensive skill players who can step up and fill the void, Marshall is a one-of-a-kind.
“We never said we were not going to miss him,” Cutler said. “He makes the big play. But we can’t do anything about it. We’ve got to move on. We’ve got to find somebody else.”
In a first half in which neither team punted, the Broncos’ first-string offense scored two touchdowns and a field goal from its three first-half drives.
On the Broncos’ first scoring drive, Cutler completed just 1-of-6 passes. That one completion was a 22-yard catch-and-run to Marshall that turned a third-and-9 into a first down at the Packers’ 22, deep enough to set up Matt Prater’s 40-yard field goal.
This was mostly a night when the Broncos reestablished their vaunted rushing game, with running backs Selvin Young and Andre Hall carrying the offense along on an impressive 16-play, 99-yard touchdown drive that took up much of the second quarter.
But when the Broncos got the ball back late in the half, they needed just two big plays from Marshall to score again. With the ball on their own 20, Cutler threw deep to Marshall, who drew a 31-yard pass-interference penalty against Williams. On the next play, Marshall used his 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame to ward off Williams, then played patty-cake with the football before securing it just before crossing the goal line.
It was the kind of play that generated a troubling compliment: No one can stop Marshall one-on-one. Except Roger Goodell.
Footnotes
Veteran Paul Carrington rotated with Jarvis Moss at left defensive end on the first-team nickel package. Moss came in at right defensive end after Elvis Dumervil left with a finger injury that required X-rays. Carrington later left with a strained left calf. . . .
Strong safety Marquand Manuel suffered a broken thumb on the second-half kickoff and will undergo surgery today. . . .
This time, Bronco officials believe the knee surgery on center Tom Nalen took. Nalen had his second arthroscopic surgery in 2 1/2 months on his left knee. For now, the team believes he will be ready to play early this season. . . .
Not listed on the game-day injury report but not playing were receiver Taylor Jacobs, who has been experiencing migraines since taking a blow to the head during practice this week, receiver Darrell Jackson (ankle) and defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban (back).
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
