The Broncos have their sack leader and best running back ready to play today against the Bears, in the team’s first game back in Denver in nearly a month.
Rookie linebacker Von Miller and running back Willis McGahee are back in the lineup after missing either a game (Miller) or practice time (McGahee) recently because of injuries.
Broncos 13, Bears 10. OT
Broncos beat Bears 13-10 in OT, after Matt Prater’s 51-yard FG.
Broncos 10, Bears 10. :08 of the fourth quarter.
Matt Prater’s 59-yard FG with :08 seconds remaining ties game 10-10.
Bears 10, Broncos 7. 2:15 of the fourth quarter.
Tim Tebow’s 10-yard pass to a wide-open Demaryius Thomas in the end zone cut the Bears lead over the Broncos to three points late in the game. Tebow scrambled on the play and drew in Chicago’s secondary, leaving Thomas open.
It was the first game in NFL history with two field goals of 57 yards or longer.
Broncos injuries
Broncos cornerback Andre’ Goodman has joined safety Brian Dawkins on the sideline, leaving the game Sunday against Chicago with a concussion. <p>Goodman was banged up while trying to bring down Marion Barber in the third quarter. He will not return.
Dawkins hurt his neck on a play late in the first quarter when he appeared to collide with teammate Robert Ayers as they tackled Barber. Dawkins stayed down on the turf for a few minutes before walking off the field on his own.
Bears 10, Broncos 0. 15:00 of the fourth quarter.
Robbie Gould hit a 57-yard field goal to start the fourth quarter, giving Chicago a 10-point lead over the Broncos. It was the longest field goal in Bears history.
The 3-pointer capped a 7-play, 24-yard drive that took 3:53 off the clock.
Bears 7, Broncos 0. 5:26 of the third quarter.
Marion Barber ran 9 yards for a touchdown as Chicago took the first lead of the game. Devin Hester set up the 6-play, 42-yard drive with a big punt return.
Broncos and Bears 0-0 after first half
The Broncos and Bears went to halftime scoreless — just the second NFL game this season with no points after two quarters.
The first-half stats favored the Broncos, with a 135-84 advantage in total yards and a 9-5 lead in first downs.
Tim Tebow was 3-of-13 for 45 yards passing with one interception, while Caleb Hanie went 6-for-9 for 37 yards in the air.
Broncos FG blocked
Matt Prater’s 28-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter was blocked by Julius Peppers and the Bears took over at their own 20 yard line. It was the first blocked field goal by a Broncos opponent since 2005, when they played at Jacksonville.
The Broncos drove 60 yards over 14 plays before the blocked FG. The score remained tied at 0-0.
Scoreless first quarter
The Broncos and Bears each failed to score in the first 15 minutes, going to the second quarter in a scoreless tie.
Denver turned in three first downs in the opening frame, while holdin the Bears to just two. The Broncos also had a 50-40 advantage in total yards.
Tim Tebow was 3-of-7 passing for 45 yards and one interception. Chicago’s Caleb Hanie was 3-for-4 for 10 yards.
Miller and McGahee return, but Royal out
Miller will play today against Chicago with a heavy cast over his right hand to protect his surgically repaired thumb.
The only notable scratch for the Broncos today is wide receiver Eddie Royal, who did not practice all week because of a concussion suffered last week at Minnesota. The Broncos’ top three receivers today will be Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas and Matt Willis, with Quan Cosby handling more of the kick and punt return duties.
The Broncos are trying to win their sixth-consecutive game. With a win and a Raiders loss in Green Bay, the Broncos could move out of a first-place tie in the AFC West.
Current Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, the former Bronco, will not play today because of a finger injury, but he is here at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. He chatted with several of his former teammates on the field pregame. — By Lindsay H. Jones, The Denver Post
