Broncos veteran guard Evan Mathis made progress with his ankle injury but apparently not enough to unseat Max Garcia. The rookie played the first half Monday night against the Bengals at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, starting ahead of Mathis, who injured his leg Nov. 22 at Chicago. The Broncos’ offensive line continued to experience issues. Denver allowed two first-half sacks, including Carlos Dunlap turning right tackle Michael Schofield into a turnstile.
For openers. The Broncos mocked their recent history. Trailing 14-3, they scored in the third quarter for the first time since Nov. 8. Brock Osweiler connected with Emmanuel Sanders on an 8-yard touchdown pass. It snapped the Broncos’ 23-possession drought without a point in the second half.
PHOTOS:
Ward injures ankle. T.J. Ward started for the first time in three games for the Broncos, but struggled to finish. He injured his ankle in the fourth quarter with the Broncos leading 17-14. Ward practiced last week for the first time since exiting in the first half against the New England Patriots on Nov. 29.
Safeties return. The Broncos’ safeties have been hit hard by injuries this season, but starters Ward and Darian Stewart returned Monday, and started.
Ward had missed the previous three games with an ankle injury, and Stewart was inactive at Pittsburgh on Dec. 20 because of an ankle injury.
BOXSCORE:
Manning watches. Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, who was ruled out earlier in the week as he continues to recover from a partially torn plantar fascia in his left foot, watched part of the team’s warm-ups at midfield with his son, Marshall.
Manning has not played since Nov. 15, when he was benched in the third quarter of the Broncos’ loss to the Chiefs.
Lack of love for Latimer. Wide receiver Cody Latimer was the only mild surprise on the Broncos’ inactive list. He had suited up for 13 of Denver’s 14 games this season, missing only one with a hamstring injury. Latimer has made only six catches for 59 yards and a touchdown.
Switching it up. After three consecutive weeks of abysmal second-half offensive performances, the Broncos switched it up with a poor first half. They were outgained 204 yards to 89 yards in the opening two quarters.
Crossing the 1,000-yard mark. Sanders passed the 1,000 receiving yards mark in the first half on a 35-yard reception. He joins Demaryius Thomas in the 1,000-yard club for the second consecutive year. Thomas and Sanders join nine other Broncos receiving duos to achieve the feat.
BESTS/WORSTS:
Footnotes. Linebacker Brandon Marshall delivered a huge third-down stop to end the third quarter but came up limping. His right ankle was retaped, and he returned to the game. But he left again in the fourth quarter. … The Broncos split the punt-return duty between Shiloh Keo and Jordan Norwood. … Wide receiver Thomas (offense), inside linebacker Marshall (defense) and outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett (special teams) were game-day captains for the Broncos. … The 16- degree weather marked the third-coldest home game in Broncos history and the seventh-coldest game overall for Denver. The temperature dropped to 14 degrees to start the second half.
