The Broncos offensive line has been a question mark much of the season, but it started to settle into shape Sunday in .
Debate lingered all week about who would start at right tackle. After the game, it wasn’t much of a contest.
• Michael Schofield played all 74 snaps at right tackle.
If you didn’t notice, that’s because he played well. Only a holding call was enough to mention his name during the game, a good sign for an offensive lineman.
Schofield said earlier in the week his confidence was up after refining his technique. He didn’t give up a sack or need tackle Tyler Polumbus to come in for him like the San Diego game.
It’s just one game, but if Schofield fixed his problem, it’s a good sign for the Broncos up front. He is a particularly strong run blocker.
• Guard Evan Mathis returned to the starting lineup after coming off the bench for the last three games of the season.
Mathis also played all 74 snaps, while rookie guard Max Garcia only got nine reps in place of right guard Louis Vasquez.
Garcia had started the previous three games in Mathis’ place. Mathis said the plan was to let Garcia start while Mathis fully healed from his injuries. He expects to be the starter for the rest of the season.
• Tight end Vernon Davis only played one snap Sunday as he continues to be phased out of the Broncos’ offense.
Davis is clearly the third tight end behind Owen Daniels (52 of 74 reps) and Virgil Green (31 of 74).
• Cornerback Chris Harris played a season-low 75 percent of the Broncos’ defensive snaps as he nursed a deep bone bruise in his shoulder. Bradley Roby filled his spot in the base defense playing 83 percent of the snaps.
Harris said after the game he expects the Roby-Harris role reverse to be similar in the AFC championship game versus New England Sunday as he continues to adjust to the shoulder.
CHEW ON THIS
• Bad news, Broncos fans. .
• Next up for Broncos QB , columnist Mark Kiszla writes.
• , and they haven’t stop believing, columnist Woody Paige writes.
• , after she watched her son play for the first time.
• Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried is .
• Is
• New via split decision to Dominick Cruz on Sunday.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Actor, director ( ) Kevin Costner turns 61. Born exactly one year before him? “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase.
Cameron Wolfe: cwolfe@denverpost.com or @CameronWolfe
Online sports producer Joe Nguyen contributed to this story.
