Playoffs will wait: Broncos lose to Bengals 30-24 in overtime

The Broncos can’t clinch a playoff berth this weekend after losing to the Bengals 30-24 on Saturday.

The Denver Broncos (9-7) fell to the Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) in a 30-24 overtime loss on Saturday, delaying their opportunity to clinch a spot in the NFL playoffs.

The Broncos’ opening drive of Saturday’s game stalled in the red zone and Denver settled for a 30-yard Wil Lutz field goal to take a 3-0 lead. The Bengals then drove down to the 22-yard line on their opening drive before turning it over on downs on a failed 4th-and-short run.

Following a Broncos punt, Cincinnati drove down to Denver’s two-yard line before turning it over on downs again when Joe Borrow was sacked by Jonathon Cooper on fourth down.

The Broncos went three-and-out on their ensuing drive and the Bengals capitalized as Joe Burrow later threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Tee Higgins to make it 7-3, which ended up being the halftime score.

Cincinnati got the ball to begin the third quarter and they went 69 yards down to Denver’s three-yard line before settling for a field goal to extend the lead to 10-3. The Broncos answered that score with a 12-play, 70-yard drive that ended with quarterback Bo Nix’s six-yard touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton to tie the game 10-10 late in the third quarter.

On the Bengals’ next drive, Burrow threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Higgins to make it 17-10 in the fourth quarter. Denver matched that score when Nix threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Mims to tie the game at 17-17.

Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain forced and recovered a fumble on the ensuring drive to give the ball back to Denver’s offense.

The Broncos’ offense squandered that takeaway as Nix threw an interception six plays later, giving the ball back to Cincinnati at their 41-yard line. The Bengals then went 59 yards and Burrow scored on a one-yard QB sneak to take a 24-17 lead with 1:29 remaining in the game.

Nix led the Broncos down to the 25-yard line and threw a second touchdown pass to Mims. After opting to kick an extra point instead of going for two, Denver tied the game 24-24. Cincy then kneeled out the final eight seconds of regulation and the game went to overtime.

The Bengals won the coin toss received the ball to begin OT. A pair of Zach Allen sacks forced Cincy to punt and the Broncos got the ball back at their own 10-yard line with 6:51 remaining. Denver went three-and-out before punting it back to the Bengals, who took over at their 46-yard line with 5:08 left in OT.

Cincy drove down to the 15-yard line and then missed a 33-yard field goal attempt that could have won the game. The Broncos then took over at their 23-yard line with 2:43 remaining. Denver went three-and-out and punted back to the Bengals with 2:29 remaining.

Cincinnati took over at its 37-yard line and drove down to the Broncos’ three-yard line. Burrow then threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Higgins to secure a 30-24 win.

Up next for the Broncos is a regular season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field at Mile High in Week 18. Denver can clinch a spot in the playoffs by beating the Chiefs next week.

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