Said WR Brandon Stokely of his miraculous touchdown catch to give the Broncos a 12-7 victory, “When I scored I just remember, just quiet. The crowd was so quiet. That was a good feeling.”
The Broncos defense held the Bengals scoreless for more than 59 minutes in a performance that did a lot to erase memories of the way last season ended.
All that good work was almost eliminated because of the 11-play, 91-yard drive that put the Broncos behind with 41 seconds to play.
Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno left the game with a lower leg injury after carrying the ball eight times for 19 yards.
Broncos TE Tony Scheffler had his first career interception on the failed Bengals hail mary that ended the game.
Bengals defensive backs Chris Crocker and Roy Williams helped spring Stokely when they both tackled Broncos WR Brandon Marshall after CB Leon Hall tipped the fateful pass.
On the play before Stokely’s touchdown, Bengals CB Jonathan Joseph came close to intercepting a pass but his foot landed out of bounds.
Bengals QB Carson Palmer called the offensive effort, 307 yards and one touchdown, “embarrassing.”
WR Chad Ochocinco had five catches for 89 yards, more than he had in any game last year, but he also picked up two penalties that crushed Bengals drives.
The Bengals had three sacks on what was a mostly successful day for their defense.
