The Denver Broncos lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime, 30-24, missing a chance to clinch a playoff berth. Despite a strong performance from the offense and defense, the Broncos fell short for the second straight week. Their playoff hopes now hinge on the outcome of Week 18.
Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates with Khalil Herbert after beating Riley Moss of the Denver Broncos for the game-winning touchdown pass from Joe Burrow during the overtime period of the Bengals ’ 30-24 win at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. CINCINNATI — Sean Payton felt good about the Broncos ’ standing in the moment and overall.Not just to a win or a tie, but to a long-elusive postseason berth.
“We’ve got to turn ourselves into winners and we’ve got to make sure that, when we control the outcome of certain things, that we finish,” Denver right tackle Mike McGlinchey lamented after his team fell to 9-7. To Denver again when Pat Surtain II stripped the ball from Higgins and set the visitors up with a chance to drive for a potentially game-winning field goal, but then back to the Bengals with 2:30 to go when Nix made the biggest mistake of the night on an interception right to linebacker Germaine Pratt, leading to an eventual Burrow touchdown plunge with 89 seconds remaining.
Go for two and punch the playoff ticket with a conversion? Or kick the extra point and play for overtime knowing a win or a tie secures the postseason spot?“We knew a tie was, for us, just as beneficial as a win,” Payton said, adamantly defending the decision as the correct one. “We felt like we had the momentum at that point.”
Now Payton’s team must win at Empower Field against a Kansas City team with nothing to play for or leave its playoff fate in the hands of others.The MVP candidate responded every time the Broncos put something good together offensively and every time Denver’s best defensive players did what they’ve done all season.Burrow just kept hitting back, completing 39 of 49 for 412 yards and three touchdowns while getting battered for seven total sacks.
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