Ware’s recovery seals the deal
DENVER — DeMarcus Ware came up with the big play he’s been looking for since returning from a back injury — and it put the Denver Broncos into the playoffs.
Ware beat AJ McCarron to a fumbled snap in overtime Monday night, sending the Broncos into the playoffs with a 20-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Ware’s recovery followed a 37-yard field goal by Brandon McManus, whose shanked 45-yard attempt at the end of regulation made the extra drama necessary.
The Broncos (11-4) overcame a 14-0 first-half deficit in clinching their fifth consecutive playoff berth and denying the Bengals (11-4) their first road win on a Monday night since 1990.
“There’s an old saying: `It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,’ ” Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler said. “And this team finished great tonight.”
Cincinnati also blew a chance to earn a bye in the playoffs.
The Broncos can earn the top seeding in the AFC with a victory over the San Diego Chargers and a loss by the New England Patriots at Miami next weekend.
Denver, which was in danger of becoming the first team since the 1970 merger to miss the playoffs after starting 10-2, ended a twogame skid with its third overtime win of the season.
McManus has missed a kick in five consecutive games, and this one wasn’t even close. It sailed wide left — missing the protective netting — to the astonishment of 74,511 fans even though the flags atop the goal posts revealed a complete lack of wind.
The relieved Bengals called tails and the coin landed heads.
Unlike Patriots Coach Bill Belichick a day earlier, Broncos Coach Gary Kubiak chose to receive, and Denver drove 60 yards in 13 plays. Both Emmanuel Sanders and Owen Daniels limped off during the drive.
Osweiler, making his sixth consecutive start in place of Peyton Manning, also banged an elbow in the frenetic final minutes but stayed in the game.
McManus then redeemed himself by splitting the uprights with his kick five minutes into overtime.