BRONCOS (8-4) VS. TITANS (6-6)
SUNDAY, 1 P.M. ET, NISSAN STADIUM, NASHVILLE uTV: CBS, DIRECTV 708
Announcers: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Evan Washburn
About the Broncos: It wasn’t pretty, but Denver did just enough to win 20-10 Sunday and remain two games behind Oakland and one behind Kansas City in the AFC West. With QB sidelined by a foot injury, rookie passed for only 104 yards, completing 12 of 24 passes with a passer rating of 61.8. Overall, the team was held to 206 yards, but at least the Broncos didn’t have a turnover and forced two takeaways. One of those takeaways was a 51-yard interception return by CB Coach
said, “We knew coming in here that we needed to play great defense, win the turnover battle and win the field-position battle against this team. I was concerned about our physical makeup with how tired we were, but we found a way. We showed a lot of character coming back after last week with the long trip to come out of here with (a win).”
About the Titans: Suddenly, the Titans are playing for first place in the AFC South. While on their bye Sunday, they watched as the Houston Texans lost their third consecutive game, leaving both teams at 6-6. The Indianapolis Colts also are 6-6. It’s a lofty perch for the Titans, who were 5-27 over the previous two seasons and have had a winning record seven times in 19 seasons since moving to Tennessee in 1997. Said LT “It’s a huge opportunity. … Being in the hunt is great. There were a couple of games that got away from us that we should have won earlier, and hopefully those don’t come back and bite us. But I’m really excited, and I think a lot of guys know the opportunity we have.” QB Marcus Mariota is going for his ninth game in a row with multiple TD passes. The Broncos have 36 sacks, and Miller, Ware and Ray have combined for 201⁄ led by Miller’s 121⁄ They can be game-wreckers, especially Defensive Player of the Year candidate Miller, and Tennessee’s young tackles will have a huge challenge to keep them away from QB
The secondyear signal-caller has thrown multiple touchdown passes in eight consecutive games, a team record and the second-longest singleseason streak by a quarterback in his first two seasons. The Miami Dolphins’ Dan Marino had a 10-game streak. Coach said of Mariota, “He’s playing smart football, taking what the defense is giving him.”
Punts by Denver rookie vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. He averaged 46.0 yards with a 40.8 net and placed three inside the 20. Denver’s offense had eight three-and-outs, was 1-for-13 on third downs and gained 53 yards in the second half.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. A healthy DeMarco Murray: The Titans’ running back has been hampered by a toe injury, and the hope is that the off week helped him heal. As good as Mariota has been, Tennessee needs Murray to be productive if the Titans are to have a chance vs. Denver.
2. A healthy Siemian: Denver’s quarterback passed for 368 yards and three touchdowns in the loss to Kansas City in Week 12 but injured his foot in the game. The Broncos hope they have him back to play the rested Titans on the road.
struggled with 18 rushes for 35 yards and a long of 6, which was a touchdown. Denver needs better. With injured, Denver claimed RB off waivers from the Lions on Monday.
Howard Balzer