The Cut

(Dec. 25, 2006) -- Despite their better efforts, the Broncos are most likely
heading to the postseason.

A botched extra point by Cincinnati is what probably catapulted a
mistake-prone Denver team into the playoffs. For one of the AFC's two wild
cards, the Broncos are tied with the Jets have and a one-game lead on four other
teams while being led by a rookie quarterback, two running backs that take turns
not playing -- one of whom has a fumbling problem -- and a defense that is as
schizophrenic as any.

But wouldn't you know it … all those wins at the beginning of the season paid
off. It didn't pay off for an AFC West title, and now Denver must go on the road
for the next two games -- at San Francisco in Week 17 and then in the first
round of the playoffs, provided the team gets there. If Jay
Cutler hopes to have any first-year success, he better get ready in a
hurry and not act like a first-year guy.

Cutler got away with some rookie mistakes in the first half against the
Bengals, but after a few halftime adjustments, it was only the snow and wind
that was holding him in the 24-23 win over the Bengals. Starting on his own
1-yard line, Cutler led a 14-play, 7:17-long drive that culminated in a 2-yard
Mike
Bell touchdown run to put Denver up for good at 21-17 in the third
quarter. The next drive went 51 yards in nine plays, and Jason
Elam capped it off with a chip-shot field goal.

While Cutler wasn't outplaying his counterpart, Carson
Palmer, he made some plays that would cause you to do a double take.
The Broncos' first touchdown of the game was on a third down and came from an
unlikely source in rookie backup tight end Tony
Scheffler. Cutler rolled to his right and threw a laser that went
right through the DB's hands and into Scheffler's arms. Only the All-Pros and/or
the brave attempt that throw.

Right now we'll just call Cutler brave. If that throw is made 10 more times,
three times it is picked off and taken back for a touchdown, three times it is
knocked down, two times it is dropped by the receiver and one time the throw is
offline. But in this single, solitary instance, Scheffler kept his concentration
and held on for his third score of the season.

This should have been Palmer's game, but the wintery conditions and Denver's
outside pass rush forced him to be too wild with his throws, and they routinely
were high and behind the intended receivers. Four times Palmer had receivers
open for touchdowns and four times bad passes resulted in a lack of points. You
can put a lot of blame on long snapper Brad St.
Louis or holder Kyle
Larson for that last-minute blunder, but Palmer was the goat for not
overcoming the jitters.

Those are jitters he's probably only had twice in the NFL -- his first game
in his rookie season and opening weekend of 2006 after coming back from knee
surgery. Jitters happen to guys like Cutler, who are supposed to have them in a
game of this magnitude.

The Bengals shouldn't be so quick to get away from Rudi Johnson on the ground.

Cincy still has a chance of making
it to the playoffs thanks to heartbreaking losses by Jacksonville and Buffalo. A
victory over the Broncos would have sealed the deal. The team also holds a good
deal of tiebreakers over the three other teams currently at 8-7, and even on the
9-6 Jets, who won in Miami on Monday night. The Jets' win gave New York the
inside track, but a loss in Week 17 and it's a sprint for the finish.

And after eight arrests by players this season, a potentially
career-threatening neck injury to 2005's No. 1 draft pick, and putting a rookie
at left tackle, the Bengals are still in good shape.

Up until now, the biggest Bengals fans in town were the bail bondsmen. Now
the support will be coming from the 65,535 people crammed into Paul Brown
Stadium for next weekend's season finale against Pittsburgh. Winning at home
against the hated Steelers on New Year's Eve will be just like a playoff
victory, even if one isn't in the cards.

But chances are the Bengals are going to have at least one extra game if they
get the job done themselves. And maybe with a little luck they'll get some
revenge on the Broncos a little bit down the road in the postseason. Unlikely,
but not impossible.

In a season where the AFC has show superiority to the NFC, it's interesting
to see a bunch of teams muddled around .500 as the campaign winds down, hoping
for a playoff invitation. If both these teams end up making it to the
postseason, they should be happy to be there. But good enough isn't going to cut
it. The AFC does have a reputation to uphold this year.

By
Seth
Polansky
NFL.com

Also you can check Broncos report: Inside slant