Nov 25, 2007 - 6:29 AM
2 shoutsDenver (5-5) at Chicago (4-6) 4:15 pm EST
CHICAGO (Ticker) -- In the last four seasons, it took at least 11 wins to win the AFC West. This year, nine victories may be enough to capture the division.
That is good news for the Denver Broncos, who seek their third straight victory on Sunday when they visit the Chicago Bears.
After suffering an embarrassing 44-7 loss at Detroit on November 4, the Broncos' season appeared to be spiraling out of control.
But safety John Lynch called a team meeting after the debacle to the Lions, and the Broncos have responded with a pair of wins, including Monday's 34-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
That was enough to get the Broncos back into a first-place tie with the San Diego Chargers in a mediocre division.
Against the Jaguars, Jay Cutler led the Broncos to a season high in points against the league's second-ranked defense. He completed 16-of-21 passes for 200 yards and threw touchdown passes of 48 and 41 yards.
The Broncos, however, have injury concerns in the backfield as they were forced to use third-string tailback after rookie Selmon Young left last week's game with a sprained knee.
Reserve running back Andre Hall provided a spark with a 62-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter - the first of his career - after the Jaguars had pulled within 27-20.
Travis Henry has missed the last three games with a partially torn ligament in his left knee.
After Brian Griese started Chicago's previous six games, Rex Grossman was back in as the Bears' starter last week.
Grossman passed for 266 yards - his highest total since throwing for 282 yards in a playoff win last season against Seattle. But he could not produce a victory as the Bears (4-6) suffered a damaging 30-23 setback at Seattle.
The defeat continued an up and down season for Chicago, which has alternated wins and losses in its last six games.
The defending NFC champions are in danger of falling out of playoff contention, trailing the Detroit Lions by two games for the final wild card spot.
From the Bleachers
-
DENVER: 34
CHICAGO: 37
Final
Nov 25 7:50 PM -
NFL
FG CHI
ROBBIE GOULD 39 YD
DENVER 34
CHICAGO 37 11:19 LEFT, 1ST OT
Nov 25 7:50 PM -
-
DENVER: 34
CHICAGO: 34
End of Regulation
Nov 25 7:42 PM -
NFL
TD CHI
BERNARD BERRIAN 3 YD PASS FROM REX GROSSMAN
(ROBBIE GOULD KICK)
DENVER 34
CHICAGO 34 0:28 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Nov 25 7:38 PM -
NFL
TD CHI
ADRIAN PETERSON 4 YD RUN
(ROBBIE GOULD KICK)
DENVER 34
CHICAGO 27 5:17 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Nov 25 7:14 PM -
NFL
TD DEN
TONY SCHEFFLER 15 YD PASS FROM JAY CUTLER
(JASON ELAM KICK)
DENVER 34
CHICAGO 20 10:38 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Nov 25 6:59 PM -
DENVER: 27
CHICAGO: 20
End of 3rd
Nov 25 6:50 PM -
CORRECTION
NFL TD DEN
BRANDON MARSHALL 68 YD PASS FROM JAY CUTLER
(JASON ELAM KICK)
DENVER 27
CHICAGO 20 2:11 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Nov 25 6:44 PM -
NFL
TD DEN
BRANDON MARSHALL 68 YD PASS FROM JAY CUTLER
(JASON ELAM KICK)
DENVER 26
CHICAGO 20 2:11 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Nov 25 6:42 PM -
-
NFL
TD CHI
DEVIN HESTER 87 YD KICKOFF RETURN
(ROBBIE GOULD KICK)
DENVER 20
CHICAGO 20 2:26 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Nov 25 6:37 PM -
NFL
TD DEN
CECIL SAPP 5 YD RUN
(JASON ELAM KICK)
DENVER 20
CHICAGO 13 2:38 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Nov 25 6:32 PM -
NFL
TD CHI
DEVIN HESTER 75 YD PUNT RETURN
(ROBBIE GOULD KICK)
DENVER 13
CHICAGO 13 12:49 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Nov 25 6:03 PM -
DENVER: 13
CHICAGO: 6
Halftime
Nov 25 5:46 PM -
NFL
FG DEN
JASON ELAM 22 YD
DENVER 13
CHICAGO 6 0:13 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Nov 25 5:42 PM -
NFL
FG CHI
ROBBIE GOULD 44 YD
DENVER 10
CHICAGO 6 5:32 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Nov 25 5:19 PM -
NFL
TD DEN
ANDRE HALL 16 YD RUN
(JASON ELAM KICK)
DENVER 10
CHICAGO 3 14:10 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Nov 25 5:00 PM -
DENVER: 3
CHICAGO: 3
End of 1st
Nov 25 4:52 PM -
NFL
FG DEN
JASON ELAM 23 YD
DENVER 3
CHICAGO 3 3:16 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Nov 25 4:42 PM -
NFL
FG CHI
ROBBIE GOULD 24 YD
DENVER 0
CHICAGO 3 6:55 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Nov 25 4:30 PM
