Nov 2, 2008 - 9:05 AM
0 shoutsMIAMI (3-4) AT DENVER (4-3), 4:05 pm EST
DENVER (Ticker) -- The Denver Broncos come out of their bye week hurting - physically and possibly emotionally.
With a number of players nursing injuries, the Broncos look to snap a two-game losing streak Sunday when they host the improved Miami Dolphins.
Prior to the bye, Denver suffered a brutal 41-7 loss at New England and now must guard against another second-half collapse which has become commonplace in recent seasons.
Last season, the Broncos lost four of their last six games following a 5-5 start. It followed an even worse tailspin in 2006, when Denver finished 2-5 after winning seven of its first nine games.
Despite the two-game losing streak, the Broncos (4-3) hold a 1 1/2 game-lead over San Diego in the AFC West but will finish the season without linebacker Boss Bailey, who is out for the year with a knee injury.
His brother, Champ, is expected to miss a month with a groin injury, while tight end Tony Scheffler (groin), wide receiver Brandon Stokley (concussion) and running backs Ryan Torain (elbow) and Selvin Young (groin) all are listed as questionable for Sunday's game.
There is some good news for the Broncos, as quarterback Jay Cutler is expected to play against the Dolphins after injuring the index finger on his throwing hand during the opening drive against the Patriots. The swelling in the finger has subsided, allowing Cutler to return to practice.
Cutler is fourth in the NFL in passing yards with 1,862 while throwing 13 touchdowns for an offense that ranks second in the NFL.
Even before the Baileys were injured, Denver's concern was on defense. The Broncos rank 30th against the run and 28th against the pass.
Chad Pennington will try to exploit the Broncos' weakness as the Dolphins (3-4) look to climb to .500, where Miami has not been this late in a season since 2003.
Signed by the Dolphins after being released by the New York Jets, Pennington has provided stability in Miami following last season's 1-15 nightmare. The veteran arguably is playing better than Brett Favre, his more celebrated replacement in New York.
Last week, Pennington completed 22-of-30 passes for 314 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions as the Dolphins rallied from a nine-point deficit to beat the Buffalo Bills, 25-16. It was Pennington's first 300-yard game since 2006.
Ted Ginn Jr. caught seven passes for a career-high 175 yards for the Dolphins, who snapped a two-game slide.
From the Bleachers
-
MIAMI: 26
DENVER: 17
Final
Nov 2 7:10 PM -
NFL
TD MIA
RONNIE BROWN 2 YD RUN
(DAN CARPENTER KICK)
MIAMI 26
DENVER 17 3:08 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Nov 2 6:56 PM -
NFL
TD DEN
PEYTON HILLIS 1 YD PASS FROM JAY CUTLER
(MATT PRATER KICK)
MIAMI 19
DENVER 17 11:10 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Nov 2 6:37 PM -
NFL
FG MIA
DAN CARPENTER 41 YD
MIAMI 19
DENVER 10 11:58 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Nov 2 6:30 PM -
MIAMI: 16
DENVER: 10
End of 3rd
Nov 2 6:22 PM -
NFL
FG DEN
MATT PRATER 50 YD
MIAMI 16
DENVER 10 8:11 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Nov 2 6:01 PM -
MIAMI: 16
DENVER: 7
Halftime
Nov 2 5:32 PM -
NFL
FG MIA
DAN CARPENTER 23 YD
MIAMI 16
DENVER 7 0:02 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Nov 2 5:29 PM -
MIAMI: 13
DENVER: 7
End of 1st
Nov 2 4:48 PM -
NFL
TD DEN
EDDIE ROYAL 2 YD PASS FROM JAY CUTLER
(MATT PRATER KICK)
MIAMI 13
DENVER 7 3:50 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Nov 2 4:39 PM -
NFL
TD MIA
WILL ALLEN 31 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN
(DAN CARPENTER KICK)
MIAMI 13
DENVER 0 4:58 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Nov 2 4:35 PM -
NFL
FG MIA
DAN CARPENTER 47 YD
MIAMI 6
DENVER 0 5:56 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Nov 2 4:30 PM -
NFL
FG MIA
DAN CARPENTER 45 YD
MIAMI 3
DENVER 0 11:34 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Nov 2 4:10 PM
