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Cutler's strike to Marshall lifts Broncos past Chiefs

Dec 8, 2008 - 2:08 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- The Denver Broncos keep losing players, but it doesn't seem to matter - at least not when they play the Kansas City Chiefs.

Jay Cutler threw for 286 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Brandon Marshall, including a go-ahead score to Brandon Marshall, as the Broncos posted their eight straight home win over the Chiefs, 24-17, on Sunday.

"I am pleased with the effort of our football team," Denver head coach Mike Shanahan said.

"I am also impressed with Kansas City and the way they played. They played extremely hard throughout the game. Kansas City moved the ball a bit but we were able to keep them out of the end zone."

The Broncos moved closer to ending a three-year playoff drought despite another key injury.

Denver (8-5), which already has lost five running backs to injuries, lost rookie fullback Peyton Hillis to a strained right hamstring. He did not return. Tatum Bell, who is in his second stint with the Broncos, ran for 52 yards on 11 carries.

The one constant has been Cutler, who has had to throw an inordinate amount of times to keep Denver in games.

The third-year pro completed 32-of-40 passes, and capped a 12-play, 95-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Marshall with 10:10 left.

"I was hungry for the end zone," Marshall said. "When I got the ball, I smelled it and I got in. That was a big touchdown for us."

Taking over at their own 24-yard line, the Chiefs moved the ball to the Denver 5-yard line. On 4th-and-goal, Thigpen's attempt to tie the game came up one yard short and Kansas City turned the ball over on downs.

"It was 4th-and-five. I felt that if we didn't score, we could have at least pin them back and then we would have the chance to stop them and make them punt," Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards said.

"It was a called pass and we were trying to isolate Gonzalez one-on-one," Thigpen said. "The defensive ends got a good pass rush and they had Tony covered. I saw an opening in the middle and decided to go for it. I came close, just didn't get in."

Thigpen completed 17-of-32 passes for 187 yards for the Chiefs (2-11), who have lost 20 of their last 22 games.

The Chiefs opened a 10-0 lead in the first quarter when Maurice Leggett intercepted Cutler and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown.

Denver responded by driving 80 yards in 11 plays, scoring on an 18-yard run by Peyton Hillis for the Broncos' first touchdown of the game.

"Jay didn't panic," Shanahan said. "He stayed cool, calm and collected."

"Coaches expect us to keep attacking and keep going down the field," Cutler said. "If I'm afraid to go down field after making a mistake, we're not going to be able to do what we want to do."

Denver had a chance to take the lead on the drive prior to Cutler's TD toss, but Matt Prater missed a 48-yard field goal.

"Any time you miss a field goal and have an interception returned for a touchdown it puts you against the odds, but we kept fighting," Shanahan said. "That's what you have to do. The game came down to the last few minutes and we made the plays."

Taking over with 26 seconds left in the first quarter, the Chiefs used 17 plays and nearly seven minutes to get back to a 10-point lead when Thigpen found Tony Gonzalez for a 13-yard touchdown. On the drive, Kansas City converted four third-down and one fourth-down opportunity to extend the drive.

With Denver trailing, 17-7, Cutler found Marshall for a 12-yard touchdown to make the score 17-14 at halftime.

Marshall finished with 11 catches for 91 yards.