Final
Cutler, Broncos aim for 3-0 start vs. Saints
Sep 16, 2008 - 9:48 PM New Orleans (1-1) at Denver (2-0), 4:05 pm EDTDENVER (Ticker) -- Sometimes the calls just go your way.
Jay Cutler and the Denver Broncos hope they won't have to depend on a bad officiating call this Sunday when they host the New Orleans Saints.
Cutler, who passed for 650 yards and six touchdowns over the first two games, is certainly having a good season but he almost let one slip away last week - literally.
The Broncos trailed, 38-31, with just over a minute play and had the ball deep in San Diego Chargers' territory. Cutler fumbled when the ball slipped out of his hands and was recovered by San Diego at the 10-yard line.
But the officials ruled the play dead after an inadvertent whistle and gave the ball back to Denver. Three plays later, Cutler tossed a 4-yard TD pass to rookie Eddie Royal on fourth down to bring the Broncos within 38-37.
Then, Denver coach Mike Shanahan made gutsy call to go for a two-point conversion instead of a game-tying extra point. The gamble paid off as Cutler connected with Royal again to give the Broncos a 39-38 lead.
"You just got a gut (feeling) sometimes," Shanahan said. "I didn't want them to catch us on the coin flip. I wanted to do it then, and obviously it worked out."
The Broncos, who have sole possession of first place in the AFC West, have scored more points (80) than any other NFL team through the first two games of the season.
The Saints are coming off a 29-24 loss to the Washington Redskins last Sunday. New Orleans held a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter but allowed the Redskins to score two touchdowns in the final six minutes of the game.
Reggie Bush continues to struggle in the running game, compiling 74 yards on 24 carries this season. The second-overall pick in 2005 has helped in other ways, though.
Bush hauled in 15 receptions for 175 yards and a score this season. He also had a 55-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter of Sunday's loss.
- NFL
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW ORLEANS 3 16 7 6 32
DENVER 14 10 10 0 34 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: DEN - TD, NATE JACKSON 1 YD PASS FROM JAY
CUTLER (MATT PRATER KICK), 5:59.
Drive: 10 plays, 45 yards in 4:29.
Key plays: Pittman 2-yard run on
3rd-and-1 to New Orleans 34; Cutler
17-yard pas
Sep 21 7:22 PM
TD NOR PIERRE THOMAS 10 YD RUN (TWO-POINT CONVERSION FAILED)
Saints 32, Broncos 34 4th - 10:00Sep 21 6:48 PM- NFL
TD NOR
PIERRE THOMAS 10 YD RUN
(TWO-POINT CONVERSION FAILED)
NEW ORLEANS 32
DENVER 34 10:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Saints 32, Broncos 34 4th - 10:00Sep 21 6:48 PM - NFL
END, 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW ORLEANS 3 16 7 26
DENVER 14 10 10 34 END, 3RD QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: DEN - TD, NATE JACKSON 1 YD PASS FROM JAY
CUTLER (MATT PRATER KICK), 5:59.
Drive: 10 plays, 45 yards in 4:29.
Key plays: Pittman 2-yard run on
3rd-and-1 to New Orleans 34; Cutler
17-y
Sep 21 6:39 PM - NFL
FG DEN
MATT PRATER 34 YD
NEW ORLEANS 26
DENVER 34 2:20 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Saints 26, Broncos 34 3rd - 2:20Sep 21 6:34 PM
TD NOR REGGIE BUSH 6 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (MARTIN GRAMATICA KICK)
Saints 26, Broncos 31 3rd - 7:02Sep 21 6:23 PM
TD NOR REGGIE BUSH 6 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (MARTIN GRAMATICA KICK)
Saints 26, Broncos 31 3rd - 7:02Sep 21 6:23 PM
TD NOR REGGIE BUSH 6 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (MARTIN GRAMATICA KICK)
Saints 26, Broncos 31 3rd - 7:02Sep 21 6:23 PM- NFL
TD NOR
REGGIE BUSH 6 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES
(MARTIN GRAMATICA KICK)
NEW ORLEANS 26
DENVER 31 7:02 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Saints 26, Broncos 31 3rd - 7:02Sep 21 6:23 PM - NFL
TD DEN
MICHAEL PITTMAN 2 YD RUN
(MATT PRATER KICK)
NEW ORLEANS 19
DENVER 31 7:37 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Saints 19, Broncos 31 3rd - 7:37Sep 21 6:17 PM - NFL
NEW ORLEANS 19
DENVER 24 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 21 5:41 PM
SAFETY NOR DANIEL GRAHAM TACKLED BY CHARLES GRANT IN END ZONE
Saints 19, Broncos 24 2nd - 0:23Sep 21 5:37 PM
SAFETY NOR DANIEL GRAHAM TACKLED BY CHARLES GRANT IN END ZONE
Saints 19, Broncos 24 2nd - 0:23Sep 21 5:37 PM- NFL
SAFETY NOR
DANIEL GRAHAM TACKLED BY CHARLES GRANT IN END ZONE
NEW ORLEANS 19
DENVER 24 0:23 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Saints 19, Broncos 24 2nd - 0:23Sep 21 5:37 PM - NFL
FG DEN
MATT PRATER 27 YD
NEW ORLEANS 17
DENVER 24 2:55 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Saints 17, Broncos 24 2nd - 2:55Sep 21 5:19 PM - NFL
TD NOR
REGGIE BUSH 23 YD RUN
(MARTIN GRAMATICA KICK)
NEW ORLEANS 17
DENVER 21 6:51 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Saints 17, Broncos 21 2nd - 6:51Sep 21 5:12 PM - NFL
TD NOR
PIERRE THOMAS 5 YD RUN
(MARTIN GRAMATICA KICK)
NEW ORLEANS 10
DENVER 21 9:16 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Saints 10, Broncos 21 2nd - 9:16Sep 21 5:05 PM
TD DEN NATE WEBSTER 34 YD FUMBLE RETURN (MATT PRATER KICK)
Saints 3, Broncos 21 2nd - 14:11Sep 21 4:49 PM
TD DEN NATE WEBSTER 34 YD FUMBLE RETURN (MATT PRATER KICK)
Saints 3, Broncos 21 2nd - 14:11Sep 21 4:49 PM- NFL
TD DEN
NATE WEBSTER 34 YD FUMBLE RETURN
(MATT PRATER KICK)
NEW ORLEANS 3
DENVER 21 14:11 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Saints 3, Broncos 21 2nd - 14:11Sep 21 4:49 PM - NFL
END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW ORLEANS 3 3
DENVER 14 14 END, 1ST QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: DEN - TD, NATE JACKSON 1 YD PASS FROM JAY
CUTLER (MATT PRATER KICK), 5:59.
Drive: 10 plays, 45 yards in 4:29.
Key plays: Pittman 2-yard run on
3rd-and-1 to New Orleans 34; Cutler
17-y
Sep 21 4:45 PM
TD DEN BRANDON MARSHALL 35 YD PASS FROM JAY CUTLER (MATT PRATER KICK)
Saints 3, Broncos 14 1st - 0:27Sep 21 4:42 PM
TD DEN BRANDON MARSHALL 35 YD PASS FROM JAY CUTLER (MATT PRATER KICK)
Saints 3, Broncos 14 1st - 0:27Sep 21 4:42 PM
TD DEN BRANDON MARSHALL 35 YD PASS FROM JAY CUTLER (MATT PRATER KICK)
Saints 3, Broncos 14 1st - 0:27Sep 21 4:42 PM- NFL
TD DEN
BRANDON MARSHALL 35 YD PASS FROM JAY CUTLER
(MATT PRATER KICK)
NEW ORLEANS 3
DENVER 14 0:27 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Saints 3, Broncos 14 1st - 0:27Sep 21 4:42 PM - NFL
NEW ORLEANS 3
DENVER 7 2:01 LEFT, 1ST QTR
DEN BALL ON DEN 35 YD LINE
1ST AND 10
Saints 3, Broncos 7 1st - 2:01Sep 21 4:33 PM - NFL
NEW ORLEANS 0
DENVER 7 9:01 LEFT, 1ST QTR
NOR BALL ON NOR 20 YD LINE
1ST AND 10
Saints 0, Broncos 7 1st - 9:01Sep 21 4:18 PM
TD DEN NATE JACKSON 1 YD PASS FROM JAY CUTLER (MATT PRATER KICK)
Saints 0, Broncos 0 1st - 10:34Sep 21 4:16 PM
TD DEN NATE JACKSON 1 YD PASS FROM JAY CUTLER (MATT PRATER KICK)
Saints 0, Broncos 0 1st - 10:34Sep 21 4:16 PM
TD DEN NATE JACKSON 1 YD PASS FROM JAY CUTLER (MATT PRATER KICK)
Saints 0, Broncos 0 1st - 10:34Sep 21 4:16 PM
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