The Broncos Come From Behind and Beat the Bills

The Broncos Come From Behind and Beat the Bills

Bills Staff Attend to Kevin Everett

The Jay Cutler show in Denver officially started Sunday morning in Buffalo. Cutler lead the Bronco comeback as he completed 23-of-39 passes and ended the day with a career high 304 yards.

Denver was down early after Roscoe Parrish took a 74-yard Denver punt to the house. Parrish would have scored in touch football, as the Denver punt coverage was caught out of position and Parrish was able to make a few cuts, and was gone. Denver bounced back and Jason Elam had Denver on the board with a 21-yard field goal, after one quarter it was 7-3 Buffalo. Travis Henry got off to a great start and found numerous holes early against his former team. Cutler and Henry added an electrifying option play deep in their own territory that Henry took and scampered 21 yards.

Another new Bronco addition, Simeon Rice immediately made his presence felt knocking down a J.P. Losman pass while applying pressure on numerous plays to start the second quarter. Offensively, Cutler was looking poised and found Brandon Marshall and Brandon Stokley but failed to move the ball significantly and again had to settle for a 48-yard Elam kick. Cutler ended the first half by throwing a costly interception in the red zone that allowed the Bills an opportunity to take the lead at the half.

The third quarter started with a frightening scene and ended with the Broncos' first touchdown of the season. Buffalo special team star and reserve tight end Kevin Everett suffered a neck and spinal injury after falling limp due to a collision with Denver's Domenik Hixon.

There is now concern that Everett may not be able to walk again after a four-hour emergency surgery was preformed to remove bone chips from his vertebrae Sunday. Reports indicate that Everett was using a respirator and will remain in intensive care for at least a few more days. On Tuesday, WIEVB-TV in Buffalo reported that Everett has voluntary movement of his arms and legs. Doctors are now optimistic that Everett will be able to walk again. All of us at Football.com wish for a speedy recovery and the best for Kevin, his family and friends.

Both teams prayed together and then returned to smashing each other. Buffalo rookie Marshawn Lynch pummeled the Broncos in the third quarter and had a sweet 23-yard touchdown run, the first of his NFL career. The Broncos marched down and answered the Lynch touchdown immediately with a score of their own. Cutler found Marshall on a short fade route and the Broncos were back in business, down just two, 12-14.

The fourth quarter is where Cutler shined and surprisingly showed much maturity under intense dourest and a very ruckus Bills crowd. Cutler led the Broncos on two drives late and gave Elam a shot at redemption. Elam missed a field goal earlier and with just 3:22 left in the game- the automatic Elam missed a key 43-yard kick that would have had the Broncos up. Cutler coolly led the Broncos back into Elam range with sweet passes to Javon Walker and a smart scramble on fourth-and-two after the Broncos defense held strong.

With time ticking down, Cutler found Walker and from there it was all Elam and the Denver kicking unit. With 10 seconds left, the Bronco kicking team performed the field goal fire alarm, and Todd Sauerbrun got the hold down and Elam launched the kick with no time left, converting the game winning 42-yard field goal. Elam was mobbed at mid-field and then carried off by his somewhat stunned Bronco teammates. Elam showed tons of class as he opened his news conference by talking about the Everett injury and not the explosive game winning kick saying: "What we heard is not good, so far our whole team, our prayers go out to him." Elam is a first class and was the hero of the day in Buffalo for Denver.

The Broncos were lucky to escape Buffalo with the win and need to correct some special team issues as well as some lapses on defense but a win is a win. "What can I say, these are the types of games that drive you crazy," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "We have to tie up some loose ends, but it's nice to get out with a victory."

From My Notepad

•    Travis Henry looked good in his Bronco debut rushing for 139 yards and helped Denver control the clock for most second half.
•    Cutler had an outstanding game, controlling the pace while making sound decisions, especially late in the game.
•    Denver failed to supply the needed pressure on the pass rush- look for the Broncos to continue to rotate bodies on the defensive line until they find the right mix.
•    Simeon Rice had an impressive first game with Denver, look for him to step his play up even more in week two and three.
•    Javon Walker was huge down the stretch and made some big catches in traffic late including a fourth down grab that kept the game winning drive alive. Walker had nine catches for 119 yards.
•    Mike Shanahan won his 132nd game with Denver, moving him into a tie for 10th all time with Hank Stram for the most wins with one team.
•    Marshawn Lynch had 90 rushing yards, which is the most by a Bills rookie in a season opener.
•    The Buffalo Bills honored long-time special teams start Steve Tasker by placing his name on the Ralph Wilson Stadium's Wall of Fame.

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