Denver needed an inspired performance to come back from a double-digit deficit against the Cincinnati Bengals in order to secure their fifth consecutive playoff appearance and stay in the running for a first-round bye and the AFC West. All of those things unfolded on Monday night in Denver as the Broncos pulled out a stunning 20-17 overtime win.

Down by 11 and having not scored a single second-half point in their last three games, the Denver Broncos needed to make a statement after receiving the second-half kickoff. They did just that, with an 11-play, 81-yard touchdown drive that included three passes to Emmanuel Sanders, including the touchdown.

The defense did their part to start the second half, as well, forcing a three-and-out on Cincinnati’s first possession including a holding penalty that set up second and 20. But Denver couldn’t capitalize when they got the ball back, allowing a first-down sack on Brock Osweiler which led to their own three-and-out.

Denver surrendered some yardage on the ensuing drive, but again forced a punt. More importantly, Bengals quarterback A.J. McCarron looked skittish in the pocket and wasn’t making passes with the same precision as he did in the first half.

But with all the opportunities, Denver couldn’t capitalize and these two exceptional defenses finally started to show their ferocity. They forced 5 consecutive punts after Denver’s opening drive touchdown to close out the third quarter.

On the first drive of the fourth, Brock Osweiler had a third-and-one but overthrew Demaryius Thomas who got behind Adam Jones and didn’t see Sanders wide open underneath. Again, a punt.

Denver’s defense responded yet again with another three-and-out, giving up just one yard on the Bengals first drive of the fourth.

Osweiler and Thomas went back to the old reliable bubble screen to get things going and put Denver on the other side of the 50 on the very next play. Then, C.J. Anderson showed some patience on an inside zone run and took it 39 yards for a go-ahead score.

Cincinnati responded on their next drive, and nearly took the lead. Chris Harris made an impressive play in coverage after A.J. Green got a step on him on a post route to keep the Bengals out of the end zone. Later in the drive, McCarron missed a wide open Green in the end zone on third down and Cincinnati had to settle for a game-tying, 52-yard field goal.

Denver had the ball and they were driving on the legs of Anderson, but the wear and tear of the game caught up with the Broncos back, who committed the first turnover of the game with a fumble at the Cincinnati 27. To add injury to insult, Anderson was hurt on the play.

The Denver defense picked up their running back, though, and got another three-and out. A punt gave Denver the ball at their 20 yard line with 100 seconds to play. Osweiler found Owen Daniels twice and Bennie Fowler to get the Broncos into field goal range. C.J. Anderson came back in the game and got the carry to protect the ball and set up a potential game-winning kick.

From there it was up to Brandon McManus, who had 45 yards between his leg and a win.

And for the fifth time in as many weeks, McMannus couldn’t connect. In fact, he missed the kick and the net, with what can only be described as a shank of Ray Finkle proportions.

The Broncos won the toss and Brock Osweiler completed a crucial third-and-10 to Owen Daniels to avoid a three-and-out. A personal foul penalty moved the ball back into Cincinnati territory and gave the Broncos another first down. Daniels caught another third-down pass, as did Thomas, to put the Broncos back into field goal range. Osweiler found Thomas again who broke several tackles to get into the red zone. But things stalled out there and it was McManus time again.

This time he did not disappoint. That put the pressure on the defense to make one last stop.

Von Miller hit McCarron on the first play and nearly forced a fumble. Gary Kubiak used his last timeout to try and encourage the officials to take another look, but the play stood as an incomplete pass. It didn’t matter, though. A muffed snap on the very next play ended up in the hands of DeMarcus Ware to seal a Denver victory, 20-17.

After not scoring in the second half for three straight games, Denver put up 14 points in the third and fourth frames, plus three in overtime. The Denver defense meanwhile locked down the high-scoring Bengals offense, holding them to just three second-half poi

It was a wild ride and the Broncos have officially punched their ticket to the postseason for the fifth consecutive season. Here’s how it played out via the MHS team on social media, alongside some of our friends in the Denver media.

Broncos facing a tough battle with Cincinnati, and history in trying to come back…

With a huge black cloud hanging over their second-half play lately, the Broncos started off well…

Emmanuel Sanders took a huge hit to help Denver move the chains again…

He was rewarded later in the drive with a touchdown pass…

There was no understating the importance of the drive…

Denver’s defense responded in-kind, forcing a three-and-out…

The crowd was rejuvenated too…

But the Broncos went three-and-out as well, due in large part to a first-down sack surrendered by Michael Schofield…

Malik Jackson returned the favor with a sack of his own on the next first down, but it was wiped away (no) thanks to the Sports Authority Field replay team…

After trading another round of punts, observers had to wonder why Denver went away from what was working early…

At the end of three quarters it appeared that the defensive battle everyone expected was finally shaping up…

Denver had a third-and-one to start the fourth quarter but Brock Osweiler seized up with two wide open receivers…

https://twitter.com/davidlukeramsey/status/681681603119038464

But the defense got another huge stop and gave Denver the ball near midfield…

Two plays later, the Broncos had the lead after a 39-yard run from C.J. Anderson…

After getting beat on the sideline on the next Bengals drive, Chris Harris saved a near-touchdown to A.J. Green…

Later in the drive, Green had another chance and McCarron missed him in the end zone…

The Bengals settled for a field goal to tie it…

Denver nearly got it, on the legs of C.J. Anderson, but he committed the first major blunder of the game (and his season)…

Denver got a massive stop on the next possession, thanks to an unlikely hero…

With 1:40 to go and 80 yards ahead of them, Denver moved the ball thanks to Owen Daniels…

It all came down to a kick for Brandon McManus…

And he missed BADLY…

Setting up overtime where the Broncos won the toss…

Owen Daniels and Brock Osweiler connected again on a critical third down…

He found Demaryius Thomas (who didn’t drop it) for another miraculous third-down conversion…

And then he put the Broncos into the red zone with a tough catch and run…

Denver faced another third and long, but couldn’t convert, setting up another field goal…

And this time he delivered…

On Cincinnati’s first play, Von Miller nearly got a fumble on A.J. McCarron…

Gary Kubiak used his second and final timeout to try and encourage the officials to take another look at the play (as teams can’t challenge a play in overtime), but…

No matter, the Bengals bungled the next snap and DeMarcus Ware recovered the ball for the win…