CINCINNATI — AJ McCarron owned up to the mistake that ended the Cincinnati Bengals’ Monday night 20-17 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
Prior to his fumbled snap on the game’s final play, the Bengals’ quarterback did nearly enough in his second career start to clinch the No. 2 overall seed in the AFC and a coveted first-round bye in the postseason.
Instead, Cincinnati (11-4) needs a win this Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens and some help to get an extra week to allow starting quarterback Andy Dalton (thumb) and tight end Tyler Eifert (concussion) and others to heal.
“My fault, I told the guys that,” said McCarron following Monday’s game while wearing a wrap on his left wrist that was sprained while trying to recover the fumble.
“The snap caught me a little by surprise. I was looking to see how they were adjusting to A.J. (Green) coming in motion. It slipped through my hands, hit my rib protector and bounced off.”
McCarron had a MRI on his wrist on Tuesday which revealed only a strain. While his status for Sunday is day-to-day, early indications are that the injury isn’t serious.
That’s good news for Cincinnati, which already is without Dalton’s services for an undetermined amount of time. Keith Wenning is McCarron’s backup. Third-year journeyman Mike Kafka was signed Tuesday to the practice squad.
On the Bengals’ second play from scrimmage after Brandon McManus had given the Broncos the lead with a 37-yard field goal in overtime, McCarron mishandled the snap that was recovered by linebacker DeMarcus Ware to end a compelling matchup played in frigid weather.
“It’s disappointing to lose a football game like that,” said head coach Marvin Lewis. “We let the Broncos back in the football game. We have a chance on offense and didn’t take care of (the ball) at the end.”
Monday’s loss was the third time in the past seven games that Cincinnati fell short with an opportunity to win late.
The Bengals, who clinched the AFC North title on Sunday when the Ravens upset the Steelers, are 3-4 since beginning the season 8-0.
On Monday, a beleaguered Bengals defense battled icy temperatures and the altitude, both of which appeared to take a toll beginning in the third quarter.
Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips aced the chess match with Bengals offensive guru Hue Jackson limiting Cincinnati to only 90 total yards after halftime.
After McCarron engineered touchdown drives of 80 and 90 yards in the first half, Denver put the clamps on the Bengals in the final two quarters and overtime to rally from an early 14-0 deficit.
“They came up with some different blitzes, tried to disguise different coverages,” said McCarron. “They played more man (coverage) in the first half and we capitalized on it. We just have to execute better and make more plays. They played well in the second half.”
Denver allowed 85 rushing yards in the first half, just 23 in the second. After passing for 119 yards in the first half, McCarron managed only 81 after halftime and was sacked twice.
“They adjusted, we adjusted,” said Lewis. “I don’t think we were gassed. We just need to find a way to win those third downs. In the first half we were getting off the field on those third downs.”
–Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict’s reputation is well-earned, but now Burfict believes it’s being used against him.
During the overtime period of Monday night’s 20-17 loss to the Denver Broncos, Burfict was flagged for unnecessary roughness on tight end Virgil Green.
After Green hauled in an 8-yard completion on the sideline, Burfict attempted to strip the ball from Green before shoving him further out of bounds.
The 15-yard penalty was a key play on the drive that set up Brandon McManus’ 37-yard field goal that proved to be the game-winner.
“He’s trying to tackle the guy who’s still struggling,” said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. “He’s pushing, (Burfict) is pushing back. I don’t think (Burfict) does anything that doesn’t happen on the sideline all the time.”
According to an ESPN report, Burfict was fined nearly $70,000 for three separate plays during a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 13 including roughing the passer, facemask and unnecessary roughness.
In 2014, Burfict was fined $25,000 for twisting the ankles of Carolina Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton.
Burfict now believes officials are seeking out jersey No. 55.
“Once the dude flopped, the ref looked at me and seen it was my number and then threw the flag,” Burfict told reporters Monday. “I can’t control that, just keep playing football. The refs, obviously they have it out for me. He looked at my number and then threw it.”
–Carlos Dunlap had three sacks in Monday night’s 20-17 overtime loss in Denver to set a new Cincinnati Bengals single-season mark.
The standout defensive end now has 13.5 sacks this season surpassing the 13 sacks Eddie Edwards had for the Bengals in 1983.
–Tight end C.J. Uzomah earned his first extended playing time on Monday night when TE Ryan Hewitt exited with a knee injury. Starting TE Tyler Eifert remains in concussion protocol. Uzomah appeared in his third game this season in his hometown of Denver after being inactive for the first 11 games.
REPORT CARD VS. BRONCOS
–PASSING OFFENSE: B. This grade was earned in the first half when quarterback AJ McCarron engineered drives of 80 and 90 yards helping the Bengals go ahead 14-0. The Broncos’ top-ranked defense gave McCarron fits in the second half preventing further success. McCarron finished 22 of 35 for 200 yards and a TD. But 119 of those passing yards came in the first half.
–RUSHING OFFENSE: C. Cincinnati wanted to run the ball effectively to keep the pressure off McCarron. They did well in the first half with 85 yards on the ground. But they could manage only 23 in the second half leaving their quarterback exposed. Jeremy Hill finished with 63 rushing yards on 19 carries.
–PASS DEFENSE: C. Denver QB Brock Osweiler passed for 210 of his 299 yards in the second half as the Broncos rallied from an early 14-0 deficit. Despite being sacked three times in the game, Osweiler carved up the Bengals’ secondary after halftime.
–RUN DEFENSE: C. Poor tackling helped Broncos RB C.J. Anderson average better than eight yards per attempt. Denver finished with 113 rushing yards, after having only 16 in the first half.
–SPECIAL TEAMS: C. Mike Nugent drilled a 52-yard field goal to tie the score with 6:46 left, but his miss from 45 yards out just before halftime swung the momentum in the Broncos’ favor. Punter Kevin Huber missed on a couple opportunities to pin Denver deep in its own territory.
–COACHING: C. After halftime, the Broncos’ coaching staff, namely defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, aced the chess match and turned the tables on Cincinnati, which had no answer for the Broncos’ pass rush or passing game after building a 14-0 first-half lead.