Broncos-Bengals third quarter update: Denver is closing the gap on Cincinnati

The Denver Broncos saw Adam Gotsis bat an Andy Dalton pass down on first down. A.J. Green was wide open over the middle for a huge gain too, so the batted pass was huge. Joe Mixon was stuffed on second down for a loss to setup a third and long.

Dalton on third and twelve, went to Tyler Kroft underneath for a ten yard gain and a punt from the Cincinnati Bengals.

That was the fourth three and out the Broncos defense had forced against the Bengals out of seven total drives.

The Broncos were much better in their third down attempt with Brock Osweiler hitting Devontae Booker in the flat for a big gain for 21-yards.

Two runs later, the Broncos were faced with a third and one when Jamaal Charles reached the edge and burst through to the sideline for the first down.

Allen Barbre continued to be a problem on the right side with yet another holding call to set the Broncos back on their fresh set of downs.

Two plays later, the Broncos had a third and eight having gained twelve yards after the penalty. Osweiler went to Emmanuel Sanders who was well-covered and the ball landed incomplete.

From their own one-yard line, Joe Mixon ripped off four-yards for some breathing room. He would rip off a five-yard gain on second down, but a holding call would push them back.

On second and seven from their own four-yard line, Dalton would be hit by Von Miller as he threw out of his own end zone and the ball would fall incomplete. On third and seven, the pressure finally got to Dalton as he hurried his throw to A.J. Green for an incompletion and a punt from their own end zone.

Emmanuel Sanders took the punt at midfield and returned it to the Bengals 43-yard line.

Two plays into their next drive, the Broncos were faced with a third and seven. Osweiler finally got Demaryius Thomas into the mix with a pass over the middle for a first down. Thomas took a big hit, but held on and fought his way for a few more yards after contact.

Booker took a first down handoff on the next play and fought his way through the muck for five-yards. Osweiler threw behind Sanders on second down and on third down Brock had his passed batted down by Carlos Dunlap.

Brandon McManus would come out and kick a 45-yard field goal to close the gap on the Bengals.

Bengals 13, Broncos 10.

With pressure coming from multiple directions - mostly from Von Miller - Dalton found Green underneath for a quick first down to start their next drive.

Shaquil Barrett blew up an attempt run from the Bengals on first down for a three yard loss, but an eight yard completion setup a more reasonable third and five. Dalton would hit Brandon LaFell on a quick slant for the first down out across midfield.

An incompletion and a four yard run from Giovani Bernard setup a third and six for the Bengals. Dalton hesitated on his throw and Shane Ray kept working past his assignment and found the sack in the backfield to end the drive.