Broncos lose late to Bears in 16-14 heartbreaker

The Denver Broncos played terrible at times, but had the win over the Chicago Bears late but a fourth down conversion and a miraculous time out called within a half second saved the game for the road team. The Broncos fall to 0-2 after the 16-14 heartbreaking loss to the Bears.

First Quarter

The first quarter opened up as a defensive battle, but the Broncos were the first to get things going on their opening drive with a field goal. After trading punts, the Bears offense then woke up and got things going late in the first quarter down 3-0.

Denver’s offense moved the ball well in that first quarter, but the Bears defense came up with the plays they needed to keep things from going anywhere.

Read full first quarter recap.

Second Quarter

The Bears dominated the second quarter on both sides of the ball. Their offense moved into scoring position twice, but the Broncos defense was able to keep the damage to a minimum.

The bigger issue for Denver was the terrible play of Garett Bolles.

He killed one drive late with multiple holding calls that pushed the Broncos out of Bears territory and ultimately back across midfield where they would end up punting. Then, with one more chance to get a scoring drive together, Bolles got called for a third holding penalty that ended that dream.

The Broncos went into halftime down 6-3 at home.

Read full second quarter recap.

Third Quarter

Bolles had himself another holding call in the third quarter, but the real story was how the Bears put together their first touchdown drive of the 2019 season. After ripping off huge gains on three straight plays, they needed six plays inside the five yard line to barely punch it in for the 13-3 leads.

The Broncos defense could have had a goal line stand, but untimely penalties continued to plague them at critical moments.

Read full third quarter recap.

Fourth Quarter

The Broncos were driving deep into Bears territory to start the fourth quarter. Bolles had another holding call just outside the red zone, that the refs calls on Ronald Leary. The reply suggested differently. Fortunately, the Bears committed a personal foul penalty on Joe Flacco that kept the drive alive long enough to get three points on the board to cut the lead down to 13-6.

Mitch Trubisky and the Bears promptly went three and out on the next possession to give the Broncos another chance.

Another long drive by the Broncos came again and soon found Denver down at the 15 yard line. However, red zone holding penalties kill the Broncos. Ronald Leary committed the teams sixth offensive holding call down there, but Courtland Sutton got the first down on the next play with a reception inside the five yard line.

Unfortunately, Flacco overthrew a receive on third and goal where Kyle Fuller intercepted it.

Game. Set. Match.

Just kidding, the Broncos got one more possession and made a game of it at the end. Converting on a fourth and 10 kept things alive as Sutton powered his way to the marker. A few plays later, the Broncos were in the red zone with just under 90 seconds left in the game.

A tough catch by Sanders took them down to the 12- yard line. They were faced with another fourth down, this time three with a minute to go. Flacco hit Sutton on a slant for a first down at the 8 yard line.

On the very next play, Flacco threw a fade to Sanders who came down with it in the end zone for the game-tying touchdown. Vic Fangio wasn’t messing around and called for the two-point conversion, but the Broncos were called for delay of game.

Brandon McManus missed the extra point, but a Bears offsides penalty brought the offense back out onto the field for real 2-pt conversion attempt.

From the 1-yard line, Flacco found Sanders for the conversion and the lead.

Broncos 14, Bears 13.

Sadly, the Broncos defense gave up a fourth and 15 conversion into field goal range to kick the game winner. The timeout was called with less than a second to go.

Bears 16, Broncos 14.