Broncos beat Titans, claim share of division lead

DENVER, Colorado (AFP) — Jay Cutler threw two touchdown passes and the Denver Broncos claimed a share of the National Football League AFC West division lead Monday night with a 34-20 victory over the Tennessee Titans.

The Broncos improved to 5-5, matching San Diego atop the AFC West, while Tennessee sank to 6-4, two games behind Indianapolis and one below Jacksonville in the AFC North and level with Cleveland for the last wild-card playoff spot.

Denver grabbed a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on Cutler's 48-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Stokley and an 80-yard punt return touchdown by Glenn Martinez just 1:40 apart.

The Titans answered on Vince Young's 21-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Jones early in the second quarter.

Jason Elam kicked two field goals for Denver but Tennessee's Rob Bironas booted a 56-yarder nine seconds before halftime to cut Denver's edge to 20-10.

Cutler threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Marshall and Young responded with a four-yard touchdown run before Bironas kicked another field goal early in the fourth quarter to pull the Titans within 27-20.

But reserve running back Andre Hall responded with a 62-yard touchdown run that boosted the Broncos' lead back to two touchdowns.

Denver's Dre Bly and Ian Gold each intercepted Young in the final five minutes to thwart the Titans' final drives and preserve the victory.

Cutler went 16-of 21 passing for 200 yards while Young threw for 300 yards for the first time in his NFL career.

Related articles