Page 17 - atoday

SPORTS A17
Wednesday 30 December

Rookie Mistake

McCarron Fumbles OT Snap; Bengals Lose To Broncos

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron, right, sits on the turf after fumbling the football during overtime of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos,
Monday, Dec. 28, 2015, in Denver. The Broncos recovered the fumble for the 20-17 win in overtime.

(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

PAT GRAHAM Andy Dalton may not get quarterback couldn’t me by surprise.” “We knew what we had
DENVER (AP) — The snap that extra week to rest his The Bengals (11-4) still have in front of us, an opportu-
slipped right through the broken right thumb. pounce on the ball as De- a shot at a first-round bye, nity to get the bye,” said
hands of AJ McCarron and McCarron could be dinged but only if Denver (11-4) defensive end Carlos Dun-
along with it, any chance up, too, after hurting his left Marcus Ware ended up loses at home to last-place lap, who had three sacks.
Cincinnati had at earning wrist trying to recover his San Diego (4-11) next week- “Now, we’re going to move
the AFC’s top playoff seed. fumble on the last play of with it to finish off the game. end. For now, Cincinnati’s on. We’ll learn from our mis-
Now, the Bengals need a 20-17 overtime loss to the focus is simply on beating takes.”
help just to secure a first- Denver Broncos on a frigid “It was my fault. I told the Baltimore in the regular-
round bye, which means Monday night. The young season finale. Continued on page 19
team that,” said McCar-

ron, who will have his wrist

checked out Tuesday. “I

looked up to see the cover-

age and the snap caught