But with the Broncos desperate, quarterback Kyle Orton heaved a pass to wide receiver Brandon Marshall on the sidelines and Bengals cornerback Leon Hall tapped it high into the air. It bounded into the arms of wide receiver Brandon Stokley for a numbing 87-yard touchdown pass and a 12-7 Broncos victory.  

The brilliant defense got absolutely no help from a staggering offense that offered no consistent running game or protection for quarterback Carson Palmer and the boos of 62,831 greeted the third-quarter gun.

But then came their final 5:43 as Palmer celebrated his comeback by getting seven first downs in the final drive and finishing with 247yards on 21 of 32 passing.

In the middle of the fourth quarter the defense gave them one final shot when defensive end Antwan Odom came up with his second sack of the game to take the Broncos out of field-goal range, setting up the Bengals at their own nine with 6:21 left.

Palmer converted a third-down throw to wide receiver Chad Ochocinco and Benson (76 yards on 21 carries) ripped off a 20-yard run. Following a 15-yard completion to wide receiver Andre Caldwell, the Bengals had a first down at the two-minute warning at the Denver 32. Throws to running back Brian Leonard and Caldwell put the Bengals on the 1 with 41 seconds left, and the last throw to Caldwell got reviewed to see if it was a touchdown before Benson got in.