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Dalton's 3 TDs Lead Bengals Past Broncos 20-17

DENVER (AP/CBS4) — Andy Dalton threw three touchdown passes in the Cincinnati Bengals' 20-17 win over the Broncos on Sunday, their first win in Denver since 1975 when franchise founder Paul Brown was their head coach.

Cincinnati Bengals v Denver Broncos
DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 19: Quarterback Brock Osweiler #17 of the Denver Broncos rushes and is tackled by defensive tackle Geno Atkins #97 of the Cincinnati Bengals on a third down play in the first quarter of a game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on November 19, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

That snapped the Bengals' 10-game losing streak in Denver and sent the Broncos (3-7) to their sixth straight loss, their longest skid in 27 years.

Trailing by a field goal with 1:52 left, the Broncos went three-and-out with Brock Osweiler taking a sack and then firing incomplete to Emmanuel Sanders on fourth-and-four from his own 26.

790_Bengals_Broncos
Denver Broncos verses the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday November 19, 2017. photos by Evan Semón Photography for CBS4

Broncos GM John Elway's labeling of his team as soft 48 hours earlier did nothing to harden the Broncos, who stubbornly stuck with formations and schemes that aren't working, such as Mike McCoy's three-receiver sets as his base formation.

Denver Broncos vs. Cincinnati Bengals, NFL Week 11
DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 19: Brock Osweiler (17) hands the ball off to C.J. Anderson (22) of the Denver Broncos in the first quarter. The Denver Broncos hosted the Cincinnati Bengals at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, November 19, 2017. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

Denver defensive coordinator Joe Woods stayed with cornerback Bradley Roby 1-on-1 with A.J. Green, who burned him over and over, including on an 18-yard TD catch with 8:56 remaining that made it 20-10.

Roby's pass interference on Green extended Cincinnati's drive after the Broncos had cut their deficit to 20-17 on Demaryius Thomas' 17-yard touchdown grab.

The Broncos finally forced the punt at the 2-minute warning but went nowhere.

PHOTO GALLERY: Bengals 20, Denver 17

The Bengals took a 13-7 lead into the locker room with Dalton's TD throws of 1 yard to Tyler Kroft and 29 yards to Alex Erickson. The first was set up by cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick's 101-yard interception return and fumble recovery just shy of the opposite end zone after fumbling at the Broncos 15-yard line.

Brock Olivo's special teams units that were responsible for a series of blunders that led to 24 points by the Patriots last week, began to make amends when Shaq Barrett blocked Kevin Huber's first punt, setting up Denver at the Bengals 29.

But McCoy's stubbornness on sticking with three-receiver sets as his base formation continued to cost the Broncos.

RELATED: Demaryius Thomas Now Tied For 2nd Place On Broncos All-Time Receiving List

Denver emptied its backfield on third-and-3 from the Cincinnati 4 following a 7-yard burst by Devontae Booker and Osweiler's pass was picked off by Kirkpatrick.

Randy Bullock missed the extra point after Dalton's TD pass to Kroft , and because his first completion had lost a yard, Dalton had this oddball stat line: zero passing yards but one TD throw.

The Broncos reached the Cincinnati three on their next drive and again lined up with an empty backfield. Only this time, running back C.J. Anderson motioned in from the left, took the handoff and sneaked across the goal line for Denver's first rushing touchdown in the first quarter all season.

Brandon McManus' extra point put Denver ahead 7-6, but the Bengals responded with their second touchdown to go up 13-7. McManus nailed a 61-yarder at the end of the first half, but Marvin Lewis had called a timeout and his do-over was blocked by KeiVarae Russell.

McManus pulled Denver to 13-10 with a 45-yarder in the third quarter.

Cincinnati Bengals v Denver Broncos
DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 19: Quarterback Brock Osweiler #17 of the Denver Broncos rushes and is tackled by defensive tackle Geno Atkins #97 of the Cincinnati Bengals on a third down play in the first quarter of a game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on November 19, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Osweiler fell to 0-3 since supplanting Trevor Siemian, who was leap-frogged by Paxton Lynch for the first time Sunday when Lynch was the backup and Siemian inactive.

HONOR ROLL: The Broncos celebrated the Hall of Fame induction of Terrell Davis , who spearheaded Denver's back-to-back Super Bowl titles in the late 1990s, and the Ring of Fame induction of the late Red Miller , who guided the franchise to its first Super Bowl appearance 40 years ago. Miller died in September.

INJURIES: Bengals LB Vincent Rey pulled his left hamstring in the second quarter and didn't return. ... Kroft hurt his right hand in the third quarter but returned, and S Shawn Williams was taken inside for IV fluids in the third quarter. He and Burfict were in and out of the lineup in the second half.

UP NEXT: Bengals: Host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Broncos: Travel to Oakland seeking season sweep of the Raiders, whom they edged 16-10 on Oct. 1 before beginning their slide.

By ARNIE STAPLETON

(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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