NFL GAME RECAP

Former teammates shut down Osweiler

The Sports Xchange

October 24, 2016 at 11:51 pm.

Oct 24, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker Shane Ray (56) tackles Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) in the third quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Oct 24, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker Shane Ray (56) tackles Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) in the third quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

DENVER — Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler’s Denver homecoming began with boos and catcalls from the crowd. It got worse from there.

Osweiler, who spent four years in Denver as the heir apparent to Peyton Manning only to leave for Houston as a free agent after helping the Broncos to a Super Bowl title last season, had a forgettable outing in Houston’s 27-9 loss to the Broncos on Monday night.

The 25-year-old quarterback couldn’t get the Texans into the end zone, settling for three field goals and finishing 22 of 41 for 131 yards. His longest completion went for just 13 yards, and he also lost a fumble when the ball slipped out of his hand as he tried to throw a pass.

“That’s what we wanted to do. We wanted Brock to come out here and struggle. He came out here and struggled,” said Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib, who also conceded he gave Osweiler a post-game hug.

Osweiler admitted a lot of emotions accompanied his return to Denver, but as much as he appreciated his time in Denver and respected the organization and his former teammates, he had no second thoughts about his decision to leave.

“I’ve always told people I never live my life looking in the rearview mirror with any regret, so absolutely not,” Osweiler said.

As for being greeted with a cascade of boos, Osweiler said he expected it.

“I was definitely not surprised,” he said. “I assumed I would get a lot of boos. In fact I thought it would be a little bit louder with those boos.”

His biggest takeaway from the night, he said, was a sense of disappointment.

“I thought we had a great week of practice. I thought we had great preparation, great focus. I thought we traveled very well up here, so to go out there and have a performance like we did, it’s extremely disappointing,” Osweiler said. “But I also think you have to give credit where credit is due, and the Broncos are a great football team. I think you have to tip your hat to them, and we need to refocus. We need to learn from it. We need to get better.”

–The Broncos unveiled a 1-2 punch at running back with C.J. Anderson and Devontae Booker complementing one another in what was a punishing rushing attack.

Anderson produced his fifth career 100-yard game, gaining 107 yards on 16 carries. Booker added 83 yards on 17 carries in an expanded role for the rookie runner. Each had a touchdown run.

“It’s a great feeling,” Broncos tackle Russell Okung said. “All week we’ve been really putting in the work to see those guys have great success, and we saw that today, and we want to see that a lot more.”

Booker said the Broncos were able to wear down the Texans’ defense with the platoon at running back.

“We did complement each other well tonight,” Booker said. “Him going in there and running hard, then I come in as a change of pace and run hard again. It’s just breaking the defense down.”

–The Texans could be without right tackle Derek Newton for an extended period after he reportedly sustained tears of the patellar tendons in both knees.

Newton was carted off the field midway through the first quarter.

The game was stopped while team medical personnel tended to Newton, who lay on the ground for several minutes, at times pounding a fist into the grass from the pain.

Team officials did not confirm media reports detailing Newton’s injuries.

Texans tackle Duane Brown said the loss of Newton hit him and the rest of the team hard.

“It hurts, it hurts a lot,” he said. “He’s like a little brother to me. My heart hurts for him, and I’m praying for his quick recovery.”

–Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller went without a sack against the Texans, snapping a career-best, seven-game sack streak.

Miller took some comfort in the knowledge that he and his teammates were successful in exerting pressure on Osweiler, enough to keep Houston out of the end zone and leave Osweiler with a 60.1 passer rating for the night.

Miller said the end of the streak was nothing to be concerned about.

“I wasn’t paying attention to it,” he said. “My bad, guys. I’m all about wins. I’ll take a win any day. Sacks are great, that’s what I do. That’s my job. I wasn’t able to get it done today, but we got the win, so that’s even better.”

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