Flurries fell continuously, horizontally and perhaps fittingly for the Broncos’ biggest game of the year.

The Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals lined up toe to toe, shoulder to shoulder, through the muck and the cold and the powder. Win and the playoffs were all but assured. Lose and the season was all but finished.

Both teams brought it. John Lynch, the Broncos’ 35-year-old safety, played with the abandon of a college senior. Domata Peko, the Bengals’ long-haired, ponytailed defensive lineman, was relentless on the pass rush, immovable against the run.

Both teams had quarterbacks with big arms, running backs with thick legs, and stars with the ability to make big plays at big times.

By game’s end, it was the Broncos who prevailed, defeating the Bengals 24-23, on a cold, snowy Sunday afternoon before a bundled gathering at Invesco Field at Mile High in an AFC game that was both absurd and classic.

After all those long pass completions, gadget plays, no-huddle attacks, turnovers and enough grit, determination and physical pounding to last a season, what was the difference? A botched extra-point attempt by the Bengals that would have tied the game with 41 seconds left.

Merry Christmas, Broncos. Happy New Year. Have fun in January.

“When you play hard, good things happen,” Lynch said. “I’m sure a little luck enters there, and I’m sure they’re sick. As much as you love to win, for the game to end like that it’s tough on them. But them are the breaks.”

In the final minutes, for their final drive, the Bengals had marched from their 10-yard line, converting a fourth-and-9 play along the way. The drive culminated when Carson Palmer connected with T.J. Houshmandzadeh for a 10-yard touchdown pass. All the Bengals needed was for Shayne Graham to kick the extra point for a 24-24 tie and a likely overtime session.

Only the ball never got to Graham’s foot. Holding a slippery ball that was resting on mud, Brad St. Louis let go of the snap. It wobbled wide of holder Kyle Larson, whose lunge wasn’t enough to corral the football, let alone put it down. Incredibly, this titanic game was decided on a breakdown of the most rudimentary of fundamentals.

“It is obviously disappointing and shocking,” Palmer, a Pro Bowl quarterback who had an off game, said of the botched extra point. “But the truth is, we shouldn’t have been in that situation in the first place.”

Indeed, the Bengals, who committed four of the game’s six turnovers and had a long touchdown pass called back by a penalty, took their flight home Christmas Eve no doubt believing they handed the Broncos the greatest gift of all – a playoff berth. With a 9-6 record, the Broncos will capture their fourth consecutive playoff appearance if they beat the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday at Invesco Field, or if the Kansas City Chiefs lose to Jacksonville.

But unlike any of their previous postseason appearances, the Broncos are planning to take their chances this time on a rookie from Santa Claus, Ind., named Jay Cutler. Last week, before much hype, Cutler got his first NFL win by outplaying more heralded rookie Matt Leinart at Arizona. Perhaps more impressive, Cutler in only his fourth NFL start outplayed the more established Palmer in a monumental game Sunday.

“I don’t think I outplayed Carson Palmer,” Cutler said. “I think our team outplayed their team. Carson, he’s been around and he’s playing really good football.”

While Palmer threw for two touchdowns and 209 yards, he also attempted 40 passes, threw two interceptions, misfired on at least four potential touchdown passes and finished with a pedestrian 63.4 rating.

Cutler was intercepted on the first play of the game, only to come back with the calm of a 10-year veteran by firing two touchdown passes in the second quarter and leading the Broncos on a 99-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter that essentially was the difference. Cutler became the first player in NFL history to throw at least two touchdown passes in his first four games.

“We all saw the talent, but there’s the wild card of going out there and playing in the NFL,” Lynch said. “You don’t know how someone is going to respond. And it just seems to me like it’s not too big for him.”

In a wild first half that was both breathtaking with big plays and marred by turnovers, the Broncos were fortunate they were trailing only 17-14.

The zaniness involved erratic play and behavior. Before the Bengals scored the game’s first touchdown in the first quarter, Palmer and Houshmandzadeh were arguing with each other so vehemently on the field, they had to be separated.

“Oh, man, I’d never seen anything like that,” Williams said. “I couldn’t hear what they were arguing about, but nine times out of 10, the receiver wants the ball.”

On the next play, Rudi Johnson ran around left end 6 yards for a touchdown. So much for the importance of team harmony.

But the Broncos came back behind Cutler’s two touchdowns in the second quarter and the 99-yard drive in the third quarter that was keyed by Mike Bell’s effective running off the bench.

The Bengals came back, too, but with the game, the playoffs, and possibly the season at stake, the extra-point snap, not the kick, sailed wide.

Afterward, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan suggested the muffed extra point was the result of something besides luck. Broncos owner Pat Bowlen lost his mother, Arvella, last week.

“I think she had something to do with that missed extra point,” Shanahan said.

Sympathies to Pat Bowlen. And to the Bengals.

Staff writer Mike Klis can be reached at 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.

EXTRA POINTS



Broncos reporter Bill Williamson breaks down Denver’s 24-23 victory over Cincinnati at Invesco Field:

TURNING POINT: Cross country drive

At first the Broncos hated having the ball at their 1-yard line, but they learned to love it. The Broncos challenged the ruling on a punt that left them there, saying a Cincinnati player was in the end zone while downing the ball. The Broncos lost the challenge. Trailing 17-14, rookie quarterback Jay Cutler, above, took Denver 99 yards in seven minutes, 17 seconds. Mike Bell’s 2-yard touchdown run gave the Broncos a 21-17 lead with 3:17 left in the third quarter.

HIT OF THE DAY: No holiday for Henry

Denver’s John Lynch had a season’s worth of big hits Sunday, and his best hit of the year came in the first quarter. From the Broncos’ 18-yard line, Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer tried to connect with wide receiver Chris Henry at the 2. Henry got the ball but was immediately leveled by Lynch. Henry dropped the pass. Denver argued that the ball was a catch and was fumbled, but the officials ruled Henry never had control.

CRAZY PLAY OF THE DAY: Grand grab, Marshall

The Broncos needed a spark early in the second quarter when they were trailing 7-0. Wide receiver Rod Smith took the snap from center Tom Nalen. He then tossed the ball to quarterback Jay Cutler, who was heading left. On the run, Cutler hit fellow rookie Brandon Marshall at the Bengals’ 1-yard line near the sideline. It couldn’t have been a more spectacular catch by Marshall, who somehow got both feet in. The Bengals challenged the ruling, but the catch stood. The Broncos scored on the drive to even the game at 7-7.

BESTS: Wonderful work

Stadium crew: Workers did a great job getting the stadium, field and seats ready after the blizzard. They worked around the clock since Wednesday to get the difficult job done.

Ball magnet: Denver cornerback Champ Bailey, who is making a strong push for NFL defensive player of the year, had an interception and a fumble recovery in the first half. It was Bailey’s ninth interception of the season, a career high.

WORSTS: Tatum’s turnovers

Ball security: Running back Tatum Bell cost Denver seven points in back-to-back games and it could severely hamper his playing time. After a Bell fumble was returned for a score at Arizona last week, Bell fumbled at the Broncos’ 30 late in the second quarter. It led to a Cincinnati touchdown.

Teammate: Cincinnati wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh was arguing with Carson Palmer in a team huddle during the first quarter.

REPORT CARD

Offense

B: The Broncos have scored 84 points in four games in the Jay Cutler era. They have been effective and have made the big plays. Cutler is connecting well with his receivers. In a backup role, rookie Mike Bell gained 69 yards on 16 carries.

Defense

B: The Broncos were bailed out by the Bengals’ last-minute, muffed extra point after Denver gave up a 12-play, 90-yard touchdown drive. But overall, the defense did a solid job against one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL.

Special teams

B: It may have been fortunate, the way the game ended, but the Broncos were on top of the pile after the Bengals’ muffed extra point. It was a nice bonus for a group that has been growing in recent weeks. Overall, the unit is improving.

Coaching

B: Offensively, the reins are coming off every game, and it is working. Defensively, the plan was to nullify the explosive plays, and the Bengals didn’t have any. It was a good day for the Denver coaching staff.

Overall

A: Any win over a quality opponent at this point of the season is huge. After blowing three straight leads in the fourth quarter, the Broncos found a way to win the game. And it should get them in the playoffs. If they win at home against San Francisco next Sunday, the Broncos will be 10-6 and the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs. So this was a big victory.

– Bill Williamson