Amid the avenging, cold-weather brilliance of Peyton Manning and triumphant return of John Fox was a disturbing indication that for all the Broncos have going for them, they might not be long for the postseason.

Denver’s defense hasn’t been this bad since the Mike Shanahan-Bob Slowik regime in 2008. The Broncos entered their game Sunday against Tennessee allowing 26.4 points per game, which ranked 26th in the 32-team NFL. The Titans then put 28 points on the Broncos with nearly five minutes left in the third quarter.

The biggest problem is Denver’s defense is down on its depth chart at six positions. The injured starters: Kevin Vickerson, Champ Bailey, Rahim Moore and Derek Wolfe. Strong safety Duke Ihenacho was benched in favor of Omar Bolden, and middle linebacker Wesley Woodyard, who hasn’t been the same since suffering a neck stinger in Game 5 at Dallas, was replaced by Paris Lenon.

Bolden played free safety while Mike Adams moved from free to strong safety.

“We wanted to look at Omar,” Broncos coach John Fox said. “We took a look at some other guys a little bit to develop that throughout the rest of the season.”

Rahim showing. Moore attended his first Broncos game since he underwent emergency surgery Nov. 18 to repair a rare circulation condition in his lower left leg.

“I was scared they were going to have to amputate my leg; that’s what I was most scared of,” Moore said. “Not playing football, I feel like a dead man walking. Nothing else matters to me but the game. But we’re winning. Guys have done a great job stepping in. I’m happy for guys like Omar who weren’t playing and now they’re playing.”

Moore was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return for the playoffs if he’s medically cleared. Will he play again this season?

“Absolutely,” he said. “I can start lifting weights (Monday). I feel great.”

Welker concussed. During the game, three Broncos were evaluated for concussions: offensive tackle Orlando Franklin, linebacker Nate Irving and receiver Wes Welker. Only Welker ended up with a concussion, and he left the game near the end of the first half, not to return. Welker also suffered a concussion three weeks ago against the Chiefs, but he did not miss a game.

Knighton’s pick. Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton intercepted a pass at the beginning of the third quarter, which set up a touchdown run by Knowshon Moreno. In doing so, Knighton became the first Broncos defensive tackle to intercept a pass since Kevin Vickerson on Dec. 19, 2010. As for that interception ball, Knighton said he threw it into the crowd in the heat of the moment.

Asked after the game whether Knighton would take over for defensive tackle Mitch Unrein as the pass-catcher in goal-line situations, Fox entertained the crowd.

“No,” he said. “We still threw Mitch in there in a particular package we called. (Knighton) did do a pretty good job on that interception, though. Maybe it’s something we’ll look at.”

Patriots rally. To Broncos fans’ dismay, the Patriots launched another impressive comeback Sunday against the Browns, clinching a 27-26 victory with an onside kick and touchdown in the game’s final minute and change. With the victory, they’re still just one game behind the Broncos in the hunt for the No. 1 seed, and they hold the tiebreaker by virtue of their comeback victory two weeks ago. If the Patriots win out — against the Dolphins, Ravens and Bills — the Broncos will need to do the same to stay at No. 1.

Saccomano honored. Before the game, the Broncos renamed their stadium press box the Jim Saccomano Press Box after their 36-year media relations guru.