DENVER — The Denver Broncos ruined Brock Osweiler’s homecoming Monday night, incessantly hurrying, hitting and harassing their former teammate in a 27-9 win over his Houston Texans.
Coach Gary Kubiak returned to the sideline following his second health scare in three years, and he had to like what he saw as the Broncos (5-2) snapped a two-game skid in sending the overwhelmed Texans home at 4-3.
C.J. Anderson and Devontae Booker energized Denver’s sputtering ground game, both running for a touchdown. Anderson gained 107 yards on 16 carries and Booker had 83 on 17 carries.
But the big story was Trevor Siemian, Peyton Manning’s surprise successor, outplaying Osweiler, who was groomed to be Denver’s next QB but instead bolted to Houston in free agency.
Osweiler left for bigger numbers in Texas – both in his bank account and his stat sheet – but he spent this night quickly getting rid of the ball, constantly overthrowing DeAndre Hopkins in double coverage and otherwise running for his life from Von Miller & Co.
Although he avoided sacks, Osweiler was just 22 for 41 for 131 yards with no TDs and no interceptions. Siemian was 14 of 25 for 157 yards, a TD and no interceptions.
Osweiler’s fumble at his 25-yard line was scooped up by Chris Harris Jr. on the first play of the fourth quarter. That led to Brandon McManus’ chip-shot field goal that made it 24-9 and snuffed out Houston’s hopes of a comeback.
Anderson scored on a 7-yard run and Siemian hit Demaryius Thomas from 4 yards out as the Broncos took a 14-6 halftime lead.
Osweiler took a couple of big shots from safeties Darian Stewart and T.J. Ward in the first quarter but the Texans led 6-0 on a pair of 43-yard field goals by Nick Novak.
Novak’s 29-yarder made it 14-9, but Stewart punched the ball from running back Alfred Blue’s grasp and linebacker Todd Davis plucked it out of the air. That led to Booker’s 1-yard TD run.
Kubiak missed Denver’s last game when doctors ordered him to take a week off after he was transported via ambulance to the hospital following Denver’s last home game, on Oct. 9, with a complex migraine condition, which can mimic a stroke. Kubiak had a mini-stroke in 2013 while coaching the Texans.
DOLPHINS: Four-time Pro Bowl running back Arian Foster announced his retirement midway through an injury-plagued season with Miami.
Foster, 30, tried to come back from a torn Achilles tendon, but was slowed this season by groin and hamstring injuries. He disclosed his decision Monday on the website Uninterrupted, and the Dolphins confirmed it.
The retirement is effective immediately.
Foster signed a $1.5 million, one-year contract with the Dolphins in July after seven years with the Houston Texans. He holds the Texans’ franchise record with 6,472 yards rushing.
This season he rushed for 55 yards in 22 carries.
GIANTS: Eli Manning said he wasn’t using Donald Trump’s name in order to signal an audible during New York’s victory over the Los Angeles Rams in London on Sunday.
The Giants’ quarterback was caught by microphones yelling out something that sounded a lot like “Trump” ahead of a snap in second quarter of the 17-10 win. The play was a run up the middle that gained a yard.
BILLS: Coach Rex Ryan challenged the NFL to consider ejecting players for blindside hits to the head such as the one by Dolphins receiver Jarvis Landry that leveled Buffalo safety Aaron Williams.
Ryan called Landry’s hit “dirty” and “deliberate,” while saying on-field officials made the right call in flagging the player for unnecessary roughness. Ryan then went further in questioning why the league doesn’t adopt college football’s policy and have such hits reviewed to determine whether they merit an ejection.
BEARS: Quarterback Jay Cutler will return from a thumb injury to play against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 31.
CARDINALS: Wide receiver Jaron Brown tore an ACL in Sunday’s 6-6 tie with Seattle and is out for the remainder of the season.
PACKERS: Green Bay signed receiver Geronimo Allison and safety Jermaine Whitehead from the practice squad.
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