Denver Hands Houston, 27-9 NFL Loss

By ESPN

Brock Osweiler took one last dig at Denver's fans after Houston's 27-9 loss to the Broncos. He figured they would "be a little bit louder with the boos."

Denver's defenders ruined Osweiler's homecoming by hurrying, hitting and harassing their ex-quarterback Monday night, even if his ears weren't ringing from the crowd noise.

Osweiler famously declared upon signing his $72 million, four-year deal that he chose Houston over Denver because the Texans gave him the better chance to succeed.

"It's not all about money in life," said Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr., who recovered one of Osweiler's three fumbles. "He had a great situation, great team here, better receivers to me. So, I think he already knows he made the wrong choice."

Not so, said Osweiler.

"I never live my life looking in the rearview mirror," Osweiler said after a night in which his head was on a constant swivel with the likes of Von Miller, Shane Ray and Derek Wolfe coming after him.

Coach Gary Kubiak returned to the sideline following his second health scare in three years, and he liked what he saw as the Broncos (5-2) snapped a two-game skid in sending Osweiler and the rest of 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 hand-offs.

But the big story was Trevor Siemian, Peyton Manning's surprise successor, outplaying Osweiler, who was groomed to be Denver's next QB for the last four years.

Osweiler left for bigger numbers in Texas -- both in his bank account and his stat sheet -- but he spent the whole game quickly getting rid of the ball, constantly overthrowing DeAndre Hopkins in double coverage and otherwise running for his life from Miller & Co.

Miller wore a "REVENGE" hoodie to his postgame interview, but he said it was a shoutout to Drake, who wore Miller's No. 58 jersey at a recent concert in Colorado.

"Me and Brock, we're good. I love the guy. I wish him the best," Miller said.

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 also lost a fumble at his own 25-yard line. It was scooped up by Harris on the first play of the fourth quarter and led to Brandon McManus' chip-shot field goal that made it 24-9.

Monday, October 24 Scoreboard

Denver 27, Houston 9

Thursday, October 27 Schedule (All Times Central)

Jacksonville at Tennessee, 7:25 p.m.

Sunday, October 30 Schedule (All Times Central)

Washington at Cincinnati, 8:30 a.m.

Kansas City at Indianapolis, noon

Oakland at Tampa Bay, noon

Seattle at New Orleans, noon

Detroit at Houston, noon

New York Jets at Cleveland, noon

New England at Buffalo, noon

Arizona at Carolina, noon

San Diego at Denver, 3:05 p.m.

Green Bay at Atlanta, 3:25 p.m.

Philadelphia at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.