Page 20 - ATD19September2015
P. 20
20
SPORTSSaturday 19 September
Broncos complete stunning comeback, beat Chiefs 31-24
DAVE SKRETTA Denver Broncos cornerback Bradley Roby (29) runs for a touchdown after recovering a ball fum- kept Denver alive.
AP Sports Writer bled by Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) during the second half of an NFL “That last drive was really
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — football game in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. The Broncos won 31-24. good,” said Manning, who
Peyton Manning and the joined Brett Favre during
Denver Broncos have beat- Associated Press the game as the only quar-
en the Kansas City Chiefs terbacks in NFL history with
every way imaginable a sellout crowd that the games,” he said, “but noth- off. at least 70,000 yards pass-
over the years, from playoff Chiefs might finally end ing quite like this.” “We thought we had it ing. “I’m really proud of our
shootouts to defensive tug- some curses. Charles finished with 125 won,” Davis said. “Unfor- young offensive line — no
of-wars. Instead, Denver won its yards rushing and a touch- tunately, they made the poise issues, no communi-
Well, not quite every way. 13th straight division road down, but he will only re- touchdown and it was our cation issues.”
Not until Thursday night. game, breaking a tie with member his fumbles — one time to overcome and win The late-game dramatics
Denver cornerback Brad- the San Francisco 49ers in the red zone early in the the game, and we couldn’t transpired after the Chiefs
ley Roby returned Jamaal (1987-90) for most in NFL game, the other deep in finish. It was an emotional bolted to a 14-0 lead in their
Charles’ second fumble 21 history. And for one night, his own territory late in the rollercoaster.” home-opener, energizing a
yards for a touchdown with Manning quieted his grow- game. “I have to be care- Manning threw a pick-six of boisterous, red-clad crowd
27 seconds left, completing ing doubters by improving ful with the ball,” Charles his own, but he responded that had been tailgating all
a stunning comeback in to 14-1 in his career against said. “It’s my fault.” when it mattered the most. afternoon.
the closing minute for a 31- the Chiefs. Alex Smith threw for 191 The Broncos took over at But like he has so often
24 victory — the Broncos’ “I’ve been involved in a yards for Kansas City, but their own 20 after Davis against the Chiefs, Man-
seventh straight over their couple of pretty crazy also had two passes picked had given Kansas City the ning answered by leading
AFC West rivals. lead, and the seven-time Denver on an 80-yard TD
“I’m not quite sure I’d ever All-Pro marched them march late in the first half.
been in one quite like that,” calmly down field. Manning The capper was a pass
Manning said. “That was a found Demaryius Thomas over the middle to Sanders,
new one.” for three long receptions to who slipped between the
Manning threw for 256 get deep into Chiefs terri- safeties and somersaulted
yards and three scores, the tory, then hit Sanders with into the end zone for the
last to Emmanuel Sanders a strike over the middle on 16-yard touchdown recep-
with 36 seconds left as the third-and-10 from the Chiefs tion. Two plays later, Aqib
Broncos (2-0) appeared to 19 for the touchdown that Talib picked off Smith’s
force overtime. But on the throw on a poorly thrown
next play from scrimmage, pass in the flat, and the
with the Chiefs (1-1) also Broncos needed just four
eyeing overtime, Charles plays for Manning to find
was stripped by Bran- Virgil Green with a tying
don Marshall and the ball touchdown toss.
bounced right into Roby’s After swapping field goals,
hands. the Chiefs were poised to
The dramatic about-face celebrate when Davis took
came after Knile Davis a handoff from Smith as the
gave Kansas City the lead quarterback fell down and
with 2:27 left on an 8-yard raced into the end zone
run, raising hope among late in the fourth quarter.
Turned out to be not late
enough for Manning and
the Broncos.
“I’ll tell you,” Manning
said, “their defense is so
much better than last year.
They’re so stout against
the run. They just make it
hard all night. We just kept
plugging.”q
