Peyton finished off the San Diego Chargers with some clock killing, otherwise it was getting close, folks. 24-17 was the final score from Denver, Colorado.
The Broncos sacked Phil Rivers twice on the opening drive and forced the punt. Peyton promptly went down in seven minutes for the 7-0 score. Demaryius Thomas made a nice catch for the touchdown.
After another Chargers punt, Denver moved the ball again past midfield, but it was fumbled by our tight end for the turnover. Luckily, we sacked Phil again on third down, forcing a 53-yard field goal try that missed badly.
Manning took the ball down to the three-yard line and found Wes Welker in the end zone on third down for a 14-0 lead.
Denver forced another punt, which Eric Decker was set to take back to the house until he fell on his own feet with a clear path to the end zone at the San Diego 30. Scifres hurt himself getting juked. The Broncos moved the ball to the four-yard line but got greedy and pass happy. They stopped running after first down went no where and threw two risky passes, the second of which was tipped and intercepted in the end zone.
The Chargers kneeled it to end the half: Denver 14, San Diego 0.
The Broncos took the second half kick down the field for an eventual 45-yard field goal by Matt Prater. 17-0.
Another Chargers punt put the Broncos back in field goal position, but the wind demolished the try from 47-yards, violently jurking the ball away from the goal post.
The 4th quarter began without Denver’s top cornerback, who we discovered after the game tore his ACL. Rivers found his replacement on third down twice for two deep catches, the second of which put San Diego on the board, 17-7.
Luckily, Manning responded with another touchdown drive finished off by Knowshon Moreno’s three-yard run. 24-7, 8:12 to go.
Rivers couldn’t find daylight, forcing a fourth and five at the Chargers 25. This could have ended the Chargers’ season; instead, Phil found his man for 49 yards and the first down. San Diego scored in 2:29 total time for a 24-14 score.
Next, they kicked the onside kick and recovered, putting them in position for a field goal with 3:53 remaining. They made it for a 24-17 situation.
San Diego elected to kick off the length of the field.
Peyton quickly found himself at 3rd and 17, his own 20. Our tight end, Julius Thomas emerged open for a 21-yard find. Clock continues to tick.
Two more runs set up another third down for Denver. Manning again passed for the first down. Final timeout, Chargers, just ahead of the two minute warning.
On second and seven, Moreno rushed for six yards to the Chargers 37. He ran it again on third down for five yards, setting up the kneel by Peyton to end the game.