KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — All those doubters who kept saying that Peyton Manning was washed up, that his arm strength was depleted and his drive for championships diminished?
On Thursday night, he rendered everyone in Arrowhead Stadium silent, including them.
With composure, Manning guided the Broncos to a game-tying touchdown in the last minute. Afterwards, he observed from the sideline as Denver’s cornerback, Bradley Roby, seized Jamaal Charles’ fumble and sprinted 21 yards to secure an additional score with only 27 seconds remaining. This remarkable turn of events culminated in a triumphant 31-24 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Manning, who threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns, as well as a pick-six, expressed his indifference towards the talk. “It doesn’t affect me much,” he stated. “I don’t spend much time reading papers or watching analysis. However, it seems to greatly upset my friends and teammates.”
He further commented that while it’s certainly pleasant to have the support of teammates, friends, and family, it doesn’t have any impact on him. He mentioned that their team has won two games and faced two formidable opponents.
Similar to his performance last week against Baltimore, Manning faced difficulties early on against Kansas City (1-1). He threw a detrimental interception to rookie Marcus Peters, resulting in the Broncos falling into a 14-0 deficit.
However, when the outcome of the game was uncertain, Manning displayed the skills and prowess reminiscent of his prime years as an All-Pro player.
Following Knile Davis’ successful attempt to give the Chiefs the lead with only 2 minutes and 27 seconds left, Manning calmly guided the Broncos towards the end zone. Manning showcased his expertise by completing three impressive passes to Demaryius Thomas, and eventually found Emmanuel Sanders on third-and-10 from the Chiefs’ 19-yard line with just 36 seconds remaining, resulting in a tie game with a score of 24-all.
After Charles was stripped by Brandon Marshall on the subsequent scrimmage play, Manning took charge and led the celebration when Roby recovered the loose ball and returned it.
His championship drive certainly did not wither away.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid commented that it was evident that Peyton Manning still had more to offer. Reid pointed out that during the Ravens game, when Manning wasn’t under pressure, he demonstrated his usual skill and displayed the same abilities that were witnessed before. Reid emphasized that Manning’s performance was very similar to what was observed in previous games.
It was unusual to witness Charles coughing the ball up twice.
Despite his reputation as a dependable and agile running back, the Chiefs’ dynamic player surprisingly fumbled early in the game, wasting a valuable scoring opportunity. However, the entire Kansas City sideline chose to overlook this mistake and moved on.
The Chiefs’ game was essentially lost due to the second fumble that occurred.
Charles, who rushed for 125 yards and scored a touchdown, admitted, “In my attempt to make a play, I neglected to handle the ball with caution. I should have exercised better judgment by securing it with both hands. Unfortunately, my actions led to our defeat today. Although I aimed to carry the team forward, I ultimately ended up being the reason behind our loss.”
Certainly not completely, but Alex Smith did throw two interceptions while the Chiefs suffered from a total of five turnovers. Additionally, nine penalties repeatedly hindered what seemed to be potentially successful drives.
And let’s not forget that Manning also played a role in determining the outcome.
These are a few key points to take away from the Broncos’ seventh consecutive victory against the Chiefs:
Assuming responsibility, Reid admitted that he chose not to take a knee and proceed to overtime because he had anticipated Charles making a significant long run. “I’ll accept ownership of that decision,” Reid acknowledged.
Thomas had a remarkable performance, making eight catches for 116 yards, while Sanders also had an impressive game with eight catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns. Reflecting on the game, Sanders expressed his delight, stating, “Without a doubt, it was one of the most memorable games I’ve ever been involved in.”
The Chiefs suffered from an unimpressive performance, marked by turnovers, penalties, and an inability to convert on third downs. Out of the seven attempts, they failed to successfully convert any. Despite these challenges, DeMarcus Ware acknowledged the team’s triumph, emphasizing the significance of winning a game on a short week.
In an impressive display, Marcus Peters made a remarkable play by intercepting Manning and running it back for a 55-yard touchdown. This marked his first ever touchdown in his career. Additionally, Peters showcased his skills last week against Houston with another interception. Reflecting on his achievements, he expressed satisfaction, but also acknowledged the disappointment of the team’s tough loss.
Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston added two more sacks to his season tally, bringing it up to three. In the previous season, he set a franchise record with 22 sacks. Reflecting on the team’s recent loss, Houston emphasized the importance of winning and admitted that he felt the need to contribute more sacks to achieve their goals.
By Dave Skretta, AP Sports Writer
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