Final Score: Broncos 24, Chiefs 17
Julis Thomas hauls in a first-quarter touchdown reception. (Getty)
The Denver Broncos’ two wins this year have followed similar storylines: The Broncos pour on the offense in the first half, then hold on for the win despite doing next to nothing in the second.
That formula got Denver a season-opening win last week at home against the Indianapolis Colts. And it got them another win Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Broncos edged their division rivals 24-17 despite scoring only 3 points in the second half.
Click here for the full box score.
Here’s how it went down:
The Broncos Came Up With a Goal Line Stand in the Final Seconds
With Denver’s offense unable to score a second-half touchdown, the Chiefs had a chance to tie or win the game on their final drive.
Tailing by 7 in the final minutes, Alex Smith led the Chiefs 64 yards to the Denver 2. But the Broncos defense came up with a goal line stand to preserve the lead.
Smith’s pass for Dwayne Bowe fell incomplete on 4th-and-goal from the 2, and the Broncos got the ball back with 15 seconds left, needing just one Peyton Manning kneel-down for the win.
Needless to say, the crowd at Sports Authority Field was happy.
IN-COM-PLETE! Smith's pass on 4th-and-goal is off the mark. Broncos take over 15 seconds left.
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) September 14, 2014
What a great stand by the Broncos defense.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) September 14, 2014
Peyton Manning Threw 3 First-Half Touchdown Passes
Just as he did in Denver’s season opener last week against Indianapolis, Peyton Manning threw 3 touchdown passes in the first half, helping stake Denver to a 21-10 halftime lead.
Manning hit Julius Thomas on a 4-yard touchdown strike to cap Denver’s opening drive and put the home team up 7-0 less than 4 minutes into the game. Watch it in the vine above.
After Kansas City pulled ahead on 10-7 a 2-yard Knile Davis rushing touchdown, Manning threw two second-quarter touchdown passes to put Denver back in front: A 4-yard strike to No. 2 tight end Jacob Tamme with 7:19 left in the quarter and a 12-yarder to Demaryius Thomas with 1:09 left.
Knile Davis Scored to Pull the Chiefs Within 4
TOUCHDOWN! Knile Davis runs it in for his second TD of the game.
#KCvsDEN
— Kansas City Chiefs (@KCChiefs) September 14, 2014
Davis scored his second touchdown of the game — this one from 4 yards out — to bring Kansas City within 21-17 with 7:11 left in the game.
Davis, who started in place of the injured Jamaal Charles, finished with a team-high 79 yards on 22 carries.
Emmanuel Sanders Led the Broncos in Receptions & Yards
FINAL: DEN 24 KC 17
Manning: 21-26, 242 yds, 3 TD
E. Sanders: 8 rec, 108 yds
D. Thomas: 5 rec, 62 yds, TD pic.twitter.com/iWExWYcg7b
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) September 14, 2014
Emmanuel Sanders didn’t catch a touchdown pass, but he was Peyton Manning’s favorite target throughout the afternoon, finishing with a team-high 8 catches for a team-high 108 yards.
Demaryius Thomas had 5 catches for 62 yards and a touchdown.
Despite a lackluster second half, Manning finished with an impressive stat line: 21-for-26 passing for 242 yards, 3 touchdowns and no interceptions for an off-the-charts 143.9 quarterback rating.
