As I was sitting there on Monday night, I kept saying the same thing over and over again: Peyton Manning must be really pissed he came back for this with this team. The Broncos were down 24-0 at halftime to the San Diego Chargers on MNF, and they were staring down the barrel to a 2-4 start, and the rest of the season was going to be a struggle. Peyton Manning decides to return, chooses Denver over San Fran and Arizona, and now he is stuck with a team that can't get out of its own way, drop passes, fumble balls, take killer penalties, and a below average defense. Now, he is on a 2-4 team that could be well on its way to a really disappointing season. At 24-0, that is what I was thinking about. I also was thinking about shutting off the television, and for the first time in a long time stop watching the game and go to bed. I didn't because you can never turn off a game. You just never know. Well, I was lucky that I didn't go to bed. What transpired in the second half might have been one of the biggest moments in recent Broncos history. It certainly could be the turning point for this season. The Broncos rallied from a 24-0 hole to put up 35 unanswered points to shock the Chargers in San Diego 35-24. Denver improves to 3-3 and sits atop the AFC West with the 3-3 Chargers as they head into the bye week. It was a memorable game and it was one of the most exciting comebacks in Denver and NFL history. It certainly ranks up there for me. It was such a huge comeback, and hopefully it will spark the Broncos the rest of the way. Here are my quick thoughts on the game......
1) The Broncos make mistakes like a JV football team. Two muffed returns and the Broncos are down 10-0 in the first quarter. It is really pathetic to watch this team at times this season.
2) Down 10-0, Peyton Manning hits Eric Decker in stride for a wide open touchdown, and Decker fell down at the San Diego 40. He just fell down! Instead of making it 10-7, Manning ends up throwing a pick six(Thanks for coming down Matt Willis) to Quentin Jammer to make it 17-0. I couldn't believe this actually happened. It was laughable at that point.
3) I know it was huge that Denver scored on the first drive of the third quarter on a Manning to Demaryius Thomas hookup to make it 24-7, but the real turning point in the game was the fumble recovery and touchdown by Tony Carter to make it 24-14. Elvis Dumervil sacked and forced a Philip Rivers fumble and Carter was at the right place at the right time to scoop it up and score. At 24-14 the game changed and the Broncos were really back in the game.
4) Manning's two best throws of the game were a critical 3rd and 16 to Jacob Tamme to get a first down when they were 24-14. That play set up a Manning to Decker touchdown that got Denver within three. His second best throw was the throw to Stokley to take a 28-24 lead with 9:03 left. It was an amazing throw and an amazing catch. What a sequence of events from Manning. You could just feel the crowd knew what was happening as Manning was conducting the comeback.
5) Chris Harris continues to impress and his game-sealing pick six was a great play. With just over two minutes remaining and the Chargers on the move, Harris broke in front of a Rivers pass and pick it off in the flat and went untouched into to the end zone for the punctuation mark on an incredible victory.
6) Manning was unreal last night. He completed 16-17 passes in the second half. His final numbers were great: 24-30, 309 yards, and 3 touchdowns. He was unbelievable in the second half, and it was a moment that will rank up there with some of the greatest moments in Peyton Manning's historic career.
7) At 3-3, the Broncos head into the bye week tied for first place in the AFC West. Last night was a huge win for this team. I said all along that with their schedule if the Broncos were 3-3 heading into the bye, then the Broncos were going to be in good shape. Now, with the schedule getting somewhat easier, the Broncos can set their sights on the AFC West crown. Last night won't mean anything if the Broncos don't take advantage and win this division.
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