Decker, Denver sweep Kansas City

Dec 1, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver

(87) catches a pass as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback

(31) attempts to defend during the first half of the game at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Broncos prevented an opening drive touchdown by the Kansas City Chiefs as Wesley Woodyard would pick off Alex Smith in the end-zone. On the ensuing drive from Denver, Peyton Manning would also be picked off, giving the ball right back. The Kansas City Chiefs would strike first on a 17-yard pass from Alex Smith to Junior Hemingway, giving the Chiefs the early 7-0 lead.

Denver would answer right away as Eric Decker would snag a 41-yard touchdown pass from Manning, tying the game up at seven. The Broncos special teams would be atrocious on the ensuing kickoff, as Knile Davis would return a kick 108 yards to the house, rocking the crowd of Arrowhead Stadium. Peyton Manning would struggle early on, as he was picked off yet again. The Chiefs would keep the scoring going, as Alex Smith found Anthony Fasano on a 14-yard touchdown pass, as it was all Chiefs early, 21-7.

Peyton Manning and company would muster a 9-play, 70-yard drive late in the 2nd quarter leading to a Manning to Moreno touchdown, reducing the Kansas City lead to seven. The Chiefs would lead the Broncos at the half, 21-14. Peyton Manning however, would set a Denver Bronco single-season record with 38 touchdown passes; this is remarkable taking into account the Broncos have four more regular season games to go.

Eric Decker would light up the Chiefs secondary, as Manning found him for a 37-yard touchdown, on a 7-play, 80-yard drive in just 3 minutes and 9 seconds. The Chiefs would be punt heavy in the second half, as they punted five-straight times, after three-straight touchdowns. Manning to Decker would be a common theme throughout the game, as he found him two more times, as Denver would score 28-unanswered.

Alex Smith had Donnie Avery open on two consecutive pass plays in the fourth quarter, but Avery dropped both of them. Kansas City would get lucked out, as Duke Ihenacho was called for a face-mask on Dexter McCluster at the one-half yard line. The Chiefs would score regardless of the dropped passes, as Jamaal Charles leaped over the Denver defense for a touchdown on a 17-play, 80-yard drive. The Broncos would still lead, 35-28 with 6:32 remaining in the fourth.

Chiefs Sean Smith would be called for pass-interference on a deep ball to Demaryius Thomas, giving the Broncos more time to chew clock. Denver would be called for an illegal shift, resulting in a 2nd down and 20 with 4:10 remaining. The Chiefs would blitz and Knowshon Moreno would make them pay, Manning found him on a 31-yard completion via slant route. Denver would be forced to punt later in the drive, with 3:41 remaining in the game ahead by seven. Britton Colquitt would pin them at the seven yard line.

Donnie Avery‘s struggles would continue, as Chris Harris stripped the ball out of his hands and incomplete. He would be injured on the play. Broncos coach Jack Del Rio would challenge the ruling that the pass was complete, and recovered by the defense. The ruling on the field would stand, and Denver would be charged with their third and final timeout, resulting in a 3rd and 14 for Kansas City. A.J. Jenkins would make a nice catch keeping the drive alive for a first-down as Kayvon Webster jumped too early.

Alex Smith would find McCluster for a deep route for 28-yards. Webster would continued to get picked on as Dwayne Bowe exploited the rookie, who never turned around. As we reached the 2-minute warning, Kansas City would be facing a 3rd-and-8 at the 17-yard line with one time-out remaining. They would try a screen pass to Jenkins, resulting in a 4th-and-4 at the 13. Mike Adams would break up the pass directed towards Bowe, as the Broncos would milk the clock. Denver came away victorious, 35-28 sweeping the Kansas City Chiefs.

Denver now sits atop the AFC West at 10-2 in sole possession of the one-seed. They will take on the Tennessee Titans next Sunday in Denver, kickoff at 2:05 MT.

Key Performers for Denver:

Peyton Manning: 22/35, 403 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT. Sets Denver’s single-season record for TD passes (38).

Knowshon Moreno: 15 carries, 18 yards, 4 rec, 72 yards. 90 total yards, 1 TD.

Montee Ball: 13 carries, 117 yards, 9.0 AVG.

Eric Decker: 8 rec, 174 yards, 4 touchdowns.

Chris Harris: 6 tackles, 6 solo.

Wesley Woodyard: 5 tackles, 5 solo, INT.

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