Broncos: Top Five Peyton Manning Moments In Denver

NO. 5

Peyton Manning leads unbelievable comeback in San Diego (2012).

There was always going to be growing pains when Peyton Manning joined the Broncos after spending over a decade with the Colts. He would have to get used to his new teammates, coaches, playbook and every day life now he was a part of a new organization.

The Broncos started the season 2-3 in 2012 and found themselves getting embarrassed by the Chargers on Monday Night Football, going into halftime down 24-0. Nothing was going right as special teams gifted San Diego good field position thanks to multiple fumbles, the defense was non-existent and, Manning threw a pick-6 that was nowhere near a Broncos receiver.

Then the second half happened.

The Broncos came out of the locker room aggressively as Peyton found Demaryius Thomas for a 29-yard touchdown after going six-for-six on the opening drive. Elvis Dumervil lodged the ball free from Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers on San Diego’s opening drive before Tony Carter scooped it up and returned it for six points. Manning then found Eric Decker on a screen pass early in the fourth quarter and all of a sudden, the Broncos were just a field goal away from tying the game up.

Just a few minutes later, after getting the football back thanks to an interception from Tony Carter, Manning placed a perfect pass to the outstretched Brandon Stokley as Manning made 13 straight completions.

Chris Harris Jr. put the nail in the coffin by picking Rivers and returning it for a pick-6 with two minutes to play in the game, giving Denver the 35-24 victory.

Manning finished 24-30 for 309 yards and three touchdowns as the Broncos scored 35 second half points. The win was made that much sweeter as Phillip Rivers had previously said he wanted Manning in the division.