KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Bradley Roby recovered a forced fumble by Brandon Marshall and returned it 21 yards for the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds after a Brandon McManus extra-point kick tied it up on the previous drive.
Another game-winner — by the defense.
“I’ve been in a couple crazy games,” Peyton Manning said. “But never one quite like that.”
The same could be said for Roby.
“I just ran to the ball and B-Marsh knocks it out. I saw it on the ground and I’m like, ‘Oh snap,’ so I just tried to grab it and get in the end zone. I knew there were only a few seconds left in the game. Made it happen.”
AQIB TALIB:
Roby’s game-winner at Kansas City follows Aqib Talib’s go-ahead pick six and Darian Stewart’s game-saving interception against Baltimore four days earlier in the season opener.
Prime target
Emmanuel Sanders caught eight passes on 14 targets for 87 yards and two touchdowns.
Manning connected with Sanders for a 16-yard touchdown late in the second quarter, giving the Broncos’ quarterback his first passing touchdown of the season.
And then Sanders pulled in a 19-yard touchdown pass in the fourth that tied the game at 24-all with 36 seconds remaining.
To top it off, Sanders was the recipient of a 10-yard pass from Manning that put the QB in the 70,000-yard club with Brett Favre.
Pro Bowl ability
Stewart is the only member of the Broncos’ secondary this season to never make a Pro Bowl. But he has opened eyes with his performance so far.
After clinching the Broncos’ season-opening victory with a leaping interception over Ravens tight end Crockett Gillmore, Stewart recovered a fumble on the Broncos’ goal-line stand against the Chiefs in the first quarter Thursday night. A series of Denver penalties and mistakes moved Kansas City to the 5-yard line. On third down, Alex Smith lofted a swing pass to Jamaal Charles. David Bruton sniffed it out, corralling Charles behind the line of scrimmage and swatting the ball to the turf as Stewart pounced.
RECAP:
Denver’s defense had three red-zone takeaways last season.
Miller’s nifty 50
Justin Houston got the big contract first. Von Miller got 50 career sacks first.
The Broncos outside linebacker made No. 50 in the first quarter Thursday, becoming the third-fastest player (58 games) in NFL history to get there.
Miller sits behind Reggie White (40 games) and Derrick Thomas (54). Soon after, Houston, who entered the game needing half a sack to reach 50, took down Manning to get to 50½.
The sack was the second of Manning — in the first quarter.
Berry’s back
It started with a surprise visit from Eric Berry’s nurses at the Chiefs’ hotel. It was followed by a standing ovation from the crowd at Arrowhead Stadium. Berry returned to Arrowhead after his battle with cancer. The safety was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma last season and underwent treatment that put him in remission.
Footnotes
Coach Gary Kubiak rewards players for performance when determining game-day captains. After the victory over Baltimore, Talib, Sanders, Bruton and McManus represented the Broncos at Thursday’s coin toss. … Denver’s inactives had few surprises. After not practicing during the week, safety Omar Bolden didn’t suit up. Andre Caldwell replaced him on kick returns. Josh Bush was used as a backup. The inactives included defensive end Kenny Anunike (knee), quarterback Trevor Siemian, cornerback Lorenzo Doss, linebacker Lerentee McCray, guard Shelley Smith and tight end Mitchell Henry. … Cornerback Kayvon Webster had an ankle injury in the second half, limiting his snaps. … Members of the Chiefs’ two Super Bowl teams were honored at halftime.
