Denver Broncos vs San Diego Chargers Match Player Stats On Oct 15, 2012

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 15, 2012

Broncos 35, Chargers 24: Peyton Manning threw three touchdown passes and completed his first 13 throws of the second half as visiting Denver erased a 24-0 halftime deficit and engineered the fourth-greatest regular-season comeback in NFL history.

Manning, who was 24-of-30 for 309 yards - including 13-of-14 after intermission - connected with Brandon Stokley for a 21-yard touchdown to put the Broncos ahead 28-24 with 9:03 remaining. Denver (3-3) sealed it when Chris Harris returned Philip Rivers' career-high fourth interception 46 yards for a touchdown with 2:05 left.

Rivers and Antonio Gates, the most prolific quarterback-tight end combination in NFL history with 51 touchdowns, teamed for an 11-yard score in the first quarter and their 15-yard TD with 24 seconds left in the second gave San Diego (3-3) a 24-0 halftime lead. Rivers was 25-of-41 for 242 yards. Gates caught six passes for 81 yards.

The Broncos began their comeback when Manning hit Demaryius Thomas with a 29-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive of the third quarter. Manning's second touchdown throw - a 7-yarder to Eric Decker with 13:33 left - made it 24-21.

San Diego committed five of its six turnovers in the second half, including a Rivers' fumble which was scooped up by Tony Carter and returned 65 yards for a touchdown to make it 24-14. Denver muffed a punt and fumbled a kickoff in the first half, leading to 10 points, and Quentin Jammer returned Manning's interception 80 yards for a score in the second quarter.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Denver CB Champ Bailey played his 200th game. ... Gates passed Ozzie Newsome and moved into fourth all-time among TEs with 8,007 yards. ... The Chargers had six possessions in the second half, resulting in five turnovers and a punt.