Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Denver Broncos Match Player Stats On Dec 02, 2012

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 2, 2012

Broncos 31, Buccaneers 23: Peyton Manning threw two touchdown passes to Demaryius Thomas during a 21-point third-quarter blitz and host Denver clinched the AFC West title.

Manning recorded 242 yards on 27-of-38 passing and posted his seventh three-touchdown game of the season to lead the Broncos (9-3) to their seventh consecutive victory and second straight division crown.

Thomas had eight receptions for 99 yards, including scoring passes of 8 and 10 yards, and Von Miller returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown to cap a 21-point spree in under 5 1/2 minutes that gave Denver a 28-10 lead with 3:56 to play in the third quarter.

Josh Freeman struggled for much of the second half but brought Tampa Bay (6-6) within 31-23 with his second touchdown pass, connecting with Mike Williams from 5 yards out 2:33 to play, but Denver recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

Freeman finished 18-of-39 for 242 yards with two TDs and a pick while Connor Barth booted three field goals, including two of 50 or more yards for the Buccaneers, who lost their second straight and fell a game behind Seattle for the final playoff slot in the NFC. With the loss by Tampa Bay, Atlanta clinched the NFC South title.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Manning became the third quarterback in league history to win at least nine division titles, joining New England's Tom Brady and Hall of Famer Joe Montana. Brady won his 10th earlier Sunday to surpass Montana. ... Bucs S Ronde Barber made his 211th consecutive start, moving him past Jim Otto for the seventh-longest streak in history. ... The first of Manning's three scoring passes went to nose tackle Mitch Unrein. He has 29 TD passes for the season, eclipsing the franchise mark of 27 held by John Elway.