DENVER (Sporting Alert) — Peyton Manning threw for 286 yards and three touchdown in guiding the Denver Broncos to a 35-21 victory over the San Diego Chargers in Thursday Night Football.
The three scoring assists, which went to Emmanuel Sanders on Thursday, moved Manning to 22 touchdown passes, the most on the season, while improving his career overall tally to 513.
Sanders, who stepped up for the pegged-down Demaryius Thomas, finished the night with nine catches for 120 yards. Supporting well on the night as well was rookie running back Juwan Thompson, who had two touchdown runs, while Ronnie Hillman collected 109 yards on 20 carries.
“Every week we don’t know where the ball is going to go,” Sanders told reporters after the win. “The defense really dictates that and what Peyton is seeing. And tonight was just my night.
“What a great team win,” he added.
Philip Rivers finished with 30 of 41 passed for 252 yards and three touchdowns for the Chargers (5-3), but was picked off twice.
Antonio Gates finished with two touchdowns for San Diego, who dropped their second straight game, following the 23-20 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs at the weekend.
Denver is now 6-1 on the season and has won four straight games since coming off the bye week.
MANNING SHOWS ANGER
Meanwhile, Manning was pictured reacting angrily to the scoreboard operator’s decision to fired up the crowd late in the game when the home side was attempting to run over the clock.
“I’m not sure what he’s doing, he’s playing music and showing players dancing and getting the crowd fired up when we have the ball,” Manning, who was spotted, jumping up and down trying the calm things down said.
“I don’t think we should be doing that. I don’t think we should be showing their quarterback on the sideline. I thought that was disrespectful.
“Our fans are great. Our fans are loud. Our scoreboard operator, it wasn’t his best night.”
