The Broncos sent out a huge hint about Peyton Manning's health Sunday when he was listed as active for their game against the Chargers. With 8:18 left in the third quarter, Manning entered the game, playing for the first time since Nov. 15 against the Chiefs.
He took the field with the Broncos trailing 13-7 — and with the offense having turned the ball over five times. The sellout crowd at Invesco Field at Mile High gave him a standing ovation. They were rewarded in less than three minutes: he completed his first pass in a month and a half, to Virgil Green, and the Broncos drove to the Chargers' 1-yard line. C.J. Anderson finished off the 80-yard drive with a one-yard plunge into the end zone, and Brandon McManus nailed the extra point to give Denver a 14-13 lead.
MORE: Coaches dreading Black Monday | NFL playoff scenarios | Scoreboard
Finally!! This ones counts. Touchdown Broncos #DENvsSD pic.twitter.com/AsJZT2Ec17
— NFL (@NFLIive) January 3, 2016
Manning had gotten benched at halftime of that Chiefs game after throwing four interceptions; after that, he was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis and had only returned to practice in recent weeks.
This time, Brock Osweiler had thrown two interceptions and the Broncos had lost three fumbles, the last one leading to the Chargers' go-ahead touchdown pass from Philip Rivers to Antonio Gates.