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Kiszla: hot and bothered for feisty cold-weather Broncos

By Mark Kiszla The Denver Post December 8, 2013

Looking as if he needed a warm cup of soup, Broncos Peyton Manning walked through the Denver locker room with a towel draped around his waist. On a Sunday afternoon when it was 18 degrees at kickoff, Manning had kicked Old Man Winter's rump and stomped Tennessee 51-28. A good day's work. But it wasn't done.

"Hey, didn't we win the game?" asked Manning, his most valuable throwing hand gripping on a white towel. "There's cold water in the shower."

No soup for Manning. His reward for 397 yards passing on a franchise-record 39 completions?

A frigid shower. Hey, we know Manning is meticulous in his preparation. But does any quarterback really need goose bumps on his goose bumps to get ready for playoff weather?

And maybe knuckleheads throughout the NFL can stop asking if Manning is tough enough to beat the cold.

Here's a statistic that blows the mind:

John Elway, the greatest professional athlete in Colorado history, started 231 times from 1983-98. He never produce 50 points in any regular-season game with the Broncos, not even when and were his sidekicks.

With three games remaining on the 2013 schedule, the Broncos of Manning already have topped 50 points on three occasions.

When told that fact, the eyes of Denver running back Knowshon Moreno grew as wide as saucers with amazement.

"We all know what did was amazing," Moreno said. "But, offensively, we're just trying to keep up with Peyton. He's always pushing the limits. And you can never out-think him. You've got to be on your P's and Q's all day, every day."

Manning is constantly in a hurry, hurry. Snap the ball quicker. Score faster. In a blur of 4 minutes and 58 seconds that spanned the end of the second quarter and the beginning of the third period, Broncos tight end Julius Thomas scored on a beautiful 8-yard pass, kicked an NFL-record from 64 yards and Demaryius Thomas grabbed a 4-yard throw from Manning, Just like that an 11-point Tennessee advantage turned into a 27-21 Denver lead.

Surrender the Titans.

To tell the truth, Manning appeared uncommonly hot and bothered throughout much of his team's 11th victory, lecturing receivers after dropped passes and getting grouchy with offensive coordinator Adam Gase, even after Denver put points on the board.

"Animated?" Manning said with a laugh, describing his feisty mood. "Adam and I are on the same page. We both want the same thing. We want to score . We were both frustrated when we're down there close and have to settle for a field goal, especially when the game might be something of a shootout."

Gase and Manning both burn hot. That's a good thing.

Here is an example of their intensity and commitment to perfection: After scored to put Denver up by 23 points late in the fourth quarter, Manning and Gase weren't done. They studied overhead photographs of formations and plays while plopped side-by-side on the Broncos bench.

"That's kind of his little spot, as well as my little spot, so we can talk about that series and the upcoming series," Manning said.

On that humble little spot on the bench, all big things by the Denver offense are born.

When the temperature drops to the teens, Manning is better than 99.8 percent of all NFL who have played on 70-degree afternoons. Against Tennessee, Manning threw 59 times, more passes than he had attempted in a single game during all his seasons in a dome with the .

When I approached Gase after the rout to congratulate him on an awesome cold- weather game plan, he smiled and gave a reply not fit for print. But his message was clear: Think this prolific offensive machine cannot turn over the engine and get humming on a winter day?

Incinerate that foolish idea in Hades.

The Denver defense is hurting, with key starters Kevin Vickerson, Rahim Moore, and Derek Wolfe more than injured. All four defenders are either out for the season or questionable to return.

For the Broncos to win a championship, Manning needs to stay hot, from now through the . Denver is averaging 39.6 points per game, best in league history.

What's offensive perfection for these Broncos? 60 points? 75?

OK, before getting carried away with excitement, maybe we could all use a cold shower.

Paige: Broncos' starting to look like his old self

By Woody Paige The Denver Post December 9, 2013

Von Miller has been humbled sufficiently.

Most of the other defensive players had departed the stadium jabbering and chortling after the Broncos thrashed and trashed the Titans and assured themselves a place in the playoffs on a hostile-cold Sunday afternoon.

Miller — the former defensive rookie of the year and — sat alone, wearing only a towel and an austere expression, in front of his locker. He wasn't surrounded by a horde or a herd of well-wishers.

"When you have 18 sacks (as he did in his second season), this game comes so easy," he told me.

After the tribulations of this season, "I have to work so hard to even get one sack in a game. I'm just trying to get better every game and be a good teammate."

Miller got better in the Broncos' 13th game and his seventh — after a six-game suspension for violating the NFL's drug policy. This was his most productive — with three XL plays: a sack, a tipped pass that was picked off by Terrance Knighton and a forced . Two turnovers led to two touchdowns. Miller finished with three tackles, a quarterback hit and a personal foul for a late quarterback slam.

He judged this his best game "because we won."

The bespectacled Miller, once a flaming star, has seen his fire dimmed. He spent a month and a half on the dark side. Offseason pickup Shaun Phillips leads the team in sacks; Danny Trevathan leads the defense in tackles and is tied with Chris Harris in ; leads the defensive team at middle linebacker.

There have been accusations that the time away and a weight gain corroded Miller's skills, and that offenses had figured out how to slow him, stop him, smack him in the face. When he returned to the lineup, Miller was an immediate difference- maker.

In New England, he picked up a fumble and rumbled to a touchdown, then he stripped of the ball for another fumble that led to another touchdown in the 24-0 parade in the first half. But Miller's performance was pushed to the side when the Patriots rallied in the second half and won in the . But, with the Broncos falling behind in the first half Sunday — an occurrence not so unusual this season — and the defense missing several starters and using players rarely seen this season (hello, Paris Lenon, Omar Bolden, Sione Fua) — someone needed to take over.

Von Miller.

"Von's a great player," Knighton said.

"Von's getting stronger and stronger," Harris said.

On Sunday he was the Von Miller who last regular season, his second, finished with 18½ sacks, 50 unassisted tackles, an for a touchdown and six forced .

Yet, what he really wanted to talk about was an inside move that brought him a double-team and permitted teammate Malik Jackson to go outside to sack Ryan Fitzpatrick inches from his own goal. "We've had a lot of injuries, and different players, but I think we're coming together as a defense," Miller said.

The Rubik's Cube that is the Broncos' defense hasn't been solved. Champ Bailey is in, then out. Derek Wolfe's ailment is a mystery. Kevin Vickerson won't be back; Rahim Moore might be. Woodyard hasn't been quite the same since his injury in Dallas, and didn't play a full game Sunday, and Duke Ihenacho was a part-timer, too

Harris said: "They can't get me out of the lineup."

After his first game back on the sideline, coach John Fox said the Broncos are "not satisfied at this point" with the defense and "there's room for improvement, and I'm not ashamed to say it."

The Broncos got burned in the opening minutes on defense and special teams. "We've got to step on some throats earlier," Harris said.

Said Miller: "I wish we could have started off a little bit faster, but that's all part of the journey of becoming the defense that we want to be."

If the defense allows 21 points, there won't be issues. But the Broncos can't surrender 41, 38 or 34 and expect to make up for it all the time.

And Von must be Miller.

"It has been humbling. But I've got three games left, and I want to peak in the playoffs," Miller said. He dressed deliberately. It took Miller quite a while to get back to the locker room. He's not eager to leave it, particularly after a great effort.

John Fox returns to Denver sidelines and lead Broncos to big win

By Mike Klis The Denver Post December 8, 2013

To help get going for his first game back, John Fox rolled out of bed and quickly called on some Bob Marley and Chevy Chase.

Now hold on. That aortic valve replacement surgery didn't take away Fox's good sense. Turns out, Rohan Marley, son of the late reggae star Bob Marley, has created a new coffee that is to die for.

As Colorado residents well know, Bob Marley was known to partake in a different type of herb that had a little more effect on the human body than coffee beans.

"They sell it at King Soopers, so I think we're safe," Fox said after his Broncos came on late Sunday to destroy the , 51-28, on a frigid early December afternoon.

The Broncos' head coach had missed the previous four games to recover from his open-heart surgery that was performed Nov. 4 in Charlotte, N.C. The game against the Titans officially stamped his return and he awoke at 7:30 a.m. Sunday with his wife and with gusto.

"Dogs were kissing on him," Robin Fox said. "We put a movie on. He didn't want to watch football. He loves movies."

And so John, Robin, daughter Halie and Halie's sleepover friends gathered around to watch "Fletch," a 1985 comedy starring Chase.

"I get tired of watching of football and listening to all of it," Fox said in a quiet hallway outside his team's victorious home locker room Sunday. "I just wanted to watch something that would chill me out. I thought Fletch was pretty funny."

He then went to the team hotel and had a healthy breakfast. Veggie egg-white omelet. Piece of wheat toast. Bowl of oatmeal. Healthy and hearty. Then again, it was 10 a.m. and he wouldn't eat again until an hour or so after the game, which ended at 5:22 p.m.

At breakfast, Fox sat with two of the team's top operations guys, Chip Conway and Adam Newman, who were checking off players as they came in. That way Fox could greet as many players as he could. At 11 a.m., three hours before game time, Fox drove to the stadium. This time he was ready for some football. He listened to a couple NFL games on Sirius on his way over then parked his vehicle underneath the stadium, just outside the locker room, a privilege afforded only to him, team owner and football operations boss John Elway.

The security guards welcomed him back. Fox said it was great to be back. The fans hooted and hollered their well wishes as he drove through the stadium tunnel. As he came on the field an hour before kickoff, fans positioned in the first three or four rows gave him hearty cheers.

"What happened, it was scary," Robin said of her husband's ordeal. "It was scary. I think sometimes when you're away from something and you come back to it you appreciate it. I know he knows he's loved and I know he knows he's appreciated. But when you're in the situation he was in and you see the outpour, it's almost overwhelming. It was pretty cool."

Emotional as the day was, Fox had to gather himself and start coaching this Broncos team that would clinch a playoff berth with a victory. He brought the team up into a huddle before heading out for the announcement of the starting lineups and the National Anthem.

"I told them we haven't put together a whole game yet," Fox said. "We're in the fourth quarter of the season. This is a good place to start. There's more desperation in the fourth quarter. So teams that come in here are going to be fighting for their lives. We got it today and we'll get again from San Diego."

There was nothing said about Fox's return but some players were more aware than others.

"After the starting lineups, I saw him on the sidelines," said Terrance Knighton, the Broncos' defensive tackle. "I went up to him and said, "Glad to have you back, coach."'

Fox had far more energy coaching on the sideline Sunday than he did in any previous game. On the first offensive series, Fox went for it on fourth down. Twice. Converted both times, too.

Fox said he "feels 130 percent better" than he did prior to his heart procedure that had been hanging there as a possibility for years.

"It reminds me of the old John who had all this energy," Robin said, smiling. "It kind of scares me. I kind of liked that he was slowing down a little bit. Now he's back."

After the lopsided win, Fox gathered his team again. "Told them not be out late tonight," Fox said. "We're on a short week. We're going to take care of them Tuesday and Wednesday (with no-pad practices) but we want them to take care of themselves."

Around 6 p.m., Fox walked out of the locker room to his car parked just across the cement hallway. His team was now 11-2 and in as good a shape as its head coach.

Matt Prater says he was "clueless" before record 64-yard field goal

By Mike Klis The Denver Post December 8, 2013

There were 5,631 no shows who did not see Matt Prater make NFL history.

Prater was almost a no-show too. There were 3 seconds left in the first half and the Broncos had the ball at the Tennessee 46-yard line and coach John Fox called for his field-goal team.

The burly linemen went out there. Longsnapper Aaron Brewer and holder Britton Colquitt went out there. Where was Prater?

"I was clueless," Prater said. "I didn't know he was going to call for the field goal. I didn't know the kick would be from where it was. I think it helped me to get out there late. Because I had to rush out there, I didn't have much time to think about it."

When Prater saw Colquitt put his hand down on the Broncos' 46 yard line, that's when he knew. All kickers know the NFL record field goal was 63 yards. All kickers know their 46-yard line is the magic mark for the record — 54 yards to the far goal line, another 10 yards through the and over the goal posts.

Tom Dempsey, born with half a right foot, used a square toed kicking shoe to kick a 63-yard field goal in 1970. His record had been tied by the Broncos' , Oakland's and San Francisco's .

Elam and Janikowski kicked their record-tying field goals in Denver. Some might want to discount Prater's record kick because of Denver's mile-high altitude.

"I think the cold took away whatever altitude helped," Prater said.

It was 14 degrees as the seconds to the first half ticked down, Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning completed a 7-yard pass to tight end Jacob Tamme. The ball was on the Titans' 46. Perfect.

"Tamme claims he ran out of bounds so Prater could get the record at the right spot," Colquitt said.

Brewer snapped the ball 8 yards to Colquitt. "I didn't know it was for the longest," Brewer said. "I just knew I was supposed to run down and cover it (to avoid an Auburn-like return if the kick was short). So I ran down and turned around and everyone was going crazy. It was pretty cool."

As Prater rushed into position, Colquitt delivered some simple encouragement.

"I think I just said, "Kick it as hard as you can, and follow through," Colquitt said.

Did Prater know when he swung through?

"I knew it had a chance," Prater said. "I knew I hit it pretty good."

Broncos bests/worsts vs. Titans: Welker sets record; Webster and Jammer burned

By Mike Klis The Denver Post December 8, 2013

The best and worst from the Broncos’ 51-28 victory over Tennessee in cold Denver on Sunday…

BESTS

Record-setting offense. Wes Welker caught his 10th TD pass of the season, making the Broncos the only team in NFL history to have four players score at least 10 touchdowns. The other three double-digit TD scorers: Julius Thomas (11), Knowshon Moreno (11) and Demaryius Thomas (11).

With three seconds left in first half, Broncos coach John Fox let Broncos kicker Matt Prater attempt an NFL-record 64-yard field goal. He got it. first set the record of 63 yards in 1970.

Pick for “Pot Roast.” Von Miller destroyed a pass attempt by Titans’ QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and the ball landed in defensive tackle Terrance “Pot Roast” Knighton’s midsection for an interception that set up a touchdown and a 34-21 lead.

WORSTS

Defensive disasters. Broncos Kayvon Webster and Quentin Jammer both were burned by long Ryan Fitzpatrick-to- passes. Strong safety Duke Ihenacho was benched after not helping Webster on the first scoring pass. Omar Bolden did not help on Hunter’s touchdown catch in third quarter.

Special-teams gaffes. The kickoff coverage team surrendered a 95-yard return to Leon Washington, setting up a short Titans TD run by Chris Johnson on the next play. And the Broncos’ return teams kept spoiling nice returns with penalties.

Welker concussion. Wes Welker dropped a ball across the middle late in second quarter, then was blasted in the head and suffered a concussion, his second in four games. He did not return and might not play Thursday against San Diego

Broncos to name press box today after Jim Saccomano

By Mike Klis The Denver Post December 8, 2013

And in his 870th game of watching the in person, Jim Saccomano will watch his team play the Tennessee Titans from his own press box.

In a pregame ceremony today at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, the Broncos will officially rename its press box to the Jim Saccomano Press Box.

“Sacco” is retiring after this, is his 36th year with the club. He will continue to have a consultant’s role. He was the long-time head of the team’s media relations department who is now vice president of corporate communications.

And so now Sacco is awarded with a box-worth of immortality.

Broncos' defense continues troubling trend of allowing lots of points

By Mike Klis and Joan Niesen The Denver Post December 9, 2013

Amid the avenging, cold-weather brilliance of Peyton Manning and triumphant return of John Fox was a disturbing indication that for all the Broncos have going for them, they might not be long for the postseason.

Denver's defense hasn't been this bad since the Mike Shana han-Bob Slowik regime in 2008. The Broncos entered their game Sunday against Tennessee allowing 26.4 points per game, which ranked 26th in the 32-team NFL. The Titans then put 28 points on the Broncos with nearly five minutes left in the third quarter.

The biggest problem is Denver's defense is down on its depth chart at six positions. The injured starters: Kevin Vickerson, Champ Bailey, Rahim Moore and Derek Wolfe. Strong safety Duke Ihenacho was benched in favor of Omar Bolden, and middle linebacker Wesley Wood-yard, who hasn't been the same since suffering a neck stinger in Game 5 at Dallas, was replaced by Paris Lenon.

Bolden played free safety while Mike Adams moved from free to strong safety.

"We wanted to look at Omar," Broncos coach John Fox said. "We took a look at some other guys a little bit to develop that throughout the rest of the season."

Rahim showing. Moore attended his first Broncos game since he underwent emergency surgery Nov. 18 to repair a rare circulation condition in his lower left leg.

"I was scared they were going to have to amputate my leg; that's what I was most scared of," Moore said. "Not playing football, I feel like a dead man walking. Nothing else matters to me but the game. But we're winning. Guys have done a great job stepping in. I'm happy for guys like Omar who weren't playing and now they're playing."

Moore was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return for the playoffs if he's medically cleared. Will he play again this season?

"Absolutely," he said. "I can start lifting weights (Monday). I feel great."

Welker concussed. During the game, three Broncos were evaluated for concussions: offensive tackle Orlando Franklin, linebacker Nate Irving and receiver Wes Welker. Only Welker ended up with a concussion, and he left the game near the end of the first half, not to return. Welker also suffered a concussion three weeks ago against the Chiefs, but he did not miss a game.

Knighton's pick. Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton intercepted a pass at the beginning of the third quarter, which set up a touchdown run by Knowshon Moreno. In doing so, Knighton became the first Broncos defensive tackle to intercept a pass since Kevin Vickerson on Dec. 19, 2010. As for that interception ball, Knighton said he threw it into the crowd in the heat of the moment.

Asked after the game whether Knighton would take over for defensive tackle Mitch Unrein as the pass-catcher in goal-line situations, Fox entertained the crowd.

"No," he said. "We still threw Mitch in there in a particular package we called. (Knighton) did do a pretty good job on that interception, though. Maybe it's something we'll look at."

Patriots rally. To Broncos fans' dismay, the Patriots launched another impressive comeback Sunday against the Browns, clinching a 27-26 victory with an onside kick and touchdown in the game's final minute and change. With the victory, they're still just one game behind the Broncos in the hunt for the No. 1 seed, and they hold the tiebreaker by virtue of their comeback victory two weeks ago. If the Patriots win out — against the Dolphins, Ravens and Bills — the Broncos will need to do the same to stay at No. 1.

Saccomano honored. Before the game, the Broncos renamed their stadium press box the Jim Saccomano Press Box after their 36-year media relations guru.

Peyton Manning comes up big in Denver cold as Broncos blow out Titans

By Joan Niesen The Denver Post December 8, 2013

The puffs of icy breath were visible all the way up in the press box. Peyton Manning's play calls were clouds, breath, breath, breath, snap.

This was supposed to be his downfall, this crisp, clear cold weather, the kind that'll freeze a foot — cleat, sock and all — upon contact with the frozen turf.

This was supposed to be Manning's Achilles heel, the only thing that could calcify the arm of a generation's greatest quarterback.

Supposed to be, but don't tell Manning.

The quarterback who's supposed to shrink at the thought of freezing weather instead led the Broncos to a 51-28 home victory over the Titans Sunday with a barrage of passes that sliced through the 18-degree (and dropping) air, silencing criticism and paving what should be a clear path to his fifth MVP award and a postseason run.

Sunday was the first step in that process as the Broncos clinched a playoff berth. It was a mere technicality to be crossed off their to-do list with three games to go, but it was also the next step toward holding onto the AFC's best record and a No. 1 seed, which the Broncos (11-2) own by one game over New England. With the Patriots' miracle victory over earlier in the day, keeping that spot was in Manning's gloved hands, and he delivered, with 397 yards passing and four touchdowns.

"He did a superb job," coach John Fox said. "I think our team did a superb job of getting ready for those elements. ... Thursday, Friday and Saturday were pretty frigid, and I thought it was great for us."

Granted, the game wasn't as easy as the final score might indicate.

It started out with seemingly everything breaking against Denver, from a Bronco- on-Bronco injury to a drive in which first Eric Decker and then Wes Welker fell splat on the rock-hard ground with what appeared to be touchdown passes — except, of course, that replays said otherwise.

For the second game in a row, Denver dug itself a hole,this one a 21-10 deficit with 6:58 remaining in the first half. For the second consecutive Sunday, it looked like a lesser team might have the Broncos' number. Then Manning took over, just as he did last week in Kansas City, although this time the mercury wasn't hovering around 50 degrees.

Peyton Manning, in the cold, successful? What is this, madness?

No, it's Manning having his way. In his four cold-weather games wearing a glove as a Bronco, the offense has scored 38, 35, 31 and now 51 points. In other words, all the chatter about Manning not being able to function in the cold is just that, chatter. It's just that this is Manning's first cold-weather victory since 2012, and he's only 2-2 as a Bronco with a glove, but even so, Sunday should end the questioning. Manning, for one, is finished with it.

"Whoever wrote that narrative can shove it where the sun don't shine," he told Denver radio station 850 KOA in an interview after the game.

In his postgame news conference, Manning was a bit softer in his denouncement.

"I mean, I wasn't trying to answer (the criticism), because I didn't give it any validation in the first place," he said. "We had a good plan, and... guys caught the ball well."

Not only did Manning lead the Broncos to victory, he also continued his record- setting clip. With Welker's first-quarter reception, the team became the first to have four players with at least 10 touchdowns apiece in a single season, and it tied the mark set by Manning's 2004 Colts by having three receivers with at least 10 each. This is territory where only Manning has ventured, and he's doing it again at 36, en route to what he hopes will be a second Super Bowl ring.

Add in Manning's four touchdown passes, leaving him with 45 for the season, and Tom Brady's single-season record of 50 is not just in sight, but looming with three games left.

After Sunday,there's no doubt that it'll take more than a cold snap to get in the way of history. The Broncos are done with that c-word.

"They'll find something (to talk about)," defensive tackle Terrance Knighton said. "They'll probably say, well, he's not good... below zero or something. They'll find something, but I consider us a weatherproof team, and he's a Super Bowl champ. We're not really worried about that. We'll play anywhere, any weather, any conditions."

No one should be surprised by what Manning and offensive coordinator Adam Gase finagled on Sunday. They learned their lesson the hard way in New England two weeks ago, that conservative play-calling just doesn't work, especially when their defense is as porous as this makeshift unit has become. Plus, Manning was clearly agitated with all the talk of his cold-weather troubles, so he ended it, simple as that. After weeks of talking about Manning in the cold, and New York, and how Mother Nature might conspire to rob Denver, Sunday's game solidified the notion that the conversation needs to shift. As the score bobbed upwards, it was the Broncos' defense, not Manning's arm, that likely gave Broncos' fans cause for concern.

When a quarterback is on pace to shatter NFL records, he can only be an asset.

"Whatever it takes, he's going to execute and put the ball where it needs to be," tight end Julius Thomas, who caught his 11th touchdown pass of the season Sunday.

Manning is going to dazzle, even when his calls hang heavy in the air like smoke. Whether the rest of his team can follow suit remains to be seen, but on Sunday, Manning made his statement, as amazing to Denver as it was terrifying to the rest of the NFL.

Titans can't maintain pace they set in first half in loss to Broncos

By Irv Moss The Denver Post December 9, 2013

The first 21 points looked easy, but those were not nearly enough for the Tennessee Titans in a scoring race with quarterback Peyton Manning and the Broncos.

The Titans finally added seven second-half points but were buried by the Broncos, 51-28.

Titans wide receiver Justin Hunter had success against Denver's defense, including a 41-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter, going up mostly against rookie Kayvon Webster. Hunter finished with four catches for 114 yards. He also made a 57-yard catch to the Denver 1-yard line on the game's first series that led to a quick 7-0 Tennessee advantage.

"We knew their secondary was missing some people," Hunter said. "But we pretty much stayed with our game plan. We didn't single out anybody. We had success early and couldn't keep it up."

Tennessee led 21-20 at the half, but quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick figured it would take a similar output in the second half to keep pace.

"We knew coming in we were going to have to put the pedal to the metal all game long," said Fitzpatrick, who completed 13-of-24 passes for 172 yards. "Even though we had a lead in the first half, we knew they were going to put a lot of points up in the second half. We've seen them do that a lot this year."

Tennessee coach lamented numerous missed chances.

"We got some momentum early, but we needed to get to 24 or 28 points, and we didn't," he said.

The Titans seemed to lose some aggressiveness late in the first half, a factor that led to the Broncos getting the ball back in the final seconds with enough time to allow kicker Matt Prater to boot a record-setting 64-yard field goal.

That kick had Denver celebrating while running in to get warmed up.

The Titans had possession at their 20-yard line with 1:50 left in the half. Three short pass plays resulted in 4 yards and a punt. A false-start penalty put the Broncos back at their 10-yard line with 52 seconds left, but that would be enough time to get into Prater's range.

"We were in a tough spot on the field, and they were getting some pressure with the rush, so we tried some things that were a little more conservative," Munchak said. "We didn't want to take the chance of turning the ball over. When we had the lead, we needed to find a way to make another play."

Matt Prater sets NFL record for longest field goal

By Nick Groke The Denver Post December 8, 2013

Matt Prater put the Broncos in the record book after the Denver kicker connected for a 64-yard field at Sports Authority Field against Tennessee — and he now holds the NFL record for longest field goal.

Prater’s FG was one yard longer than the previous record, first set by ’ Tom Dempsey in 1970. Dempsey’s record had since been matched, first by Denver’s Jason Elam (in 1998), then by Oakland’s Sebastian Janikowski in 2011, then San Francisco’s David Akers in 2012.

Of course, some people will downplay Prater’s record by claiming it only happened in Denver’s high altitude.

But the altitude was at least partly negated by the cold weather in Denver. It was 14 degrees when Prater hit the 64-yarder.

Hochman: Broncos break out for big second-half behind Matt Prater

By Benjamin Hochman The Denver Post December 8, 2013

The hero would be transported home in a chariot of Lucchese leather, his prized right foot (and, for symmetry, his irrelevant left one, too) nestled inside size-10½ brown boots.

"Regular leather boots, real comfortable," said Broncos kicker Matt Prater, sounding something like Brett Favre in a Wrangler commercial. "You get a nice pair of boots, there's nothing better. Now I'm going to have to wear those boots to every game."

They're Lucky Luccheses.

Prater kicked an NFL record 64-yard field goal to end Sunday's first half — holder Britton Colquitt quipped, "The longest hold in NFL history" — and Prater did so in 14-degree weather.

"I saw the refs' hands go up," he said, "and I don't even know what happened next."

You see the final score — 51-28, Denver — and you remember the kick and the team's utter offensive dominance, and you forget that this thing was once 21-10 Titans.

There are, like, 37 reasons this Broncos team is so good, but an almost unnoticed one is their ability to consistently score on their first possession of the second half. In 13 games, Denver has scored nine times on its opening second-half possession. Those are demoralizing daggers, especially for a defense that just spent halftime regrouping to face Peyton Manning.

But it wasn't just that touchdown. The Broncos scored a touchdown with 1:50 left in the second quarter, making it 21-17, then forced a punt and squeezed in time for the historic kick as the clock hit 00:00. It was suddenly 21-20, Titans.

But, the avalanche had begun.

"The whole team almost rushed the field after that kick, so it definitely was a momentum swing," Prater said. "We were still down by one, but it seemed like we just hit a game-winner or were up a lot. Britton and I were joking, 'Aren't we still down by one right now?' " Momentum. It's easy to be incredulous about the incalculable. The huge swing in emotions turned this game.

The Broncos scored on the first drive of the second half, a march that featured some vintage Demaryius Thomas, and Denver scored again on its next drive, too. In the second half the Broncos rolled, 31-7.

Two of the four games that Denver didn't score on its first possession in the second half were, sure enough, the two losses. Eight of the nine scores have been touchdowns.

So, Peyton, why are the Broncos so effective to start the second half?

"We make adjustments, but a lot of times, it's just executing the plan," Manning explained. "We had some momentum going into the half — the touchdown and Prater's kick and that definitely does lift your team up. We got the ball in the second half and had a good mix of the run and pass. Guys did a good job coming out of the halftime ready to play — and to play fast."

As for Prater — and Prater's right foot — Sunday's boot (the kick, not the Luccheses) will be forever part of Broncos lore. And yes, some snarky people might point out that the 64-yarder was made at a mile high.

But, explained Prater, the leatherman playing weatherman: "The temperature takes out the altitude factor, I'd say. So people will say it was in Denver like Sebastian Janikowski and Jason Elam in the altitude, but the 10-degree weather takes out the altitude."

And kicking a cold ball compared to a regular ball, well, "It's a lot worse, especially the first couple kicks," he said. "By that time, though, my foot was numb."

Prater kicks record 64-yard field goal

By Arnie Stapleton Associated Press December 8, 2013

DENVER (AP) — Matt Prater had a cold, and was dealing with icy temperatures and history as he lined up to kick the frigid football from his 46-yard line.

Nobody in the NFL had ever kicked a football through the uprights from this far away — 64 yards.

Tom Dempsey, Jason Elam, Sebastian Janikowski, David Akers. They had all done it from 63 yards.

Yet even as his right foot was numb, Prater's nerves were calm.

Tight end Jacob Tamme would tell him after Denver's 51-28 win over Tennessee a couple hours later that he stepped out of bounds at the Titans 46 on purpose so that he'd get a shot at the record. And for that, he owes him a steak dinner.

Prater cleared his mind, intent on not changing his routine.

"I just try to treat all those long ones the same and just basically try to blast them and hopefully they go straight," he said.

It was 14 degrees, clear, a slight breeze at his back.

"I felt like I hit it pretty good. And I didn't know. I honestly thought it was going to be really close."

As he tracked the ball on its descent, Prater noticed Titans kick returner Leon Washington waiting to return the ball if it fell short. "And I saw him backing up, so I was like, 'Oh, gosh, we might actually have to cover this.'"

Broncos coach John Fox said he's sure everybody in the stadium was thinking of the great game last month when Chris Davis returned a missed field-goal attempt 100 yards for a TD on the final play to lift Auburn to a win over then-No. 1 Alabama, upending the two-time defending national champion's BCS hopes and preserving the Tigers' own.

"That was a concern," Fox said. "But he nailed it."

All Washington could do was turn and watch it clear the crossbar, a birds-eye view of the historic kick. "I saw it all the way. It went maybe 3 inches over the bar, so good job by him," said Washington, who trotted off with his head down as the officials raised their arms on either side of him and the Broncos celebrated like they'd won the game already.

The Broncos still trailed 21-20 at halftime.

"Even though we were down one if felt like it was tied or almost like we had the lead," Peyton Manning would say after the Broncos finished off the Titans.

Holder Britton Colquitt jumped on Prater's back before they headed toward the tunnel.

"I think he was more excited than I was," Prater said.

Prater added a 19-yarder in the second half after the Broncos failed to score from the 1-yard line.

That means, Prater had both the longest and the shortest field goals in the same game.

"Yeah, it's a good day at the office," Prater said.

And he treated both the same — almost.

"Well, the 19-yarder you'd better not miss it," Prater said. "That's the only difference."

His 64-yarder bested the record of 63 set by New Orleans' club-footed Dempsey in 1970 and tied by Denver's Elam in 1998, Oakland's Janikowski in 2011 and San Francisco's Akers last season.

Janikowski's and Elam's kicks also came in Denver's thin air.

Prater will counter anybody's argument over the altitude with the fact it was freezing on this day.

"Yes, it kind of takes out the altitude factor," he said.

Normally before games Prater tests out his range on both goal posts but it was so cold — 18 degrees at kickoff, 14 when he set the record — that he didn't bother.

"I didn't really test it out too much because it was so cold I didn't think we would kick one that far. I went back to I think 61 maybe," Prater said.

With the Broncos trailing 21-17, though, he knew anything from 64 and in was a go. "Yeah, I'd say that was the limit," Prater said.

He never would have attempted one from that far going toward the other end zone and into the wind.

While his teammates couldn't wait for hot showers, Prater spent 10 minutes in the cold tub after the game.

"I always cold tub after the game to help freshen up my legs," he said. "Kickers are all weird."

Except that he stands alone now.

Titans can't slow down Broncos in 51-28 loss

By Arnie Stapleton Associated Press December 8, 2013

DENVER (AP) — It was cold enough for Mike Munchak. Just not windy or wet like he had hoped.

Tennessee's coach was pining for the wild, wintry weather that hit so many other NFL cities Sunday because he figured that would slow down Peyton Manning and Denver's high-octane offense.

But that system had already moved through Denver, which is still stuck in a deep freeze.

It was clear and cold — 18 degrees at kickoff, about half that by game's end, when the Broncos walked off 51-28 winners, having become the first team since the 1969 to top 50 points three times in a season.

Even the cold couldn't prevent Matt Prater from setting an NFL record with a 64- yard field goal as the first half expired, pulling the Broncos to 21-20 at halftime and giving them momentum for a second-half onslaught that buried the Titans (5-8), who had lost by double-digits just once all season.

"Even when we are coming here, I didn't really think that cold weather would affect the game unless it was backed up by heavy wind or gusts or something that would create issues with throwing the football or kicking the football," Munchak said.

"When you play those games when it's wet, and obviously with it being this cold, we knew this game wouldn't be that way, so I don't know if the game was affected at all by the weather."

Manning sure wasn't.

He completed 39 of 59 passes for 397 yards and four touchdowns. His 39 completions were a Broncos franchise record and one shy of his career best set against Houston in 2010.

Manning also became the first quarterback in nine years to throw at least four TD passes with the temperature below 20 degrees and the first player in five years to throw for at least 390 yards in sub-20 degree weather.

So much for the notion that the four-time MVP crumbles in the cold. "They were in rhythm," Titans cornerback said. "Peyton was throwing the ball on the money. For the most part it seemed like we were in good, tough coverage but you have to give them kudos, they were making plays. We were hanging in there and playing well in the beginning, but then they just took off like a rocket."

The Titans jumped to a 21-10 lead on Shonn Greene's TD runs of 1 and 28 yards sandwiched around Chris Johnson's 3-yard run.

"I thought the guys came out with a lot of excitement and passion to play a good football team in a tough spot to win," Munchak said. "I thought we came out and made some plays early, especially on offense."

It didn't last. Manning took over and the Broncos (11-2) outscored Tennessee 41-7.

Ryan Fitzpatrick was held to 13 completions, 172 yards and one TD. He was also intercepted by defensive tackle Terrance Knighton, one of two turnovers by the Titans.

"We knew coming in to this game we were going to have to put the pedal to the medal all game long," Fitzpatrick said. "Even though we had a lead in the first half, we knew they were going to put a lot of points up in the second half. We've seen them do that a lot this year.

"Obviously, with number 18 on the other side being the player he is and the offense they run, we knew it would have to be an error-free game for us. The two turnovers gave him two extra possessions. That's not a good thing when you're playing against him."

Manning threw TD passes to each of his four big targets: Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas and Eric Decker. Knowshon Moreno ran for 78 yards and Montee Ball gained 77.

"It was cold outside but it wasn't the conditions that you saw on the East Coast with the and the different conditions," Titans safety Michael Griffin said. "It was a cold game, but it was easy to catch the ball, it was easy to throw the ball."

At least for the Broncos.

NOTES: Tennessee WR Kenny Britt was a healthy inactive. ... Munchak said there were no injuries of note.

5 things to know after Broncos beat Titans 51-28

By Eddie Pells Associated Press December 9, 2013

DENVER (AP) — All season, Matt Prater has been an afterthought on a team that's rewriting the record books on the strength of Peyton Manning's passing arm.

Now, the Broncos kicker has his name next to one of the most hallowed NFL marks of all.

Prater booted a 64-yard field goal to highlight Denver's 51-28 victory over Tennessee on Sunday, brushing aside the mark of 63 yards that was first set by Tom Dempsey, the club-footed Saints kicker, all the way back in 1970.

"I knew I hit it pretty good, but I just wasn't sure with the cold and everything if it was going to make it," Prater said. "But when I saw the refs' hands go up, I can't even explain how I felt after."

Yes, it was cold — 18 degrees at kickoff. But on a day supposedly not well-suited for kicking or throwing, Manning joined Prater in merely laughing at the weather. Manning also sent a message in his own special way to the folks who've been questioning his ability to play when it's cold.

"I won't try to answer it because I didn't give it any validation in the first place," said the quarterback, who is 4-7 in games where the temperature is 32 or below at kickoff.

Manning completed a franchise-record 39 passes. His 59 attempts tied the Broncos mark. He finished with 397 yards and this marked his seventh four-touchdown game, most in NFL history in a season. By outscoring the Titans (5-8) 31-7 in the second half, the Broncos (11-2) wrapped up a playoff spot that was all but a foregone conclusion.

They still need wins to secure the AFC West and home-field advantage. But their last three opponents, starting Thursday with San Diego, have a combined record of 12-27. It will be an upset if the Broncos lose — or if Manning fails to break the single-season touchdowns record. He has 45 and needs six more.

Five things we learned from Denver's chilly victory over Tennessee:

IT'S NOT THE COLD: Manning is now 2-2 in cold games with the Broncos. The two victories came over Kansas City last year and Tennessee this year, teams with a combined .259 winning percentage. The two losses came to , the eventual Super Bowl champions, in last season's playoffs and New England this year. The newest thought on Manning and the weather: It's more who he's going against than the conditions he's playing them in.

PLAYOFF CHATTER: The Titans are now playing to finish at .500. A playoff spot, however, is a very remote possibility. Though they got off to a wonderful start — a 57-yard pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Justin Hunter on the game's fourth play set up an early touchdown — Tennessee couldn't sustain against a team with this much firepower. As a result, the Titans are closing in on their fifth straight season without a playoff appearance. "I'm not worrying about that," coach Mike Munchak said. "You're going to see us at our best the next three games."

WES WORRIES: Wes Welker took a blow to the head in the second quarter and left with a concussion. It's his second concussion in four games. With a short turnaround, it would be a surprise if he's ready for the Chargers. It's quite a loss, of course. Though he played only a half, Manning targeted him 10 times and he caught five passes for 61 yards and a touchdown.

THE GOOD AND THE BAD: The Broncos defense was unimpressive early, allowing big plays and three touchdowns over the first 23 minutes. In the end, however, Tennessee converted only two of nine third downs and ran only 48 plays, compared to 91 for the Broncos offense. And the Titans gained only 254 yards, the lowest total the Broncos have allowed all season. Meanwhile, special teams gave up a 95- yard return. But a day in which the kicker sets an NFL record almost has to be viewed as a good one.

BRIGHT FUTURE: Hunter, the Titans rookie second-round draft pick, caught four passes for 115 yards and a score. He has now surpassed the 100-yard mark twice in the last three games. It's a bright sign for an offense in desperate need of some playmakers — a need made that much more glaring on a day when Chris Johnson gained only 46 yards and averaged 3.8 per carry.

Wes Welker leaves Broncos game with concussion

Associated Press December 8, 2013

DENVER (AP) — Broncos receiver Wes Welker left Sunday's game against Tennessee before halftime with a concussion.

Welker went low to try to make a catch late in the second quarter and Titans safety Bernard Pollard hit him in the helmet as he went down to break up the pass.

Welker had caught five passes for 61 yards and a touchdown before he got injured.

He walked off the field under his own power but did not come back after halftime. It is his second concussion in four weeks. He left the Nov. 17 game against Kansas City but played the next week.

Bailey misses his 10th game of the season

Associated Press December 8, 2013

DENVER (AP) — Champ Bailey is missing his 10th game of the season, sitting out against Tennessee a week after returning against Kansas City.

Bailey has been bothered by a nagging left foot injury since August. He played the first half last week against the Chiefs and practiced all week, but was downgraded Friday from probable to questionable.

Also out for the Broncos are Trindon Holliday, Ronnie Hillman, J.D. Walton, Chris Kuper, Derek Wolfe and Zac Dysert. Wolfe is missing his second game since suffering a seizure-like episode on Nov. 30.

Slumping receiver Kenny Britt is a healthy inactive for the Titans.

Other inactives for Tennessee are John Skelton, Damian Williams, Micah Pellerin, Byron Stingily, Delanie Walker and .

Manning fires back at cold-weather critics

By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com December 8, 2013

DENVER -- Sometimes even Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will drop his guard a bit and let an honest-to-the-bone opinion fly.

And while he played it straight earlier this week when repeatedly asked if he was a different player in cold-weather games, Manning was, shall we say, slightly more expansive in a postgame interview for the Broncos’ flagship station KOA 850-AM.

Manning finished the Broncos' 51-28 victory with 397 yards passing and four touchdowns. Moments after the game was over, in response to a question about those who question his cold-weather play, Manning said:

“Whoever wrote that narrative can shove it where the sun don’t shine.’’

Earlier in the week Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase had raised his hackles as well when asked if Manning has gotten a bad rap for his cold-weather play.

“I’ve only been around him two years, but the thing that pisses me off more than anything is I don’t want anybody else as my quarterback,’’ Gase said Thursday. “I’m going to go in with him every Sunday. It’s a great feeling to have when you’ve got him back there, you know your chances of winning are pretty good. When you don’t have a guy like that, and I’ve been in that spot a lot, and that [expletive]. So I’ll take [Manning] any day of the week.’’

Broncos give cold shoulder to Titans

By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com December 8, 2013

DENVER -- When the mercury can crawl only to 18 degrees at kickoff, everything is cold -- frozen hard like stone -- including the facts.

And on a frigid, largely windless day, the fact is some folks just may have to rethink the whole Peyton-Manning-in-the-cold thing, at least a little bit. The fact is the Denver Broncos lead in scoring with 515 points, Sunday's 51-28 victory against the Tennessee Titans was the Broncos’ third 50-point effort of the season and they have already set a single-season scoring record for the franchise with three games remaining.

The fact is the Broncos still have the inside track for a division title and the coveted No. 1 seed in the AFC. The fact is their defense still needs some attention. The fact is injuries that have eroded the defense have taken a bite out of the special teams units as well.

And the bottom-line fact to all of that -- 11-2 is still 11-2.

"It’s winning. I don’t care if you win by five or 50 to be honest with you," Broncos coach John Fox said. "This game is only fun if you win and it doesn’t matter if you’re playing it, coaching it, or probably being a fan of it."

So when it’s right-down-to-the-bone cold, as it had been all week in Denver, including Sunday, the fun of winning comes when you line up, mano a mano and ... throw it 59 times. Manning finished with a franchise record 39 completions on a record-tying 59 attempts for 397 yards and four touchdowns.

And after days’ worth of debate over his below-freezing worthiness and with little or no wind to impede him, Manning was not sacked, did not throw an interception and pushed his season touchdown total to 45 with three games to play. The league’s single-season record of 50, set by Tom Brady in 2007, is now within his expansive reach.

Asked following the game if he felt like he had sent a message against the Titans, Manning said: "I wasn’t trying to answer it because I didn’t give it any validation in the first place. We had a good plan and I thought we threw the ball well and guys caught the ball well."

"I’m sure he’s tired of hearing it," Broncos tight end Julius Thomas said of all of the cold-weather talk. "He’s been playing great all season, he’s been playing great his entire career and just to hear people nit-picking about something like the cold, for him to be able to come out there and put 50 on the board and put that whole cold thing to bed, I’m sure he’ll be happy to see that behind him tomorrow."

But more importantly for the Broncos, their offense was again the trump card. Because for all the Broncos have done this season, they don’t always come out of the blocks with their best and Sunday was the fourth time they have trailed by at least 11 points and eventually won. They trailed 14-0 in Dallas, but won 51-48; trailed the Redskins 21-7, but won 45-21 with a 31-point fourth quarter; trailed 21- 7 to the Chiefs in Arrowhead last weekend, but won 35-28; and trailed the Titans 21-10 Sunday before finally getting the pedal to the floor.

"We know what we have the capability and potential to do," Julius Thomas said. "All year we’ve been proving if we get things going we can be explosive and put points up on that scoreboard."

So, depending on which side of the half-full glass discourse you come down on it means the Broncos fast-lane work on offense can iron out their wrinkles or the reasons for those slow starts, especially those last two, are cause for at least a raised eyebrow if not some outright concern. A week ago in Kansas City it was two interceptions by Manning, a defense that couldn’t turn the Chiefs away following the mistakes and a 108-yard kickoff return by Kansas City’s Knile Davis that powered the Chiefs early.

Sunday it was two long drives by the Titans -- a five-play, 73-yard affair to go with an eight-play, 89-yard effort -- to go with a 95-yard kickoff return that led to a one-play scoring drive that had the Titans in front. An injury-riddled defense was also turned over a bit by , who kept starters such as Wesley Woodyard and safety Duke Ihenacho on the sideline for much of the day.

Fox said following the game Woodyard was "rested a bit" because of a neck injury he suffered earlier this season, but both Woodyard and Ihenacho were used on special teams plenty as they watched Paris Lenon and Omar Bolden, respectively, play in their spots on defense. And while the final numbers won’t raise too many red flags overall -- 254 total yards for the Titans, 152 of those in the first half -- the starts are an issue as was the 24-point lead that got away against the Patriots.

"We took a look at some other guys a little bit [Sunday] to develop that throughout the rest of the season," Fox said. "We’re not satisfied at this point, there’s room for improvement and I’m not ashamed to say it."

The roster juggling on that side of the depth chart has leaked into the Broncos’ special teams units, which opened the season with two blocked punts and two touchdown returns by Trindon Holliday, who didn’t play Sunday because of a shoulder injury, in the season’s first month. Leon Washington’s 95-yard return in the first quarter put the Titans on the 3-yard line in the first quarter. The Broncos also had a 104-yard touchdown return by Andre Caldwell called back because of a penalty on rookie Kayvon Webster. It’s all part of the can-they-win-it-all tapestry wrapped around the Broncos these days.

"There's no exhaling," Broncos linebacker Von Miller said. "Just keep pushing and pushing each week."

"And we’re 11-2," defensive tackle Terrance Knighton said. "We know there are things we need to do better, and we will. But we’re 11-2, and that’s just a fact."

Rapid Reaction: Denver Broncos

By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com December 8, 2013

DENVER -- A few thoughts on the Denver Broncos' 51-28 win over the Tennessee Titans:

What it means: With the win, the Broncos, in largely throw-first mode for much of the day despite a kickoff temperature of 18 degrees, kept their hold on the top spot in both AFC West as well as the race for home-field advantage in the AFC. The Broncos are 11-2, with the (10-3) and (10-3) right behind in the AFC. The Broncos have swept the Chiefs already this season.

Stock watch: It always seems to come down to a kicker at some point in the postseason for any Super Bowl hopeful, and the Broncos continue to feel good about the range and accuracy of Matt Prater, even in a season when the Broncos have scored so many touchdowns. His NFL-record 64-yard field goal on the last play of the first half was his 20th made field goal of at least 50 yards in his career with the Broncos.

Mix it up: With injuries starting to impact the depth chart on defense, the Broncos continue to search for answers on that side of the ball. They used a variety of personnel groupings that didn't include two of their starters much of the time. Linebacker Wesley Woodyard and safety Duke Ihenacho were replaced by Paris Lenon and Omar Bolden, respectively, much of the time in the base 4-3 defense. Woodyard and Ihenacho were not injured and played regularly on special teams. The Broncos also used Quentin Jammer at cornerback in the base defense in place of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

Both sides of the coin: The Broncos keep hoping linebacker Von Miller can consistently be the kind of impact player he was last season. Miller took a terrible roughing-the-passer penalty in the second quarter, a clear helmet-to-helmet hit on Titans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick that likely will cost Miller some money. But he also tipped a pass in the third quarter that resulted in an interception and forced a Chris Johnson fumble in the fourth quarter that safety Mike Adams recovered. He added a sack.

What's next: A battered and bruised team gets a short week late in the season. The Broncos host the San Diego Chargers on Thursday, a game Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker is unlikely to play in after leaving Sunday's game with a concussion.

Wes Welker suffers concussion

By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com December 8, 2013

DENVER -- Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker left Sunday's win over the Tennessee Titans just before halftime with a concussion and did not return to the game.

Welker is now subject to the NFL's concussion protocol, which will include baseline testing Monday. However, even if Welker were to be cleared for activity this week with that exam, the protocol would preclude him from playing in Thursday night's game against the San Diego Chargers.

Following Sunday's game, Broncos coach John Fox called Welker's concussion "our only significant injury."

The concussion protocol states that a player who is cleared for activity the day after suffering the concussion can only take part in the non-contact portions of practice on Thursday and the first day of full participation in practice can be Friday following the injury.

It is the second concussion Welker has suffered in the last four games. Welker left the Nov. 17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, but played the following week in New England.

He suffered Sunday's as he tried to go low to get a pass just before halftime. With 35 seconds remaining in the first half, Peyton Manning tried to hit Welker over the middle. Welker went low for the ball and Titans safety Bernard Pollard crashed into Welker's head and neck.

Welker had five catches for 61 yards and a touchdown when he left the game.

For the season Welker is second on the team in catches (73) and tied for second in touchdowns with 10. Tight end Jacob Tamme lined up in Welker's spot, in the slot, for the remainder of the game.

Matt Prater hits record 64-yard FG

By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com December 8, 2013

DENVER -- It was almost an out-of-place celebration, but when Matt Prater's kick was up and good for the Denver Broncos just before halftime Sunday, most of his teammates rushed the field to mob Prater in a game the Broncos were still losing, 21-20, at the time.

But history has a way of doing that to people.

Prater's kick, out of an Aaron Brewer snap and a Britton Colquitt hold, set a new NFL record, at 64 yards, and it also gave the Broncos a tidy boost along the way as they went on to a 51-28 victory at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

"Such an awesome moment, I'm glad it came in a win," Prater said. "It was crazy, it was awesome because almost the whole team rushed the field after that kick. It definitely was a momentum swing."

"No doubt it energized our team," coach John Fox said.

Prater's kick broke the NFL record of 63 yards, held by Tom Dempsey (1970), former Broncos kicker Jason Elam (1998), Sebastian Janikowski (2011) and David Akers (2012).

Janikowski had also missed on a 64-yard attempt in 2007, and missed a 76-yard attempt in 2008.

Three of the five kicks of at least 63 yards have been made in Denver as Elam's and Janikowski's 63-yarders were also made at the Broncos' home stadium, which sits at an elevation of 5,280 feet.

However, a kicking ball and the temperature measured at 14 degrees just after Prater made the kick, might have eliminated, in Prater's opinion, at least some of the aid to be found in Denver's thin air.

"It was little tough [Sunday], especially the first couple kicks, but by that time my foot was numb anyway," Prater said with a smile. "I felt like I hit it pretty good, but I didn't know, but I honestly thought it was going to be real close, but they put the return guy back there and I saw him backing up and thought I was going to have to cover this ... I was just trying to blast it and I thought I hit it pretty well."

The Broncos took over on their own 15-yard line with just 52 seconds remaining in the first half. After a false start penalty to open the drive, the Broncos moved to their own 46-yard line in six plays, including an 18-yard completion from Peyton Manning to Demaryius Thomas to convert a third-and-10, to go with a 7-yard completion from Manning to tight end Jacob Tamme put the Broncos in position for the kick with three seconds remaining in the half. Prater consistently hits 60- yarders in pregame warm-ups, and consistently hits kicks longer than 60 yard in practice saying "I've hit them in the 70s in practice."

It was the 20th kick of at least 50 yards Prater has made in his career. He is now 20-of-26 on attempts of at least 50 yards, the most accurate mark since the AFL- NFL merger in 1970 for kickers with at least 20 of those attempts.

"I knew he had the leg for it,'' said Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker.

"We've got a lot of confidence in Matt's leg," Fox said. "You always kind of dream of that opportunity occurring and then being able to kick it. In those conditions, it was really pretty miraculous. It was a great kick ... He nailed it. We just got done giving him a game ball for breaking that record."

NFL Week 14 Studs and Duds

By Kevin Seifert ESPN.com December 8, 2013

The descent of a surprise snowstorm on the East Coast brought some instant warnings Sunday afternoon. Namely: Look at what could be in store for Super Bowl XLVIII, to be played outside in 's MetLife Stadium.

The implication, of course, is that snowy conditions could alter the natural course of events, giving the championship to a team that wouldn't have otherwise won it. But all Sunday's games did was elevate the entertainment level -- an NFL record 90 touchdowns were scored Sunday -- and give us an experience that fans and observers rarely see. Nothing I saw Sunday told me that the eventual loser would have won in normal conditions. It required adjustments for each winner to pull it off, of course, but to me that's part of being a winning team. If you can't adjust to adversity in the Super Bowl, you probably aren't a championship team.

The snow games will figure prominently in our weekly "Studs and Duds" post, which will also include the now-obligatory section dedicated to officiating.

STUDS

1. All-time drama, Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens: A 7-6 game after three quarters ended in a 29-26 final, with an NFL-record six lead changes in the fourth quarter and the shortest span (2 minutes, 5 seconds) featuring five combined touchdowns in the past 50 years, per the Elias Sports Bureau. In succession, the game produced: a 1-yard touchdown catch, a 41-yard touchdown run, a 77-yard kickoff return, a 79-yard touchdown pass and a winning touchdown from Joe Flacco to Marlon Brown with four seconds remaining. It was the darndest thing you've ever seen, and it was great to see two teams that really, really wanted to win. But in the end, the better team won. That's what I'm saying about weather affecting a game without influencing the final result. The Ravens won because their two-minute offense is way ahead of the Vikings' two-minute defense, which has now given up last-possession touchdowns in four losses this season.

Gordon 2. Josh Gordon, receiver: Were it not for the New England Patriots' incredible comeback, you would be hearing more about Gordon's 185 yards rushing/receiving. He ran away from the Patriots' defense for an 80-yard touchdown and now leads the NFL in receiving yards (1,400). Gordon, in fact, has 649 receiving yards in his past three games and 774 in his past four, the most in a four-game stretch in NFL history. Through 14 weeks of the season, it's safe to say that Gordon should be the most feared receiver in the game other than . Can you believe that earlier this season it was reasonable to wonder whether the Browns would trade him for the same reason they shipped out running back ? Suddenly the Browns have one of the most potent weapons in the game.

3. Rushing offense, Eagles: Evaluating NFL play is always a tricky balance. Did the successful team play well? Or did its opponent play poorly? I'm going to choose the former as giving credit to an Eagles offense that rushed for 299 yards, including 223 in the fourth quarter, against a team that had allowed an average of 40.6 rushing yards over its past six games. I know that Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy said the team played "soft" defense, but it's not as though Sunday was the Eagles' first success in running the ball. LeSean McCoy's 217-yard day raised his league-leading total to 1,305 yards this season. Much of the Eagles' fourth-quarter success came via the zone-read (204 yards), but in the end, the Eagles went strength against strength and demolished the Lions at their own game.

Harbaugh 4. Jim Harbaugh, : A running joke carried us through much of the NFL Nation blitz chat during the 49ers' 19-17 victory over the : The 49ers weren't going to win with field goals. That's often the case when facing an elite team like the Seahawks. But this game never seemed like the kind of score-fest that would leave behind a team making conservative decisions in scoring position. Instead, it was an instance that projected relatively few scoring opportunities. The most important task, it seemed, was to get something in each case. I like to see teams play aggressively on fourth down, especially early in a game, but I didn't blame Harbaugh for ordering a 23-yard field goal on fourth-and- 1 in the first quarter. Nor was I bent out of shape when he played for a field goal on the winning drive. There are times to play it safe, and when your own defense is holding the opponent in check, Sunday at seemed like one of them. I like analytics, but I also think context is important. Based on how the game was going -- including quarterback Colin Kaepernick's shaky performance -- the 49ers seemed more likely to lose by making a mistake on a throw to the end zone than by their defense allowing the Seahawks to get into position for a winning field goal.

Prater 5. Matt Prater, Denver Broncos place-kicker: Prater broke the NFL record with a 64- yard field goal just before halftime of the Broncos' 51-28 victory over the Tennessee Titans. And immediately, there were calls to qualify the record given Denver's well-chronicled altitude. (I'm told the city sits a mile higher than sea level.) So it's important to note that cold temperatures also impact field goals, and at kickoff Sunday, it was 18 degrees at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Brian Burke of NFL Advanced Stats published this analysis of cold-weather field goal attempts in January 2012, finding that long-distance attempts lose 5 yards of distance for every 30 degrees colder than the ideal. The graph available via the link provides a visual look at the impact. So let's be careful about downgrading Prater's accomplishment.

DUDS Ward 1. Haters of T.J. Ward, Cleveland Browns safety: According to ESPN and media reports, Ward's hit on Patriots tight end likely caused a season- ending ACL injury. The play could have dramatic consequences on the AFC playoff race, considering the Patriots' struggles earlier this season without Gronkowski, but it's wrong to blame Ward for a dirty or even an unethical hit. Ward had two choices in this instance. He could have hit Gronkowski low and threatened his knee. Or he could have hit him high and risked not only a concussion (or two) but also a 15- yard penalty, a fine and a possible ejection. I've heard from some knowledgeable football people who saw an opportunity for a third option -- a good, legal, strong hit to the chest -- but I don't think we're going to see many players reposition themselves at full speed for that kind of hit. I also question whether Ward at 200 pounds would have brought Gronkowski (265 pounds) to the ground with that kind of tackle attempt. Regardless, at full speed, it seems to me that the options are high and low. And we know what the NFL prefers. ACL injuries are up, but fortunately, we have seen only a handful of serious injuries this season that can be connected to intentionally low hits. I'm not sure what else Ward could or should have done in this situation.

2. Jeff Triplette, referee: Sunday brought us another series of baffling officiating decisions, but for the most part I thought we were making progress. In most cases, the controversies originated from judgment calls and not from the kind of administrative and game-flow mistakes that have plagued the NFL this season. But Triplette's reversal and subsequent awarding of a touchdown to the Bengals was so egregious that it should fall in the same black-and-white category as his failure to keep the downs straight in last week's game at FedEx Field. On fourth down, Triplette's crew originally called running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis down by contact before he crossed into the end zone. Replays indicated some question about whether Green-Ellis was ever touched, but they came nowhere close to being "indisputable evidence." Triplette reversed the call regardless, giving the Bengals a touchdown on a play where the Indianapolis Colts would have gained possession. To its credit, the NFL has worked to demystify officiating this season. But we might not know how the past two weeks will impact Triplette's standing until we see the list of 2014 referee assignments next summer.

3. Dan Snyder, Washington Redskins owner: Say what you want about the timing and potential source of Dan Graziano's report Sunday morning for ESPN, one that indicated coach Mike Shanahan nearly resigned in January 2013 and that he is put off by Snyder's relationship with quarterback Robert Griffin III. Shanahan certainly deserves some blame for the Redskins' disappointing season. But it's Snyder's franchise, and this is not the first season in his tenure -- nor the first coaching reign -- that has descended into bitter backbiting. In the big picture, Snyder is well on the way to losing his sixth coach in 14 years. Shanahan and Joe Gibbs are two of the NFL's best coaches in the past 40 years, and neither will have made it past four seasons under Snyder. There is only one common thread to be seen. The buck has to stop there. I don't have an answer for why the Redskins aren't more successful under Snyder, but the fact is that he is now into his second decade presiding over perennially disappointing and drama-filled teams. It's on him and him alone to figure it out.

4. Detroit Lions: No team in the NFL has been handed a bigger gift than the Lions, who are by far the healthiest and as a result most talented team in the NFC North. The have played nearly six full games without quarterback . Most of the Bears' best defensive players are injured, and the Vikings have started three different quarterbacks this season. If there were ever a year for the Lions to break through as a division champion, it's this one. What have they done with the opportunity? They lost for the third time in five games Sunday, suffering that epic defensive collapse in the fourth quarter while also fumbling seven times (losing three) in snowy Philadelphia. They are now 7-6, barely ahead of the Bears (6-6) and the Packers (6-6-1). If the Lions don't win the NFC North this season, given the head start they've received, it'll be time to move on from the Jim Schwartz era.

Allen 5. Dennis Allen, Oakland Raiders coach: The truth is that we can't be certain who decided it was a good idea to set aside the third series Sunday for former starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Allen is the head coach, so it was presumably his call unless someone higher in the Raiders' chain of command wanted to see Pryor get more snaps before the end of this rebuilding season. (You never know in Oakland.) Rookie starter Matt McGloin might not be a better alternative, but purposely rotating quarterbacks is a low-level college move that should never happen in the NFL. The rhythm, chemistry and timing required of a successful NFL quarterback can't be attained by using multiple players at the position. I'm guessing Allen thought better of the plan, or at least I hope so. Pryor played only one series. If the plan was to use Pryor only once, then it was even nuttier than originally contemplated.

Week 14: Hanging tough

By John Clayton ESPN.com December 8, 2013

Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh summed up Sunday's 29-26 victory over the Minnesota Vikings perfectly.

"Will we ever see another game like that again?" Harbaugh said.

Game Balls

Offense: Eagles RB LeSean McCoy had no problem in the bad field conditions. He ran for 217 yards on 29 carries and scored two touchdowns in a 34-20 victory over the Lions.

Defense: Cardinals DE John Abraham had three sacks, three quarterback hits and six tackles in a 30-10 victory over St. Louis. Abraham has 11 sacks for the season and passed Lawrence Taylor on the all-time sacks list.

Special teams: Jeremy Ross had 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and a 58- yard punt return for a score in Detroit's loss in Philadelphia. Overall, he had six returns for 243 yards.

Maybe not. There were five touchdowns in the final 125 seconds. The lead changed five times and the plays couldn't have been much bigger. Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta caught a 1-yard touchdown pass. Toby Gerhart had a 41-yard touchdown run for the Vikings. Baltimore's Jacoby Jones had a 77-yard kickoff return for a score. Vikings WR caught a 79-yard touchdown pass from Matt Cassel. Joe Flacco drove 80 yards in 41 seconds and hit Marlon Brown with the game-winning, 9-yard touchdown pass. Overall, the six lead changes in the fourth quarter were the most in NFL history.

To follow up Harbaugh's point: Will we ever see a Sunday like we did in Week 14? It was the best Sunday of the year and the drama was amazing. You had it all: snow and late comebacks; Denver's Matt Prater set an NFL record with a 64-yard field goal; New England Patriots QB Tom Brady rallied from a 12-point deficit with two touchdown drives in the final 2:39 in a 27-26 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

The subplot to the day, though, was how three teams kept their playoff hopes alive. Baltimore did it with its victory over Minnesota. The gutted out a 34-28 victory over Pittsburgh. The ultimate survivor was Green Bay. The Packers held off the Falcons 22- 21 to stay in the thick of things. They are 6-6-1 and only a half-game behind the Detroit Lions in the still-open NFC North race.

"We finally decided to stand up and make plays when we needed to," Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk said.

The Packers bought themselves time. Aaron Rodgers might be able to return in Week 15 after the team went 1-3-1 without him. Rodgers is recovering from a broken left collarbone that hasn't been cleared for contact.

So far, Seattle, Denver and Indianapolis have officially qualified for the playoffs, and more teams will clinch next week. Still, Week 14 was one for the ages.

Here's what we learned in Week 14:

1. Contenders miles apart: Cincinnati Bengals officials paid close attention to the New England-Cleveland outcome because they have their eyes on the AFC's No. 2 seed. Somehow, the Patriots pulled out a victory in the final minutes after the Bengals dominated the Indianapolis Colts 42-28. For the moment, the Bengals (9- 4) have the one-game edge and the tiebreaker over Indy for the No. 3 seed, but the gap seemed so much larger on the field.

The Colts are a mess at the moment. Their defense gave up 430 yards on 30 plays. Andrew Luck threw for 326 yards, but the Colts' offense isn't the same without Reggie Wayne. The running game continues to struggle, too (only 63 yards on 12 carries). But the biggest difference is depth. The Bengals are significantly better. One example is on the offensive line. Bengals left guard Clint Boling suffered an ACL tear last week, and right guard was injured Sunday. had solutions. He moved Andrew Whitworth, a Pro Bowl-caliber left tackle, to left guard and put Anthony Collins at left tackle. It can be argued the offensive line improved. The Bengals ran for 155 yards and three touchdowns.

"It gives us another strong man inside who began his career there," Lewis said of moving Whitworth to left guard. "We have two very athletic guys side by side."

The Colts don't have such roster answers. After losing Wayne, their offense dropped more than six points a game because they're counting on the uninspiring receiving group of T.Y. Hilton, LaVon Brazill, Da'Rick Rogers and Darrius Heyward-Bey, and Bey is being phased out because of his drops. There were four total drops by Colts receivers Sunday. The Colts were down two starting guards because of injuries. Luck remains one of the most-hit quarterbacks in the league, and there is no running game.

Indianapolis officially clinched the AFC South despite the loss. The Tennessee Titans' loss at Denver gave them the Colts the division, but they can't feel too good about where they are as a team. 2. Old-school football: In what was expected to be a physical game, the San Francisco 49ers beat the Seattle Seahawks, 19-17, to stay alive in the playoff race.

The 49ers were just a little tougher than the Seahawks Sunday. They ran for 163 yards on 33 carries, including 110 by on 17 carries. The Seahawks had 86 rushing yards on 23 carries.

In the big picture, the 49ers' win doesn't change much. The Seahawks lead the NFC West by two games and can clinch in the next two weeks. If the 49ers meet the Seahawks again, it will be in Seattle. The Seahawks have won their past two home games against the 49ers by a total of 55 points. The 49ers have won their past two home games against Seattle by a total of nine points.

Nevertheless, if you want two candidates to go into Seattle and get a victory, the two would be San Francisco and Carolina. The reason is the ability to run the ball. The Seahawks might find stopping the run tougher because they lost linebacker K.J. Wright to a broken bone in his foot. He could be out for six weeks.

"This is a great learning opportunity for us in an adverse situation," Seahawks safety said.

3. Can't understate loss of Gronk: It was a great comeback by the Patriots, but they suffered a loss that could kill their Super Bowl hopes. Earlier this week, I calculated the impact tight end Rob Gronkowski has on Tom Brady's offense. In the six games Gronk missed at the beginning to the season, the Patriots averaged only 20.83 points. In Gronkowski's first six games, the Patriots averaged 32.83 points.

Gronkowski suffered on Sunday what is believed to be a torn ACL, which would end his season and potentially kill the Patriots' chances of going to the Super Bowl. Naturally, wouldn't discuss injuries, but his tone sounded as though he was at a funeral.

"I don't know what the circumstances are, but we're all there with him,'' Belichick said. "We love him, and he's a big part of this team.''

Brady completed only 2 of 5 passes to Gronkowski in the three quarters before he suffered the injury, but the attention defenses give to covering Gronk opens up the rest of the offense. Shane Vereen caught 12 passes for 153 yards. Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman combined for 10 catches for 100 yards. Brady was able to complete 32 passes even without his best two rookie receivers -- Aaron Dobson and Kenbrell Thompkins, who were inactive because of injuries. With Gronk likely gone, though, the two-tight end set is gone. Mike Mulligan was the only tight end not named Gronkowski catch a pass Sunday.

No one doubts the resilience of the Patriots. Brady is a champion. Belichick is brilliant. They have an offense that keeps finding ways to win, but they also have a vulnerable defense that sometimes has as many as five rookies on the field. And they probably don't have Gronk. If New England falls to the No. 3 seed, its playoff run might be a short one.

4. From the hot seat to the red-hot seat: A 3-10 season naturally would put Mike Shanahan on the hot seat for the Washington Redskins. But a 45-10 blowout loss at FedEx to the Kansas City Chiefs and an ESPN report that Shanahan emptied his office during last year's playoffs moved Shanahan into Gary Kubiak status. owner Bob McNair decided during a flight back from Thursday night's loss to Jacksonville to fire Kubiak following an 11-game losing streak.

No one can guarantee Shanahan will make it through this week as head coach. A Redskins public relation executive said Shanahan would address the ESPN story after the game. Shanahan didn't.

"It's not the right time or place to talk about my relationship with Dan Snyder," Shanahan said.

Things were so hot at the end of the game that Shanahan wouldn't commit to Robert Griffin III as next week's quarterback. RG III was 12-for-26 for 164 yards and was sacked five times.

Snyder has a tough decision. He could fire Shanahan this week and leave him in the mix for the Houston job. If Shanahan were hired by Houston, it would take Snyder off the hook for the coach's 2014 salary. He could wait until the end of the season and ask Shanahan to fire his son, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, and then hope Mike quits. We learned Sunday that the situation is worse than we thought.

5. Sloppy in the snow: The snow in Philadelphia made conventional football impossible. There was so much snow on the field, coaches couldn't call for extra- point kicks. It was two-point conversion or bust. The Eagles won 34-20, and once again, self-inflicted miscues cost the Detroit Lions.

The Lions had seven fumbles, including five fumbled snaps. They had three lost fumbles. completed only 10 of 25 passes for 148 yards, and the running game couldn't generate much. Of course, it didn't help when Reggie Bush re-injured his calf in the pregame warm-ups and couldn't play.

Because of their sloppy ways, the Lions once again kept the NFC North race in play. The Lions are 7-6. The Packers are 6-6-1 and the are 6-6 awaiting a Monday night game against the . This was a game in which the Lions needed the defense to step up, and it didn't. Detroit gave up 299 yards rushing. The defense committed six penalties, including four pre-snap. Discipline remains a problem with this defense.

On the flip side, the Eagles and Chip Kelly are making a serious run at the NFC East title. Nick Foles might have thrown his first interception of the season, but he managed the game a lot cleaner than Stafford did. LeSean McCoy broke through the Lions' defense for 217 rushing yards and two touchdowns. At 8-5, the Eagles are for real, and Kelly's offense showed it can function in the bad weather because it runs the ball so well.

SHORT TAKES

Aside from Rob Gronkowski, the other major injury story is the mid-foot sprain of Vikings RB . Peterson had to be taken to a nearby hospital for an MRI and X-ray. His status is unknown. ... Buccaneers DT Gerald McCoy once again was a big factor in a 27-6 victory over the . He had his seventh sack of the season and dominated the middle of the field. ... With most of the games played in cold weather, how strange was it for the Bucs and Bills to play in 82- degree conditions and have seven turnovers -- including six interceptions -- and 19 penalties? ... Even though Robert Griffin III had the worst throwing day of his career, the Redskins' defense had its own problems. Kansas City RB had 19 carries for 151 yards and a touchdown, but 74 yards came after contact. Redskins tackling was terrible. ... Jets QB finally broke out of his slump in beating the Oakland Raiders 37-27. Smith completed 16 of 25 passes for 210 yards and his first touchdown since October. He did a nice job on the deep pass. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he completed 3 of 4 passes, including a touchdown, on throws of that went at least 15 yards in the air. Coming into the game, he had three touchdowns and 11 interceptions on those throws. ... The Jets were so down on starting wide receiver Stephen Hill that they made him inactive even though he was healthy. ... Victories by the Chiefs, San Diego Chargers and the Ravens cut the NFC's lead in the interconference race to 31-27, but the Buccaneers' win leaves the NFC within only two victories of clinching the inter- conference battle. ... The Cardinals easily beat the St. Louis Rams 30-10, but loss of free safety Tyrann Mathieu to an ACL could hurt them down the stretch. He was in the race for Defensive Rookie of the Year. ... So much for Peyton Manning being frozen in cold weather. He completed 39 of 59 passes for 397 yards and four touchdowns. The windchill was minus-7 in Denver. Manning now has 4,522 yards and 45 touchdowns. ... It was fitting that the Chargers eliminated the from the playoffs with a 37-14 victory. The Giants went 1-3 against the AFC West; the AFC West went 11-5 against the NFC East.

Manning tells critics to 'shove it'

By Chris Korman USA TODAY Sports December 8, 2013

Peyton Manning does not appreciate the whole “Peyton Manning can’t play in the cold” storyline.

And he doesn’t like all you wiseacre whippersnappers spreading it around.

After completing 39-of-59 passes for 397 yards, 4 TDs and no interceptions on a day when the temperature reached a high of 20 degrees, Manning had this perfect Manning retort to questions about his cold-weather capabilities (via The Denver Post):

“Whoever wrote that narrative can shove it where the sun don’t shine.”

You can just about hear him saying it with a little — but not much — Southern snarl added at the end.

Who did write the narrative, anyway? Tough to tell; it goes back years and years. But here’s a guy who’s going to keep it alive:

The Titans did have the 7th-ranked pass defense in the league. But, point taken … lightly.

The narrative, like most surrounding a QB, revolves too closely around one character. The stat most referenced to prove his troubles in frigid conditions — a record of 1-8 in games when the temperature at kickoff is below 30 — tells us only that his teams have not played well in such weather.

He, on the other hand, has been fine. From the Colorado Springs Gazette’s Paul Klee, written a few weeks ago:

In his past five games in cold weather, Manning averaged a quarterback rating of 102.7. That would be a season-high for Chiefs quarterback .

“If you look at the games since 2006, he (Manning) has almost always played well (in cold weather),” said Scott Kacsmar, a Football Outsiders expert who has researched Manning’s cold-weather history. …

“There’s no statistical proof he cannot play well in such weather,” Kacsmar said. “What is available would suggest the complete opposite.” Manning’s stats in cold weather are skewed by the fact that he spent most of his career with the Colts, who played in a dome and were therefore away for every game played in temperatures of 30 or below. And sports teams — when evaluated over an extended period — struggle on the road.

Besides, that sample size, for a QB who has played so long, is too small to give as much weight as we have been.

Manning might have more trouble in cold, windy conditions, but all QBs do. And Manning has dealt with those Mother-Nature related obstacles.

Perhaps what he and the Broncos have not dealt with so well is this story. It’s odd to see a team and player this bothered.

Prater made NFL-record kick

By Brent Sobleski USA TODAY Sports December 8, 2013

The Broncos’ Matt Prater was finally able to break a 43-year old record initially set by the Saints’ Tom Dempsey.

The previous record was shared by another Broncos’ kicker, Jason Elam. Elam made sure to give credit where it was due.

The fact Prater broke the record shouldn’t be a surprise for two reasons.

First, it was made in the thin air of Denver. Granted, the weather Sunday is colder than normal. But it’s still an advantage.

Second, the NFL today is a game of specialization. Kickers have honed their craft to a level never before seen. The accuracy and distance of kicks continues to improve every year.

Three of the most accurate kickers in the league’s history are currently playing in the NFL. And Prater is far from the only kicker capable of making such a titanic kick — Sebastian Janikowski, anyone?

It’s a tremendous accomplishment and should be celebrated. But it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise as the game continues to evolve.

NFL Sunday’s 10 most attention-getting performances

By Chris Strauss USA TODAY Sports December 8, 2013

What a great afternoon of games.

The Vikings and Ravens exchanged five touchdowns in their final 125 seconds. In Philadelphia, the weather conditions prevented two teams from scoring any kicking points for the first time in 56 years but didn’t stop LeSean McCoy from breaking a team milestone that stood for 64. Across the country in Denver, kicker Matt Prater booted the longest kick in NFL history.

The latest installment in the NFC West rivalry between the Seahawks and 49ers was decided with nine seconds left on the clock and there were only 31 remaining when Tom Brady threw a game-winning touchdown pass to Danny Amendola against the Browns. Had Cleveland kicker put a little more leg into a 58-yard field goal attempt 30 seconds later, that wouldn’t have been enough.

And let’s not forget the ’ failed attempt to recreate the Music City Miracle against the Dolphins at Heinz Field. They didn’t quite pull it off, but it was an incredible effort.

While Rob Gronkowski, Adrian Peterson, Wes Welker and Tyrann Mathieu all left the field with what could be significant injuries, it was hard not to take in Sunday’s NFL action and not be fully entertained.

Here are the 10 performances that stood out on a day where there were plenty to choose from.

The Good: LeSean McCoy Neither the Lions or blizzard-like conditions could stop the Eagles’ star running back, who eclipsed the team’s single-game rushing record with a 217-yard performance. McCoy broke two long touchdown runs (57 and 40 yards) and compiled 166 second half rushing yards as Philadelphia maintained at least a tie for first place in the NFC East with a 34-20 win.

The Bad: Jeff Triplette and Dyrol Prioleau It wasn’t a great day for several NFL officials. Referee Jeff Triplette, who came under fire for a botched first down sequence in Week 13’s primetime matchup between the Redskins and Giants, inexplicably reversed a call in the Colts-Bengals game that gave Cincinnati’s Benjarvus Green-Ellis a touchdown run despite him being ruled down on the field (and the replay appearing to show that as the correct call). Prioleau, the field judge in the Browns-Patriots game, flagged Cleveland defensive back Leon McFadden on a very questionable pass interference call in the end zone with 35 seconds left in the game. The Patriots got the ball at the Browns 1-yard line and easily scored a game-winning touchdown.

The Good: Jeremy Ross The special teams standout scored two of Detroit’s three touchdowns, returning a punt 58 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter and adding a 98-yard kick return touchdown in the fourth. Ross, who joined the Lions in Week 7, is averaging 33.5 yards per kick return and 19.88 per punt return.

The Bad: Rob Gronkowski It’s going to likely be awhile before the star tight end returns to the field for the Patriots. Gronkowski was carted off the field during New England’s win over Cleveland after suffering a right leg injury on a tackle by Browns safety T.J. Ward. Gronkowski will have an MRI Monday to find out the extent of the damage, but initial fears are that it is a torn ACL. Gronkowski missed the entire preseason and first six games of the 2013 regular season due to back and arm issues.

The Good: Marlon Brown The six-foot-five rookie wideout used his wide wingspan to reach out for a Joe Flacco pass and some nimble footwork to come down in bounds at the back of the end zone with just four seconds remaining in Baltimore’s wild 29-26 victory over Minnesota. The winning play capped a scoring flurry that saw five touchdowns in the final 125 seconds of the game.

The Bad: Mike Shanahan The Redskins’ leader could be the second NFL head coach to lose his job after a brutal Week 14 performance. Shanahan’s team looked absolutely uninspired in their 45-10 drubbing at home versus the Chiefs, who put up 38 first-half points on Washington. There were an estimated 2,000 fans remaining in their seats at FedEx Field when the third quarter began as the defending NFC East champs dropped to 3-10 on the season.

The Good: Matt Prater The Broncos kicker drilled the longest field goal in NFL history, sending a 64-yard kick sailing through the uprights at Sports Authority Field at . The altitude and temperature (around 14 degrees) made for optimal kicking conditions, as Prater broke a record shared by Tom Dempsey, Jason Elam, Sebastian Janikowski and David Akers.

The Bad: EJ Manuel The rookie quarterback had the worst game of his short career, throwing four interceptions and getting sacked seven times in the Bills’ 27-6 loss to the Buccaneers. Manuel completed 18 of 33 passes for 184 yards and zero touchdowns as Buffalo has now lost five of its past six games.

The Good: After only one catch in their first meeting, the 49ers receiver got the best of Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman in San Francisco’s 19-16 win over Seattle. Boldin grabbed six catches for 93 yards and did some trash talking of his own after a 27-yard reception opposite the Pro Bowl defender in the second quarter.

The Bad: Wes Welker The Broncos receiver suffered his second concussion in four games, leaving Denver’s 51-28 win over Tennessee following a hit to the head by the Titans’ George Wilson. With the Broncos set to play on Thursday night versus the Chargers, it would be wise for the team to exercise caution on such short rest, even if Welker does end up passing the mandated concussion protocol.

Broncos QB Peyton Manning says cold- weather critics can shove it

By John Breech CBSSports.com December 8, 2013

Apparently Peyton Manning can play in cold weather. In the Broncos 51-28 win over Tennessee, Manning threw for 397 yards and four touchdowns despite the fact that the temperature was under 20 degrees at kickoff.

After the win, the usually mild-mannered Manning had some words for anyone who thinks he can't play in cold weather, "Whoever wrote that narrative can shove that where the sun don't shine," Manning told KOA-AM in Denver.

Manning was asked earlier this week if he thought he was less effective in cold weather and he said he didn't think that was the case. However, some people do think that, and Titans coach Mike Munchak seemed to imply it on Wednesday when he said cold weather would be better for the Titans "The worse the weather, probably the better for us. Hopefully it's a big snowstorm and it will give us a great chance to win," Munchak said.

Instead, Manning went out and led the Broncos to over 50 points for the third time this season and set several records in the process. The Broncos 515 points is the most through 13 game in NFL history and breaks the franchise-record for most points in an entire season.

Manning's four touchdown passes in the game give him 45 for the season, tying Aaron Rodgers for the fifth highest single-season total of all-time. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady holds the NFL record with 50 touchdown passes.

The win over the Titans moves Manning's record to 11-12 when the temperature is under 40 degrees at kickoff. For more on how Manning plays in cold weather, be sure to check out our in-depth look at Manning's history in cold weather.

NFL Week 14 Injury Roundup: Wes Welker suffers concussion

By John Breech CBSSports.com December 8, 2013

For more injury news and notes from around the league, be sure to check out CBSSports.com's NFL Rumors blog.

Wes Welker suffers second concussion in three weeks

Wes Welker's day ended early on Sunday after Welker took a jarring hit from Titans safety George Wilson late in the second quarter. Welker was diagnosed with a concussion and was ruled out for the rest of the game. This is the second concussion Welker has suffered in three weeks, Welker was also diagnosed with a concussion after the Broncos Week 11 win over Kansas City. The veteran wide receiver caught five passes for 61 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game against the Titans. With two concussions in three weeks, it's hard to imagine Welker playing in Week 15, especially since the Broncos only have four days until hosting San Diego on Thursday.

Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski reportedly has a torn ACL

Rob Gronkowski suffered an ugly injury against the Browns on Sunday, an injury that will likely end his season. During the third quarter, Gronkowski was attempting to make a catch when he was hit low by Browns safety T.J. Ward. As you can see below, Gronk's knee bent awkwardly and he had to be carted off the field. According to FoxSports.com, the Patriots believe that Gronkowski suffered a torn ACL on Sunday.

Rob Gronkowski wasn't the only player to reportedly tear his ACL on Sunday, Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu might be out for the season too. Following a safety in the third quarter, Mathieu was the Cardinals returner for the Rams free kick. After being tackled on the return, Mathieu tried to jog off the field, but his knee couldn't hold his weight and he fell to the ground. After the game, coach said that the belief is that Mathieu has a torn ACL.

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson injures ankle against Baltimore

Adrian Peterson didn't even make it to halftime against the Ravens. The Vikings running back injured his ankle in the second quarter against Baltimore and was taken to Minnesota's locker room. After the game, Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said Peterson had a mid-foot sprain. Peterson will have an MRI done on Monday and at that point, the Vikings will know the extent of the injury. Peterson must have been frustrated by the injury because he took to Twitter after the game to complain about everything from the officiating to the Ravens fan base.

Lions RB Reggie Bush sits out after pregame injury

It was a rough day for Lions running back Reggie Bush, who got injured before the game even started. While warming up in snowy Philadelphia, Bush slipped on the field and aggravated a calf injury. Bush slammed his helmet down after the incident and didn't play in Detriot's 34-20 loss to Philadelphia.

LOOK: Matt Prater makes NFL record 64- yard field goal

By Will Brinson CBSSports.com December 8, 2013

We've seen several NFL kickers bomb field goals from longer than 60 yards, but never as deep as 64 yards. Until today: Broncos kicker Matt Prater unleashed his leg cannon for an NFL record 64-yard field goal as the second quarter expired against the Titans.

A Peyton Manning pass to Julius Thomas for a few yards to get the Broncos within range of a desperation shot. Ignoring the result from Auburn-Alabama, John Fox sent Prater out onto the field for a shot at history.

And he absolutely drilled it:

It always helps to have the old mile-high atmosphere when you're kicking of course.

One of the previous record holders for a field goal of 63 yards was Jason Elam, who was with the Broncos in 1998 when he made that field goal. Tom Dempsey of the Saints also hit a 63 yarder in 1970.

Here's another side shot of the kick:

Peyton Manning can't throw in the cold? Well, that does it!

By Sid Saraf FOX Sports December 8, 2013

Looks like Peyton Manning has had enough.

I think I like it when Peyton Manning gets mad.

The Broncos superstar has fallen victim to the shockworn bellyaching from many an NFL critic, who say that Manning can't throw well in cold weather. After all, some of his poorest performances have come against New England and other teams who play in chilly environments.

Well, Manning had this to say after throwing for 397 yards and four touchdowns in a 51-28 punking of the Titans that locked up the AFC West crown for Denver:

Andy Lindahl @andy850KOA Follow Manning on not playing well in the cold, "Whoever wrote that narrative can shove that where the sun don't shine. " @850KOA @BroncosRadio 5:35 PM - 8 Dec 2013

That quote came via a Denver radio station. In case you were wondering, the kickoff temperature at Sports Authority Field at Mile High was 18 degrees. No exactly a sweat box.

You go, Peyton! Get some!

Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater sets NFL record with 64-yard field goal

By Frank Schwab Shutdown Corner/Yahoo! Sports December 8, 2013

The NFL has been playing football since 1920, and nobody had ever hit a field goal longer than 63 yards, until Denver's Matt Prater got a shot at the end of the first half on Sunday.

Prater hit a 64-yard field goal to set the NFL record. He barely got the kick over the crossbar, but that won't matter in the record book. Take a look at the flight path of the field goal.

The record was set in 1970 by Saints kicker Tom Dempsey, when he hit a 63-yard game winner. He stood alone until Denver's Jason Elam tied it with a 63-yarder in 1998. Oakland's Sebastian Janikowski, kicking in Denver, hit a 63-yard field goal in 2011, and San Francisco's David Akers hit a 63-yard field goal last year.

Prater is known for his huge leg, but had never gotten a chance to beat the longstanding record. With the Broncos trailing 21-17 late in the first half, coach John Fox decided to gamble (no doubt considering how the gamble on a long field- goal attempt by Alabama's was returned for a game-winning touchdown by Auburn last week) and give Prater a shot on the final play before halftime. The Titans had a player in the end zone for a return, but it didn't matter. Prater's field goal was good.

The fact that three of the five longest field goals in NFL history have been kicked in Denver's thin air will be held against Prater, but that might be evened out by the conditions in Denver on Sunday. The temperature in Denver for kickoff was 18 degrees. The ball must have been pretty hard when Prater kicked it, but it sailed through.

Since nobody had kicked a field goal longer than 63 yards in the NFL from 1920 to Sunday, Prater's record might stand for a while.

Peyton Manning really struggles in the cold, throws for only 397 yards and four touchdowns

By Frank Schwab Shutdown Corner/Yahoo! Sports December 8, 2013

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has not been thrilled to get questions about his struggles in cold weather.

It'll be a while before he fields any more.

The official temperature for kickoff in Denver was 18 degrees, and it dipped after that as the sun set behind the mountains. And Manning looked like he was playing in the middle of summer.

Manning set a Broncos record with 39 completions, and had 397 yards and four touchdowns as Denver beat Tennessee 51-28. The Broncos had never scored more than 50 points in a game before this season. They've scored at least 50 points three times this season, the first NFL team to do that since the 1969 Vikings.

Manning let it know that he wasn't thrilled with the criticism of his cold-weather performance.

"Whoever wrote that narrative can shove it where the sun don't shine," Manning told Denver radio station 850 KOA after the game, according to the Denver Post.

The Broncos have scored a team-record 515 points, and the NFL record of 589 points by the 2007 Patriots is well within reach with three games to go. Some of Denver's remaining three games might be in cold weather, but Manning put to rest the myth that he can't play in the cold.

Manning was great, even without slot receiver Wes Welker for most of the game. Welker suffered his second concussion of the season. Manning has 45 touchdowns this season. It seems inevitable that he'll break Tom Brady's record of 50 touchdown passes in a season. And 55 touchdowns this season might be in reach.

Sunday's performance will give the Broncos plenty of confidence heading into the playoffs. There had been questions about Manning's ability to throw the ball in bad weather, after last season's frigid playoff loss to the Ravens and this season's loss at New England in cold weather. Manning looked fine in the freezing weather on Sunday. The Broncos' offense looks unstoppable no matter what the conditions are. That might be important in New Jersey come early February.

Team Report - DENVER BRONCOS

The SportsXchange/Yahoo! Sports December 9, 2013

Quarterback Peyton Manning gave the boot to concerns over his cold-weather play, and kicker Matt Prater's leg provided the exclamation point.

Prater set an NFL record with a 64-yard field goal, and Manning led a go-ahead, 24- point blitz after Denver fell behind early as the Broncos rallied past the Tennessee Titans 51-28 on an icy Sunday.

"He's been playing great his entire career, and to come out there and put 50 points on the board, it kind of put the cold thing down," Broncos tight end Julius Thomas said of Manning, who completed 39 of 59 passes for 397 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions.

Manning's performances in the cold came under scrutiny because the 37-year-old veteran entered the day with an 8-11 career record in games played with a temperature of 40 or below. At kickoff Sunday, it was 18 degrees, but Manning certainly quieted the concerns.

"I wasn't trying to answer it because I didn't give it validation in the first place," Manning said. "We had a good plan, and I thought we threw the ball well and guys caught the ball well."

The victory in coach John Fox's return to the sideline allowed the Broncos (11-2) to clinch a playoff berth and remain undefeated at home. Fox missed the previous month after undergoing heart valve replacement surgery.

"It's great to be back," Fox said. "I really forgot how fun that was."

Manning helped make it so with four scoring passes: 1 yard to wide receiver Wes Welker, 8 yards to Julius Thomas, 4 yards to wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, and 20 yards to wide receiver Eric Decker (eight catches 117 yards).

Welker suffered a concussion before halftime and did not return to action. He took a hit to the head when he dived for a pass as safety Bernard Pollard came in to break up the play.

NOTES, QUOTES

Broncos kicker Matt Prater set an NFL record with a 64-yard field goal as the clock expired in the first half Sunday. Taking dead aim on history, Prater got plenty of leg into the kick and sent it right on course, and the ball narrowly cleared the crossbar, pulling the Broncos within 21-20 at halftime.

"I knew I hit it pretty good, but I wasn't sure with the cold and everything if it was going to get there," Prater said. "I saw the ref's hands go up and I can't even explain what I felt after."

The kick eclipsed the previous field-goal record of 63 yards, originally set by the ' Tom Dempsey against the Detroit Lions on Nov. 8, 1970, and matched on three other occasions, most recently by the San Francisco 49ers' David Akers against the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 9, 2012.

"It was awesome, because the whole team almost rushed the field after the kick," Prater said. "It was definitely a momentum swing."

--Peyton Manning put his cold weather critics on ice. The Broncos quarterback, who took some criticism this week over his losing record in cold weather games (8-11), delivered one of his best performances in 18-degree weather at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Sunday.

He had a team-record 39 completions, throwing for 397 yards and four touchdowns. Manning was the first quarterback in nine years to throw for at least four touchdowns in game conditions of 20 degrees or less. And he helped the Broncos clinch their 20th postseason berth.

--On top of becoming the first team in NFL history with four players scoring at least 10 touchdowns in a season, the Broncos also have an ace up their sleeve in place- kicker Matt Prater. He helped the Broncos top 50 points for the third time this season by kicking three field goals, including an NFL record 64-yarder just before halftime that gave Denver a huge momentum boost.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "That's our goal, but our goal is still to win the division and obviously, get the best seed we can. Our biggest goal is to get to the 'big game' (Super Bowl) and win the big game." -- Coach John Fox.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

--QB Peyton Manning's 39 completions were the most in a game in Broncos history.

--Broncos CB Champ Bailey missed a 10th game this season because of a lingering foot injury.

--In a pregame ceremony, the Sports Authority Field press box was renamed in honor of Jim Saccomano, the Broncos' media relations executive who is retiring after 36 years with the organization. --Julius Thomas made his 11th touchdown catch of the season, the most by a tight end in Denver history.

Broncos kicker Matt Prater sets NFL record with 64-yard field goal

By Doug Farrar SI.com December 8, 2013

Yes, Denver kickers are aided by the mile-high altitude in their home city. But I don’t care if you’re doing it from the top of Mt. Everest — if you make a field goal from 64 yards out, that is a singularly impressive accomplishment. That is also an NFL record, and Broncos kicker Matt Prater achieved that feat with three seconds left in the first half of the Broncos’ Sunday afternoon game against the Tennessee Titans.

The kick moved the Broncos closer to the Titans at the half; it had been as competitive as the 21-20 score might suggest. But even if the Broncos win this game and wrap up the AFC West as a result, you can bet everyone will be talking about Prater’s accomplishment. He broke the long-standing NFL record of 63 yards, first set by Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints in 1970, and tied by Denver’s Jason Elam in 1998, and Oakland’s Sebastian Janikowski in 2011.

Prater, a seven-year veteran, has made 17 of his 18 field goal tries this season (at least, those were his numbers as of the record-setter), and he’s made 5-of-6 from 50 yards or more.

NFL's most stubborn record finally falls

By Tim Layden SI.com December 8, 2013

It was among the most stubborn records in NFL history, set miraculously 43 years ago by a 23-year-old kid with no toes on his right foot, and then tied three times but never broken. On the second Sunday in November of 1970, Tom Dempsey kicked a 63-yard field goal, seven yards longer than anyone had previously made, to give the New Orleans Saints a 19-17 victory over the Detroit Lions. A guy his teammates lovingly called Stumpy (for not just his sawed-off kicking foot, but for his withered, fingerless right arm) celebrated by drinking Dixie Beer in the team's subterranean locker room at long-since-demolished . He hadn't known about the old record, and he sure didn't expect this one to last so long.

But it proved as tough as the thick leather in Dempsey's custom kicking shoe, which sits behind a glass wall in the Saints' Hall of Fame at the Superdome. Twenty-eight years after Dempsey's kick, in 1998, Jason Elam of the Broncos made a 63-yarder in the thin air of Mile High Stadium in Denver. Thirteen years after that, again at Mile High, Sebastian Janikowski of the Raiders booted a 63-yarder. And then on the first weekend of the 2012 season, David Akers of the 49ers became record holder No. 4 when he bounced a 63-yarder off the crossbar and through at in Green Bay.

Not long after Akers's kick, I wrote a story for Sports Illustrated on the enduring strength of 63. SI editors called it, "The Last Days of 63,'' because it seemed like, with better, stronger, more accurate kickers, the record would fall soon. "It's not insurmountable,'' said then-Lions kicker . "That 63 is going to fall.'' In that story, I wrote, It can't be long now. We have reached the last days of 63. ... Yet the record hung on, for more than a full year after the story was published in late October of 2012, just as it had hung on for the decades before. Another man's quote loomed more prescient. It was longtime NFL kicker who said, "That number has been out there a long time. It's the magic number, man.''

At last, not anymore. On the last snap of the first half Sunday afternoon in Denver, across a parking lot from the location of the former Mile High Stadium, the Broncos' Matt Prater dropped a 64-yard field goal over the crossbar and relegated Dempsey, Elam, Janikowski and Akers to the second paragraph of history. It was not a surprise that the record fell in Denver. Janikowski told me in 2012, "The ball goes extra good in Denver, maybe like five or seven yards further.'' And it was no surprise that the kick came on the last play of the half; few NFL coaches were inclined to risk the dramatic loss of field position that would result from a missed 64-yarder during the run of play. Yet because the record had stood so long, it was a shock nonetheless. (On a personal level, I had become just a little unhealthily obsessed with 63. First, a year ago, as I was finishing the story on the Fab Four, I was terrified that the record would fall before the story was published. Since then, wherever I was on a Sunday afternoon, I would monitor Red Zone of NFL.com in search of an opportunity to take down the record. Oddly, I was in the Broncos locker room this week, reporting an unrelated story. I interviewed Prater, but didn't ask him about 63. Or 64. I thought about it, because I think about 63 all the time. But that story was long over and I just let the moment pass. It's my obsession, not Prater's.)

There is a bittersweet quality to the record falling. When I met Tom Dempsey in the fall of 2012, he was living with his wife, daughter and grandson in a small New Orleans house, and he was also battling the effects of dementia, which he believed resulted from concussions in his playing career. (Dempsey was a hard-hitting, old- school defensive lineman in college and semi-pro football, and routinely threw himself into kickoff coverage in the NFL). Now he lives comfortably in a New Orleans retirement community, but suffers from full-blown Alzheimer's disease.

Shortly after the kick, I exchanged texts with Dempsey's daughter, Ashley, who helped him through an interview with me and SI photo- and video-journalist Bill Frakes last fall. "We told him about [the 64-yard field goal] and he said, `Must have been a great kick,''' wrote Ashley. "He always said records were made to be broken.'' Dempsey always took great pride that his kick came at sea level (actually below), whereas two of the other three 63s were in Denver.

Janikowski (Raiders) and Akers (Lions) are both still active in the NFL. Elam lives with his family in Soldotna, Alaska. He wasn't watching football on Sunday, because he's more likely to be spending his time hunting or fishing or flying his small planes. But early in the afternoon, his phone blew up. Elam texted me back: "Still surprised it didn't happen sooner. Fun stuff!''

It is logical to think that the floodgates will swing open at some point, leading to 65s and 66s and somewhere in the low 70s, which most kickers view as the outer limits of their legs. Or maybe Matt Prater is about to share a record for the next 43 years.

NFL Playoff Picture through Week 14

By Chris Burke SI.com December 8, 2013

Here’s how the AFC and NFC playoff pictures look after Week 14′s action (One game remains in Week 14: Dallas at Chicago):

AFC

1. Denver Broncos (11-2): AFC West leader 2. New England Patriots (10-3): AFC East leader 3. Cincinnati Bengals (9-4): AFC North leader 4. Indianapolis Colts (8-5): AFC South leader 5. Kansas City Chiefs (10-3): Wild card 6. Baltimore Ravens (7-6): Wild card

In the Hunt: Miami Dolphins (7-6), (6-7), San Diego Chargers (6-7)

Danger Zone: Tennessee Titans (5-8), Pittsburgh Steelers (5-8)

So … things got pretty wild in the AFC Sunday, eh?

Baltimore’s bonkers back-and-forth victory over Minnesota kept the defending champs in playoff position with three games left. The Dolphins, though, kept pace thanks to stepping out of bounds during Pittsburgh’s final desperation play. So Baltimore and Miami will head to Week 15 with 7-6 records — the Dolphins host New England on Sunday, while the Ravens visit Detroit on Monday.

Don’t bury the Jets just yet, either. For all of its issues, Rex Ryan’s team is still a mere game back in the wild-card race after beating Oakland on Sunday. San Diego’s also just one back after pasting the Giants.

There was movement here in the top four: Cincinnati leapfrogged Indianapolis for the No. 3 seed on its victory and a Colts loss. The Bengals would have climbed to No. 2 had it not been for the Patriots’ remarkable comeback against Cleveland. Instead, the Patriots (who lost earlier to Cincinnati) kept a grip on a first-round bye and stayed within striking distance of the Broncos.

Indianapolis clinched the AFC South despite losing at Cincinnati. Because of their 2- 0 record against the Titans, the Colts could not fall from first even at 8-8. That Sunday setback, however, did mean that they’re essentially two games back of the Bengals due to the head-to-head tiebreaker. Tennessee and Pittsburgh are on their last legs. Those teams likely have to go 3-0 to even have an outside shot.

NFC

1. Seattle Seahawks (11-2): NFC West leader 2. New Orleans Saints (10-3): NFC South leader 3. (8-5): NFC East leader 4. Detroit Lions (7-6): NFC North leader 5. (9-4): Wild card 6. San Francisco 49ers (9-4): Wild card

In the Hunt: (8-5), Dallas Cowboys (7-5), Chicago Bears (6-6), Green Bay Packers (6-6-1)

The Saints win over Carolina, solidified their hold on a first-round bye, but the teams play again in two weeks, this time at Carolina.

The NFC field thinned in the late-afternoon games — St. Louis and the Giants both were eliminated from contention. That said, things stayed tight at the top, with San Francisco improving to 9-4 and Arizona keeping pace by dropping the Rams.

The Eagles’ snowy victory over Detroit coupled with Green Bay’s tight win over Atlanta made the NFC North a lot more interesting. The Lions now lead the Packers — who could get Aaron Rodgers back next week, by the way — by a mere half- game. Chicago’s also a half-game back headed into Monday’s matchup with Dallas. (Detroit does hold a head-to-head sweep on the Bears, so Chicago would lose that tiebreaker.)

Philadelphia’s up to the three-seed, for the moment. Dallas could reclaim that spot and the NFC East lead with a victory in Chicago on Monday night. Such an outcome would be the preference for the Lions, too — if Detroit and Dallas finish tied at Nos. 3-4, the Lions would receive the higher seed due to an earlier win; if Detroit and Philadelphia were deadlocked, the Eagles’ Sunday win would bump them up.

No shortage of drama on Survival Sunday; more Week 14 Snaps

By Don Banks SI.com December 8, 2013

PHILADELPHIA -- Musings, observations and the occasional insight from an impossibly snowy, memorable and frenetically-paced Sunday in the NFL, otherwise known as Week 14. ...

• Welcome to Survival Sunday in the NFL. The quest for survival made for some desperation football in Week 14, and you have to acknowledge that it produced a dose of the most ridiculously dramatic football of the season. What a collage of crazy comebacks and improbable endings we saw as several teams kept their playoff hopes barely alive, or protected their standing in the postseason pecking order as the December stretch run began in earnest.

This much we know: Any number of teams on Sunday won the kind of game they'll look back on if they go on a long playoff run next month and say, "That was the turning point. That win in Week 14, when we had no business surviving against [fill- in-the-blank]. That's when we knew this year could be special.'' It was that kind of Sunday with so many fantastic finishes, and season-saving victories. Such as:

-- Baltimore and Minnesota traded late-game punches like two aging heavyweights, with five touchdowns exchanged in the final 2:05, before the Ravens won it 29-26 on Joe Flacco's nine-yard touchdown pass to Marlon Brown with four seconds remaining. Baltimore blew a pair of three-point leads in the final two minutes, and Minnesota coughed up two four-point leads over the same span.

But it was the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens who are still standing at 7-6, and still in control of the AFC's second and final wild-card berth with three weeks remaining in the regular season. Baltimore on numerous occasions looked doomed to drop behind Miami (7-6) in the AFC wild-card chase, but the Ravens refused to wilt and won their third consecutive game, all at home.

-- Down 11 points at halftime and seemingly on their way to their sixth consecutive winless week without Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, the Packers finally awoke in the final two quarters to rally past visiting Atlanta 22-21 at frosty Lambeau Field, in a game played in sub-zero wind chills. Green Bay (6-6-1) outscored the Falcons 12- 0 in the second half, and combined with Detroit's loss at Philadelphia, now trail the first-place Lions (7-6) by a mere half-game in the division that nobody wants to win -- the NFC North. The Bears can improve to 7-6 as well with a home-field win against Dallas Monday night. See, we told you that agonizing Week 12 tie against Minnesota might come in handy, Packers fans. It could just wind up being the key to Green Bay's division title chances. The Packers still have tough games at Dallas and at Chicago remaining, but the Lions look like they intend to keep Green Bay in this race until the end. And the best news of all, of course, is that Rodgers might finally be ready to return from his fractured left collarbone next week against the Cowboys.

-- Speaking of teams that refuse to go away, the warm-weather Dolphins improved to 7-6 and kept the pressure on Baltimore in the AFC wild-card race, winning 34-28 at Pittsburgh in another snowy setting. Miami blew a 10-point third-quarter lead, but scored 24 of its 34 points in the second half, to hang on for dear life. The Dolphins nearly gave up a last-play circus-act touchdown on a series of laterals, but receiver Antonio Brown was ruled to have gone out of bounds deep in Miami territory, giving the Fish their third win in four games.

Miami is still behind Baltimore by virtue of losing to the Ravens head to head, but the Dolphins will have more meaningful games in December, as they attempt to make the playoffs and have a winning season for the first time since 2008.

-- Then there are the Jets. All but written off as an AFC wild-card contender, New York shook off three consecutive dismal losses to beat visiting Oakland 37-27, and at least keep some semblance of a pulse in the postseason scramble. At 6-7, New York is still a long-shot (same goes for the also 6-7 Chargers), but at least the Jets avoided their first-ever four-game losing streak under Rex Ryan and posted their season high in points, with an actual touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Geno Smith occurring.

-- In the snow-globe setting that was Philadelphia's , the Eagles exploded for 34 second-half points, including 28 in the fourth quarter, to rally past Detroit 34-20 and improve to 8-5 in the tight and taunt NFC East race. For now, Philadelphia vaults back into first place and takes over the NFC's No. 3 seed, with Dallas playing at the Bears Monday night. A Cowboys win puts them in first place in the East, with the Eagles dropping to a wild-card slot. Either way it looks like we'll get that Week 17 showdown in Dallas for the division crown.

The Eagles trailed 8-0 at the half and looked like they were playing on skates, but LeSean McCoy wound up rushing for a team-record 217 yards and the Eagles had 299 on the ground in winning their fifth straight game.

-- And lastly there were the can't-stand-prosperity Patriots, who are amassing a remarkable track record in this season of momentous comebacks. New England trailed at halftime for the fourth consecutive game, and trailed in the game by double digits for the fourth week in a row, but still pulled off a miraculous 27-26 win over visiting Cleveland. New England got a Julian Edelman two-yard touchdown catch with 1:01 remaining, then recovered an onside kick, picked up a questionable pass interference call in the end zone and capped the comeback with a one-yard Danny Amendola touchdown grab with 31 seconds left. In winning, the Patriots improved to 10-3 and held on to the AFC's valuable No. 2 seed, behind top-seeded Denver (11-2), which clinched a playoff berth with a win over the Titans. A loss to the lowly Browns and New England would have fallen to the No. 3 slot, behind No. 2 Cincinnati (9-4), meaning the Patriots would have lost their first-round bye and not been guaranteed a home game in the AFC divisional round.

Almost without fail -- Pittsburgh being the lone exception -- the playoff contending teams that had to have victories in Week 14 found a way to get it done. It wasn't always pretty, and most everything went down to the wire, but it was wildly entertaining to watch unfold. Survival, as it turns out, is still the best motivation.

• As we theorized in our coaching hot-seat update last week, things in Washington seem headed for a definitively acrimonious divorce between Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan and owner Daniel Snyder. But I didn't think things would escalate this quickly into an ugly spectacle of blame-game final maneuvers.

An ESPN.com report on Sunday said Shanahan was preparing to resign from the team at the conclusion of its 2012 playoff run, so fed up was he with Snyder's meddling and over-the-top star treatment of quarterback Robert Griffin III.

This much I know: If Shanahan were ready to walk after last season, he's even more eager to leave Washington behind after this season, which has been a disaster for the Redskins. And I'm dead certain Shanahan was OK with that story of his 2012 unhappiness seeing the light of day in December 2013. That was no accident, and he basically confirmed the story in Sunday's postgame, refusing to deny any part of the report, saying only it was not the time to talk about his relationship with Snyder.

Suffice to say there will be no putting this Genie back in the bottle in D.C. A source close to the situation last week predicted to me that Snyder would try to get Shanahan to quit and walk away from his $7 million salary in 2014 by forcing him to fire his son, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. But now, with the situation out in the open as a public spat, look for a Mike Shanahan firing in the near future and another Redskins head coaching tenure ending messily.

If Shanahan remains the team's coach past Monday, I'll be surprised. As I've written many times before, no one ever leaves Washington with his reputation enhanced or his career better off than when he arrived, at least outside of the financial realm. It looks like typical Redskins dysfunction, after taking a welcomed year off in 2012, is back in a big way.

• The Colts are going to be in the playoffs no matter what (they backed into an AFC South title Sunday by virtue of the Titans' loss to the Broncos), but it's time to admit they've hit the wall and they're probably not going to enter the postseason posing as much of a threat this time around as they did last year, when they were 11-5 wild-card upstarts and feel-good sentimental favorites. Indianapolis dropped to 8-5 and the AFC's No. 4 seed with its 42-28 loss at Cincinnati, and that means the Colts are almost certain to face wild-card winning Kansas City (10-3) in a first-round game at Lucas Oil Stadium.

I'll take the Chiefs in that one, at least from the vantage point of four weeks out. The Colts have a bad offensive line, can't really pass protect, drop too many passes and still haven't found a go-to receiver replacement for the injured and out-for-the- season Reggie Wayne. And that running game. The Colts ran for 63 yards against the Bengals, their fifth sub-100-yard showing in the past eight games. Quarterback Andrew Luck led them in rushing with two carries for 32 yards. Donald Brown and Trent Richardson had just 31 yards on a combined 10 runs.

I originally thought the Colts would take a step back this season after last year's overachieving 11-5, but then they proved me wrong and went out and looked like a Super Bowl contender, beating San Francisco, Denver and Seattle in a span of a few weeks. But those statement wins look like a mirage now, and Indy has only Luck's considerable talents to bank on. When he doesn't lead them to a big comeback win these days, they have no other formula for success.

• Can someone, anyone, explain to me what Jeff Triplette and crew did or didn't see on replay in order to reverse the call on that BenJarvus Green-Ellis run for the Bengals? Green looked down well shy of the goal line, at the one-yard line, after Colts defensive tackle Josh Chapman appeared to trip him up at the four. It was ruled Colts ball on the field, and then Triplette reversed it, to the consternation of many, including CBS play-by-play man Greg Gumbel, who exclaimed: "Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? Not touched?'' when Triplette announced the reversal.

Asked to explain his call of a touchdown by a pool reporter in the postgame, Triplette repeatedly spoke of focusing on Green-Ellis near the goal line, even though it appeared Chapman came in contact with him well before that, causing him to stumble and eventually bounce into the end zone.

"When we reviewed the video at the goal line, there was nobody touching him there, and then he bounced into the end zone,'' Triplette said. "There was nobody that touched him at the goal line.''

When asked if he reviewed whether contact occurred before the goal line, Triplette merely repeated himself, like Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man.

"We reviewed the goal line,'' he said. That's swell, unless the contact that should have rightly resulted in the play being ruled down at the one took place before that, or well shy of the goal line.

Triplette does not inspire confidence. Not sure why the NFL continues to have such faith in him. • It was cold in Denver, and Peyton Manning didn't lose. What are we going to talk about now? Temperatures in the teens didn't seem to slow down the Broncos, who beat Tennessee 51-28, getting 390 yards passing and four touchdowns from Manning, and a league-record breaking 64-yard Matt Prater field goal.

That Manning can't win in the cold is probably an over-done topic, since most of the games he loses in those frosty conditions come against very good opponents, like at New England or home against Baltimore in last year's playoffs. But you get the feeling Manning is tired of the topic and wants to put the storyline to rest. He knows if all goes as planned, Denver will play two playoff games at home in the cold, and then be the featured attraction in the NFL's first cold-weather outdoor Super Bowl.

So he might as well diffuse that angle as soon as possible, that cold weather is his Kryptonite. Manning might have had that on his mind in dismantling the Titans. He threw a career-high 58 passes, completing 38 of them, even with Welker missing more than half the game. And at 11-2, the Broncos' win means they stay a game ahead of the 10-3 Patriots for the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff picture. If it's going to be the cold Manning must play in, he'd rather do it at home than in Foxboro.

• Seattle's 19-17 loss at San Francisco doesn't mean the Seahawks aren't still the best team in the NFC. It just means that the gap between the 49ers and their top NFC West rivals wasn't as big as the three games the standings showed entering Week 14. Sunday's outcome was just a late-season correction that tightens up the perception of both clubs and convinces San Francisco (9-4) that it can enter the playoffs on near-equal footing with anyone in the NFC. I thought the 49ers would win a tight game against Seattle, and they did.

Don't forget, the Seahawks embarrassed San Francisco at home in Week 16 of last season, a loss that didn't keep the 49ers from going on to win the NFC and make the Super Bowl. This could be the same story, a Seattle loss that means little in the grand scheme of things. The Seahawks (11-2) are still in line to win the division and claim the NFC's top seed if they take care of business in the season's final three weeks.

• Kansas City stopped the bleeding in a big way, blasting the lifeless Redskins 45- 10 at an empty -- and we do mean empty -- FedEx Field. I know you could almost hear the sound of the Redskins players warming up their car engines in the parking lot (in the second quarter), but a 35-point win is a 35-point win, and the Chiefs needed to get back on the winning side of life after three consecutive defeats had dulled their mojo.

The measure of success this year in Kansas City should be a playoff win. I know that's not a high bar given the Chiefs are 10-3, but consider that K.C. fans have seen their beloved team go 0-6 in their past six playoff trips, a one-and-done experience every time, at least since Kansas City's Joe Montana-led 1993 club won a pair of playoff games and made it to the AFC Championship Game in Buffalo. Anything less than a playoff victory will feel like a letdown for the Chiefs, after their 9-0 start to the season. Fortunately for and Co., Kansas City should draw a trip to No. 4 seed Indianapolis in the first round of the playoffs, and that will likely represent the path of least resistance in the six-team AFC postseason field.

The best news for the Chiefs coming out of their rout of the Redskins is that the pass rush is back. Kansas City registered six sacks and limited Washington to just 260 yards of offense. je

• How bad are the Raiders these days if they can make Geno Smith and the Jets look good? It might be increasingly difficult to make a case on behalf of bringing back Raiders second-year head coach Dennis Allen, whose floundering team sank to 4-9 with the 37-27 loss to the Jets, assuring Oakland of yet another losing season.

The Jets scored a season-high 37 points, after totaling just 20 points in their previouis three games. New York punted just twice, and Smith was an efficient 16- of-25, for 219 yards, with just one interception and his first touchdown pass since Week 7. Smith also ran for 50 yards and played with increasing confidence as the game wore on, just a week after being benched at halftime of a 23-3 home loss to Miami.

Raiders veteran cornerback told ESPN.com it was "as embarrassing a game as [he's] ever been a part of," and that's the kind of admission that might just prompt Oakland owner Mark Davis to reconsider Allen's job security.

• If I'm Adrian Peterson, that would settle it for me: No more games in Maryland. Peterson left the Vikings' narrow loss in Baltimore in the second quarter with a right foot injury that looked serious at first. Peterson was also in Maryland, playing the Redskins at FedEx Field in Landover, when he blew out his knee slightly less than two years ago, in Week 16 of 2011.

Peterson is scheduled for an MRI on Monday, and called the issue a "mid-foot injury.'' He wasn't the only dose of NFL star power to end up sidelined in Week 14. Patriots oft-injured tight end Rob Gronkowski is hurt again, this time with a right leg injury that Fox Sports is reporting as a season-ending ACL tear. Gronk was hit and tackled low by Browns safety T.J. Ward, and the impact looked damaging. Hard to take New England quite as seriously as a Super Bowl contender without Gronkowski, because we've seen how mightily the Patriots offense struggled to generate points without him in the season's first six games.

Speaking of big blows, Denver receiver Wes Welker left the Broncos' win at home against Tennessee just before halftime with a diagnosed concussion. That's a setback for the Broncos offense, especially since it's Welker's second concussion in recent weeks. (He was also hurt in a Week 11 win at home against Kansas City.) To no one's surprise, Welker was sidelined by a hit delivered by Titans safety Bernard Pollard, the old Patriots killer whose hit on Welker in early 2010 for Houston resulted in an ACL injury for the then-New England receiver.

In other key injury news that could affect the playoff field, the Cardinals lost standout rookie defensive back Tyrann Mathieu to a left knee injury in the win over visiting St. Louis, and Lions running back Reggie Bush re-aggravated a calf injury in pregame warm-ups at Philadelphia and never saw action in the snowy conditions.

• Every coaching search seems to have a twist or two in store, but Lovie Smith and the Texans certainly look like a match waiting to happen. Houston owner Bob McNair said he wants someone with ample NFL experience. Check. He said he wants to get a head start on the hiring process before the rest of the league's teams that might have coaching openings get around to it, and Smith happens to be unemployed and ready to interview at any point. Check. And McNair would be hiring both a minority candidate and a native in the process. Check and check.

Smith had plenty detractors in Chicago, obviously, and there are those who thought he never remotely figured out how to make the Bears offense the equal of its defense. But these things are all relative in the NFL, and from what I'm hearing, his 81-63 won-loss record in Chicago -- with three playoff trips and four double-digit win seasons in nine years -- looks very, very appealing in Houston.

Smith really does check off a lot of boxes for McNair, and it'd be an upset if he's not in the job by early January at the absolute latest. And for what it's worth, I don't see Wade Phillips being elevated from interim head coach into the full-time gig, although it wouldn't shock me if he were to stay on Smith's potential staff for the sake of continuity on that side of the ball.

Phillips is now officially the all-time King of Interim Head Coaches, having served in that capacity in New Orleans (after his father, Bud Phillips was fired in 1985), Atlanta (after got the boot in 2003) and for the Texans (twice, first when Gary Kubiak had his November health scare and now after his firing). Phillips also had full-time coaching jobs in Denver, Buffalo and Dallas, making him one of the most hired and fired men in NFL history.

Peyton Manning's message for cold- weather critics

By Dan Hanzus NFL.com December 8, 2013

Peyton Manning was the subject of constant speculation this week centering on his supposed inability to play at a high level in cold temperatures.

The Denver Broncos quarterback quieted the doubters the way he's done it all season -- by putting up monster numbers and leaving the competition scratching their heads and wondering, "How did the old guy with the noodle arm just shred us?"

The final stat line said it all: 39-for-59 for 397 yards through the air with four touchdown passes and zero interceptions -- all done in temperatures that hovered around 15 degrees. After the 51-28 destruction of the Tennessee Titans was complete, Manning had a message for those who suggested he can't get it done when the mercury plummets.

"Whoever wrote that narrative can shove that one where the sun don't shine," he told Denver's KOA-AM after the game. "I felt pretty good out there today."

Manning is a media assassin, born with an innate ability to say much without saying anything at all. That type of answer tells you the talk had perturbed him. Very rarely have we seen his competitive id come through when he's not on the field.

That drive to silence critics may help explain why the Broncos' gameplan was so pass-heavy on a day when the blustery conditions could've called for a more conservative offensive approach.

Instead, Manning chucked it nearly 60 times.

Manning was more, well, Manning-like when he stood at the podium for his postgame press conference.

"I mean, I wasn't trying to answer (the criticism), because I didn't give it any validation in the first place," he said, via The Denver Post. "We had a good plan, and ... guys caught the ball well."

Nice try, Peyton. We know where you stand. The cold-weather narrative has been sent somewhere decidedly non-solar. In a year full of triumphs, this one had to be one of the quarterback's most rewarding.

Peyton Manning hushes cold-weather critics in big win

By Chris Wesseling NFL.com December 8, 2013

If Peyton Manning was out to prove a point about his ability to perform in cold weather, he succeeded -- emphatically.

Manning broke the single-game franchise record with 39 completions as the Broncos rolled to a 51-28 victory over the Tennessee Titans with temperatures hovering near 15 degrees on Sunday. His seventh four-touchdown game broke a record held by Dan Marino (1984) and the 2004 version of Manning.

The Broncos are averaging 39.6 points per game. They need to total just 75 over the final three games to break the 2007 Patriots' record of 589 points.

Here's what else we learned in Sunday's game:

1. Denver's 39 first downs fell one short of the record set by the Saints a month ago. In addition to quieting concerns about his arm in cold weather, Manning also deep-sixed any talk of competition for his fifth MVP award. The Broncos became the first team in NFL history to have four players with 10-plus touchdowns. If Eric Decker scores twice in the final three weeks, they will have five players in double figures. Manning is now on pace for a ridiculous 55 touchdowns and 5,562 yards. He's thrown some of his prettiest passes of the season in the past two games.

2. The Broncos ran 91 plays to the Titans' 48-yard line. That partially explains the low output for Tennessee receiver , who was targeted on just three of Ryan Fitzpatrick's 24 pass attempts.

3. Rookie Montee Ball has turned the Broncos' backfield into a committee attack, outrushing Knowshon Moreno 194 to 96 over the past two weeks. The AFC's richest roster is getting richer for the stretch run while their competition is hemorrhaging key players.

4. The boxscore doesn't do justice to Von Miller, who has been unblockable the past two weeks. To go with a sack and a forced fumble, he also drew a holding penalty and blew up a couple of plays.

5. Titans rookie wide receiver Justin Hunter has shown flashes of special ability, clearing 100 yards for the second time in three weeks. His eight targets led the team, suggesting his role will continue to grow over the final three games. 6. With a Thursday night game on the horizon, Wes Welker is a longshot to play in Week 15 after suffering his second concussion of the season. Look for more two- tight end sets featuring Julius Thomas and Jacob Tamme.

7. Broncos kicker Matt Prater strengthened his case for a Pro Bowl nod by setting the NFL record with a 64-yard field goal.

Matt Prater breaks field-goal record with 64-yarder

By Chris Wesseling NFL.com December 8, 2013

On an afternoon when the NFL Media newsroom erupted with cheers several times, the loudest was reserved for Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater.

Prater broke the NFL record with a 64-yard field goal to draw within one point of the Tennessee Titans going into halftime of Sunday's game.

The previous record of 63 yards was shared by Tom Dempsey, Jason Elam, Sebastian Janikowski and David Akers.

The prodigious boots by Prater, Elam and Janikowski all occurred in Denver, where the thin air gives kickers an advantage.

The record-breaker will boost Prater's Pro Bowl resume. He's drilled 17 of 18 field- goal attempts, leads the league with 61 extra points and is second only to of the Carolina Panthers in average kickoff distance.

Wes Welker suffers second concussion with Broncos

By Chris Wesseling NFL.com December 8, 2013

Wes Welker was ruled out for the second half of the Denver Broncos' win Sunday over the Tennessee Titans after the wide receiver sustained his second concussion this season.

Welker took a hit to the head on a play across the middle late in the second quarter, and his neck bent awkwardly on the play. Welker previously suffered a concussion in Week 11 against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Earlier in the game, Welker caught his 10th touchdown pass of the season, leaving the Broncos as the only team in NFL history to boast four players with double-digit touchdowns. If fellow wide receiver Eric Decker can find the end zone three more times, Denver will have five players in double figures.

Don't expect to see Welker in Week 15 as the Broncos have a short week before the Thursday night game against the San Diego Chargers.

Denver likely will counter with more two-tight end sets, which should mean more playing time for Jacob Tamme.

Here are the rest of the injury updates from around the league:

1. NFL Media's Albert Breer reports that New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is believed to have suffered a torn right ACL during Sunday's win over the Cleveland Browns. An MRI to confirm the diagnosis is scheduled for Monday. It's a huge blow to the Patriots' Super Bowl aspirations, as Gronkowski is in the conversation for most valuable non-quarterback in the NFL.

2. Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was carted off the field with what NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport labeled a right mid-foot sprain. The Vikings, who fell to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, have to be holding out hope that it's not a dreaded Lisfranc injury.

3. Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate Tyrann Mathieu's season is over after collapsing on the field during the Arizona Cardinals' victory Sunday over the St. Louis Rams. The Cardinals believe Mathieu has a torn ACL in his left knee.

4. The Detroit Lions held running back Reggie Bush out of Sunday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles after the running back appeared to aggravate his calf injury in warmups. Fellow running back Joique Bell totaled 127 yards from scrimmage in Bush's absence.

5. Seattle Seahawks coach confirmed that weakside linebacker K.J. Wright broke a bone in his foot during Sunday's defeat to the San Francisco 49ers and likely will be sidelined six weeks. Wright has been one of the best coverage in the league, but the deep Seahawks have a quality replacement in Malcolm Smith.

6. Miami Dolphins running back Lamar Miller missed the second half of Sunday's triumph over the Pittsburgh Steelers after sustaining a concussion. Backup Daniel Thomas rushed for a season-high 105 yards in his absence.

7. Detroit Lions Ziggy Ansah left Sunday's loss to Philadelphia with a shoulder injury and did not return.

8. Seattle Seahawks center Max Unger suffered a pectoral injury in the team's loss to the 49ers.

9. Minnesota Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes was knocked out of Sunday's game in Baltimore with an ankle injury.

What we learned: 43 takeaways from Week 14

By Gregg Rosenthal, Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler, Kevin Patra and Chris Wesseling NFL.com December 8, 2013

The Denver Broncos entered the day facing questions about their quarterback's ability to win in the elements.

At the end of a wacky Sunday, it's clear that quarterback Peyton Manning's team is pulling away from the crowd in the AFC.

The New England Patriots' diminishing roster took a severe blow with Rob Gronkowski's knee injury. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback just had his first decent game since Halloween. The Indianapolis Colts are the only team with a winning record and a negative point differential. The Kansas City Chiefs won Sunday for the first time in over a month.

Meanwhile, the Broncos have discovered yet another offensive weapon in rookie running back Montee Ball. Manning silenced his critics with one of the best cold- weather performances of the past two decades.

Clearly stung by the weather narrative, Manning told skeptics to "shove that one where the sun don't shine."

If he wins two playoff games in Denver and knocks off the NFC champion in the first cold-weather Super Bowl, Manning no longer will have critics and skeptics to use as motivation.

New York Jets 37, Oakland Raiders 27

1. The GenoCoaster is back on the rails and operational. Jets quarterback Geno Smith had his best game in two months, throwing one touchdown pass and running for another score. His 25-yard scoring hookup with Jeremy Kerley was the Jets' first touchdown in nine quarters and Smith's first TD pass since Week 7. Smith was far from perfect; he missed an open Kellen Winslow in the end zone on New York's first possession and later threw a badly telegraphed interception, but Sunday counts as substantial progress. Coach Rex Ryan is unlikely to be asked about Matt Simms this week.

2. Raiders coach Dennis Allen hinted last week that he planned to get quarterback Terrelle Pryor in the game plan. He did just that on the Raiders' third possession. Pryor made some plays in leading Oakland to three points before Matt McGloin re- entered the game. McGloin's lights-out play in the second half should be enough to keep him on the field. We'll see if common sense comes into play for the Raiders. 3. Safety made his first impact play in four weeks with the Jets, picking off a Matt McGloin pass deep in Raiders territory to set up a field goal by Nick Folk. Reed -- who recently defended his play -- also took a bad angle on wide receiver Rod Streater's 48-yard touchdown reception, leading to a collision with cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

Denver Broncos 51, Tennessee Titans 28

1. Denver's 39 first downs fell one short of the record set by the Saints a month ago. They need to total just 75 over the final three games to break the 2007 Patriots record of 589 points. In addition to quieting concerns about his arm in cold weather, Peyton Manning also deep-sixed any talk of competition for his fifth MVP award. The Broncos became the first team in NFL history to have four players with 10-plus touchdowns. If wide receiver Eric Decker scores twice in the final three weeks, Denver will have five players in double figures. Manning is on pace for a ridiculous 55 touchdown passes and 5,562 yards. He's made some of his prettiest throws of the season over the past two games.

2. Rookie running back Montee Ball has turned the Broncos backfield into a committee attack, outrushing Knowshon Moreno 194-96 over the past two weeks. The AFC's richest roster is getting richer for the stretch run while their competition is hemorrhaging key players.

3. The Broncos ran 91 plays to the Titans' 48. That partially explains the low output for Tennessee wide receiver Kendall Wright, who was targeted on just three of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick's 24 pass attempts.

Miami Dolphins 34, Pittsburgh Steelers 28

1. The Dolphins' 34 points were their second-most total since Joe Philbin took over as coach. They had gone 28 consecutive fourth-quarter possessions without a touchdown prior to tight end Charles Clay's game-winning reception from . Regarding the race with Baltimore for the AFC's sixth seed, the Ravens hold the head-to-head tiebreaker, thanks to a 26-23 victory at Miami in Week 5. The Dolphins do have a slight schedule advantage with upcoming games against the Patriots, Bills and Jets; whereas the Ravens face the Lions, Patriots and Bengals.

2. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's passer rating was over 100 for the third time in the past four games. He and wide receiver Antonio Brown are not the reason the Steelers are losing. Brown's 90 receptions are second only to Andre Johnson's 95. He's also in the top five in receiving yards with 1,240.

3. Look for Pittsburgh to rebuild on defense after surrendering 34 points in the snow -- to a team from Florida. Veterans , Ryan Clark, Ike Taylor and Brett Keisel all could be on the chopping block in the offseason. San Francisco 49ers 19, Seattle Seahawks 17

1. The 49ers' offense has steadily improved in recent weeks. They scored in four straight first-half possessions when they consistently moved the ball. With the game on the line, they drove 76 yards in 11 plays before kicking a game-winning field goal. Taking six minutes off the clock in that spot is enormous. They beat Seattle at Seattle's game.

2. The Seahawks' defense is outstanding but occasionally gives up big rushing plays. Frank Gore's 51-yard run during the final drive was a killer. This is the fourth game game this season in which Seattle gave up at least 150 rushing yards, including three of the last six games.

3. This is why Russell Wilson is only an MVP candidate if you ignore Peyton Manning. Wilson threw the ball just 25 times; Seattle had six drives of 15 yards or less, with four drives not gaining a yard. Wilson is outstanding, but the passing attack is only a part of why Seattle is great.

Cincinnati Bengals 42, Indianapolis Colts 28

1. Give Andy Dalton and the Bengals' offense a ton of credit. They were aggressive throwing intermediate and deep passes throughout the game. Dalton was sharp on third downs. The Colts threatened to come back in the game multiple times in the second half, but the Bengals repeatedly responded with sustained drives and points.

2. The biggest difference this season with the Bengals' offense: Giovani Bernard. He racked up 148 yards from scrimmage, with big plays in the running game and as a receiver. We love that Bernard is so comfortable running between the tackles. Cincinnati's offensive line pushed the Colts around.

3. The Colts have found something in wide receiver Da'Rick Rodgers. He is very strong at the point of attack and made a great play after the catch on a 69-yard touchdown. He finished with 107 yards and two scores.

Green Bay Packers 22, 21

1. displayed the good and the bad in the Packers' win. When he makes quick decisions and gets the ball out quickly, he can be effective. However, too often he hops around in the pocket and isn't decisive. He still struggles with deep passes, but he completed enough throws to Jordy Nelson to get the Packers the win. The calls for Aaron Rodgers' return will be loud in Green Bay this week with the NFC North lead within sight.

2. Neither of these defenses are very good. The Packers held the Falcons scoreless in the second half, but they weren't exactly stalwarts. Clay Matthews was invisible for most of the game. The Packers didn't take advantage of a weak Falcons offensive line. The Falcons' defense was predictably soft. Their five sacks had more to do with Flynn holding the ball too long than a great pass rush.

3. Packers tight end Andrew Quarless had a great game. The four-year pro consistently got open and was a viable target for Flynn over the middle. Quarless led the team with seven targets.

Philadelphia Eagles 34, Detroit Lions 20

1. LeSean McCoy was spectacular on touchdown runs of 40 and 57 yards. Once past the line of scrimmage, he consistently made the Lions' secondary look foolish. Shady was the kid at the park who is so much better than everyone else you just give him the ball, stand back and watch him clown the other kids. He finished with a franchise-record 217 yards.

2. The Lions' run defense -- one of the NFL's best entering the week -- was embarrassed. A dominant front four couldn't figure out the Eagles' blocking scheme and were consistently pushed out of the play by pulling blockers.

3. Chip Kelly schooled Jim Schwartz. One coach made adjustments at halftime and blew the game open. The other decided it was smart to take the opening kickoff in a blizzard after winning the coin toss. If the Lions fall out of the playoffs, Schwartz needs to lose his job (they currently sit just a half-game up in the division).

New England Patriots 27, Cleveland Browns 26

1. Rob Gronkowski was carted off the field with what is believed to be a torn ACL, a source who's spoken to the tight end told NFL Media's Albert Breer. An obviously devastating blow for the Patriots, who came into the game 22nd in scoring without Gronk, but 2nd with him in the lineup.

2. Cleveland's defense came to play. The Browns led 6-0 at half, holding Tom Brady to 95 yards and an interception -- but it didn't last. Brady -- who threw for 418 yards -- has been a surgeon with the game on the line over the past month. He's playing as well as any quarterback in the NFL down the stretch, especially with his back against the wall.

3. Aqib Talib got the best of Josh Gordon early, but the Browns receiver won the day. Gordon proved again that he can't be suppressed over four quarters, beating Talib in coverage and outrunning him for an 80-yard score that put Cleveland up 19-3 in the third quarter. Gordon's 774 receiving yards over his past four starts shatters an NFL record for yardage over a four-game span.

Kansas City Chiefs 45, Washington Redskins 10

1. Mike Shanahan might be cleaning out his office for good this time. His squad was a disaster in every facet of the game. Shanahan said he only pulled Robert Griffin III for Kirk Cousins in the fourth quarter because the game was out of reach. Interestingly, the coach would not commit to Griffin as the Week 15 starter. By Monday morning, it might not be Shanahan's call to make.

2. CBS broadcaster Solomon Wilcots called the Redskins' special teams the poorest display he's ever seen. They went on to allow a kickoff return for a touchdown after that statement. Special teams coordinator Keith Burns' unit has been an unmitigated disaster all season. Tight end Niles Paul suggested earlier in the season that players aren't buying in to Burns' coaching.

3. The St. Louis Rams are watching the Redskins' dumpster fire with amusement. As part of the RGIII trade, the Rams have Washington's first-round draft pick. If things break their way over the final three weeks, it could be the No. 1 overall selection.

Baltimore Ravens 29, Minnesota Vikings 26

1. Mother Nature did her best to make this one a snoozer, but no dice. The Vikings and Ravens combined for 35 points over the final 2:07 minutes of play in a wild affair that wasn't over until Joe Flacco's 9-yard scoring strike to rookie receiver Marlon Brown sealed the win for Baltimore. The victory keeps the Ravens (7-6) very much alive for the AFC's sixth playoff seed.

2. Weather was a major factor all afternoon in a game that saw four lead changes inside the two-minute warning. This one looked to be over after Toby Gerhart's 41- yard touchdown run gave the Vikings the lead with 1:45 to go. It wasn't. It looked over after Jacoby Jones took the subsequent kickoff 77 yards to the house with 1:27 on the clock. It wasn't. It definitely looked over after Cordarrelle Patterson -- with 1:01 left -- breezed in for a 79-yard Vikings score. It wasn't. The Ravens never gave up.

3. Adrian Peterson left the game with what NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport labeled a right mid-foot sprain. In his absence, Gerhart -- despite being victimized by a questionable call on a fumble -- showed well, rambling for 89 yards on the day at 5.9 yards per carry.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27, Buffalo Bills 6

1. It's not a good sign for the Bills when they are blown out in a game where the defense held Mike Glennon to 3.6 yards per attempt and pick him off twice. Both rookie quarterbacks struggled in this game, but EJ Manuel's mistakes stuck out more.

2. Manuel doesn't make quick decisions and he's not accurate. He threw four interceptions, but the most glaring thing is how many times Manuel invited pressure. He holds onto the ball too long. 3. When the Bucs' defense gets rolling, few groups look more dominant. Gerald McCoy, , LaVonte David and all had huge games. Tampa racked up 13 quarterback hits and seven sacks. This game was over quickly. The Bills are getting worse as the season wears on, while the Bucs have won four of five games.

San Diego Chargers 37, New York Giants 14

1. Keenan Allen strengthened his case to be the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year. Allen had two first-half touchdown receptions and is headed for a 1,000-yard season. His first score was an athletic feat, as he kept his feet in bounds before making a diving tap of the pylon for six. Allen is a player.

2. We continue to be impressed by the hard-running style of Ryan Mathews. The fourth-year running back set a career high with 29 carries, good for 103 yards and one touchdown. Mathews and Danny Woodhead form one of the most undersized (and underrated) backfields in football.

3. Remember when we all thought Philip Rivers was past his prime? That was an incorrect inference. Rivers was brilliant again Sunday, shredding the Giants' secondary and looking like the best quarterback on the field. 's two rings always will give him the upper hand in the argument of which team won the 2003 draft, but Rivers isn't done yet. Far from it.

Arizona Cardinals 30, St. Louis Rams 10

1. Arizona's win was tempered by some terrible news out of the secondary. Rookie Tyrann Mathieu is likely done for the season with a torn ACL in his left knee. Mathieu had been playing at a Pro Bowl level as the team's starting free safety. His presence will be deeply missed.

2. A number of pass-rush needy teams passed on John Abraham before he finally landed with the Cardinals. Think those teams are having non-buyer's remorse? Abraham had two more sacks Sunday, including one for a safety. He has 10 sacks in the past seven games and has given Arizona more than it could've ever asked for.

3. What's better than watching do his thing for four quarters? No one plays the wide receiver position with more precision and professionalism than the nine-year pro. Fitz was particularly proficient on Sunday, finishing with 12 catches on 12 targets. That's good.

New Orleans Saints 31, Carolina Panthers 13

1. The Panthers' front four got little pressure on , which left their suspect secondary vulnerable to big plays. That's the recipe to ending an eight- game winning streak. 2. The difference between the two offenses was stark. Five different Saints generated plays of at least 20 yards, while the Panthers didn't have a single big play. directs the most methodical, time-consuming offense in the league, which is a problem when they fall behind in games.

3. Saints wide receivers entered the game catching just 33 percent of Brees' passes, the lowest figure in the league. Marques Colston proved he can still bust zones, though, producing his second 100-yard performance in the last 23 games. Brees will have to rely more on Colston and if this team is going to make a Super Bowl run.

Tennessee Titans defense crumbles under Denver Broncos onslaught

By John Glennon The Tennessean December 8, 2013

When the assault began, it was still very much a game, the holding a surprising 21- 10 lead.

When it ended, the game had long been decided, the Broncos having topped the 50-point mark for the third time this season during a 51-28 battering of the Titans.

What happened in between was brutal as far as the Titans were concerned: They surrendered scores on seven straight Denver possessions, allowing the Broncos to produce 41 points during a stretch that lasted from late in the second quarter to late in the fourth quarter.

The Broncos posted five touchdowns and two field goals during those seven possessions, with five of those drives lasting at least eight plays.

“We just couldn’t get a stop at all,” defensive end Derrick Morgan said. “It seemed like every time they had the ball, they were moving it and scoring. We couldn’t stop the pass, and they hurt us some on the run, too. We just didn’t come through, man.”

The Titans obviously had all kinds of issues trying to stop Peyton Manning and the Broncos during the seven-possession stretch, but here were some that stood out:

Third- and fourth-down failures. The Titans forced the Broncos into nine third-down situations, but the results weren’t pretty. Denver converted six (two via penalty), kicked a field goal on another and — after failing on two tries — converted fourth- down opportunities.

There were times when the Broncos did just enough to convert the third downs, like when Manning hit Wes Welker for a 5-yard gain on a third-and-3 during a touchdown drive. There were other times when the Broncos torched the Titans on third down, like when Manning hit Demaryius Thomas for an 18-yard gain on a third-and-10 that led to a field goal.

“There were times we stopped them on third downs and then they came up big on fourth down,” cornerback Jason McCourty said. “It was definitely frustrating. When you lose and the offense puts up that many points, as a defense, it’s embarrassing.” Defensive penalties. The Titans were frustrated by multiple defensive penalties, some of which played key roles in keeping Denver drives alive.

On one third-and-3 late in the second quarter, it looked as if the Titans were about to get off the field, but officials called cornerback Alterraun Verner for pass interference. Denver eventually capped that drive with Matt Prater’s NFL record- setting 64-yard field goal at the end of the half.

On a first-and-10 from the Denver 43 early in the third quarter, safety Bernard Pollard was whistled for a personal foul after he leveled Broncos receiver Eric Decker. The hit appeared to be shoulder to shoulder, but the Broncos used the 15- yard penalty — for hitting a defenseless receiver — to set up a touchdown that put them ahead 27-21.

Coty Sensabaugh and Michael Griffin also were whistled for penalties.

“It’s just hard for us to play the way we want to play,” Pollard said. “We all know (Manning) is a Hall of Famer. We all know the things he’s done in this league. But having said that, we’re facing a lot. We’re battling a lot when we come out here.”

Said Verner: “It seems like the last two or three weeks, referees haven’t let us play. They called some things on me that I thought were good coverage, but, of course, I’m going to say that because I’m the defensive back.”

Confusion in the secondary. It looked as if defenders crossed paths — or expected help from teammates — on a handful of successful Denver plays.

Pollard, for instance, appeared to offer rookie linebacker some tough love after a big first-half completion over the middle.

And on two touchdown passes, it looked as if Verner and McCourty were looking for inside help from the safety spot, help that never arrived.

“In the heat of the battle, in certain defenses you might be expecting help, but a guy might have seen another route and tried to help someone else,” McCourty said. “That might have happened a time or two. They ran a good amount of pick plays, which made (coverage) difficult.

“But overall, we just didn’t do a good enough job of covering guys and giving our defensive line a chance to get more pressure.”

Against Tennessee Titans, Peyton Manning thrives in cold weather

By John Glennon The Tennessean December 8, 2013

If cold weather is considered Peyton Manning’s kryptonite, then kryptonite may be in trouble.

While Sunday’s performance was only one game, it certainly showed that Manning doesn’t turn into a human icicle when the temperature drops below freezing.

That was one of the few knocks on the future Hall of Fame quarterback, who entered the game against the Titans with a record of 3-8 when the kickoff temperature was at or below 32 degrees.

But despite the fact the kickoff temperature on Sunday was 18 degrees, and despite the fact it dropped at least five degrees during the course of the game, Manning stayed red hot in leading the Broncos to a 51-28 victory.

He completed a franchise-record 39 passes for 397 yards, and he also became the first player in nine years to throw at least four touchdown passes with the temperature below 20.

Had he felt a need to answer critics regarding his cold-weather play?

“I wasn’t trying to answer it, because I didn’t give it validation in the first place,” Manning said. “We had a good plan, and I thought we threw the ball well and guys caught the ball well.”

Pass coverage had been the strongest part of Tennessee’s defense this year. The Titans entered the game ranked seventh against the pass and had surrendered just eight touchdown passes in their first 12 games, the second-best total in the league.

But Manning carved the coverage, completing seven passes of better than 17 yards.

“It just seemed like they were in rhythm,” cornerback Alterraun Verner said. “Peyton was throwing the ball on the money. For the most part, it seemed like we were in tough coverage and they were making plays. … We were hanging in there and doing good in the beginning, and then they just took off like a rocket.”

Manning helped his cause — as he always does — by getting the ball out of his hands quickly. The Titans were coming off a five-sack game against Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, but they didn’t manage a single sack against Manning. They only hit him once.

“That’s why he’s special,” coach Mike Munchak said. “You have to find a way to tip a ball that changes the momentum like they did to us, or you have to find a way to knock a ball loose or get a pick. … If you don’t do that, they get a rhythm going and it’s hard to stop it.”

Manning’s last cold-weather game drew plenty of attention, as the Broncos lost in overtime at New England in windy and frigid conditions two weeks ago. But even though he didn’t throw for many yards in that contest, he still connected on two touchdowns and helped the Broncos score 31 points.

So the Titans weren’t exactly shocked to see him excel in the cold on Sunday.

“I never really paid much attention to that,” safety Michael Griffin said. “At the end of the day, it was cold outside, but it wasn’t like the issues he had on the East Coast with the snow and the wind and all that. It was still pretty easy to throw the ball and catch the ball today, and he’s one of the best.”

Denver's Matt Prater kicks NFL- record 64-yard field goal

By Sam Farmer LA Times December 8, 2013

It took 43 years, but someone finally broke Tom Dempsey’s record for the NFL’s longest field goal.

Denver’s Matt Prater kicked a 64-yarder at the end of the first half Sunday against Tennessee, just clearing the crossbar to beat the mark by a yard. The kick trimmed the Titans' lead to 21-20.

Dempsey set the record in 1970 with the New Orleans Saints, and the mark was subsequently tied by Denver’s Jason Elam (1998), Oakland’s Sebastian Janikowski (2011) and San Francisco’s David Akers (2012).

It’s no secret that the altitude in the Mile High City helps kickers. Elam and Janikowski were both kicking in Denver when they made 63-yarders. However, cold weather is not ideal for kicking distance because cold air is denser than warm air. The temperature was 14 degrees when Prater made his kick.

Michael Husted, a former NFL kicker who is now a kicking coach and consultant, said the benefit of the high altitude would outweigh the detriment of the low temperature.

“The altitude will still win out,” Husted said. “Definitely, cold weather will decrease the distance on the ball. But when all is said and done, the altitude still gives you five or six yards, easily. I know whenever I kicked there, it was a noticeable difference.

“I always figured that if somebody was going to break it, it was going to happen in Denver.”

Husted said he would not be surprised to see successful field goals of 65 and possibly 66 yards within the next few years.

“Kickers are getting better,” he said. “I also wouldn’t be surprised if the NFL narrows the uprights sometime soon.”

Matt Prater breaks league record with 64-yarder

By Darin Gantt ProFootballTalk.com December 8, 2013

A lot of stuff happened in the waning moments of the first half of the Titans- Broncos game, but only one of them was historic.

Broncos kicker Matt Prater broke an NFL record with a 64-yard field goal (which would have been good from at least 65 1/2) to break the previous record of 63.

Making that kind of kick anywhere is impressive, and any advantage he gained from elevation is probably negated by the frigid conditions in Denver, which can turn the K-ball into a brick.

That cut the Titans lead to 21-20 at halftime, of a game more hard-hitting than the score would indicate.

In fact, Wes Welker left the field shortly before Prater’s record kick, shaken up by a hit from Titans safety George Wilson.

It’s been a physical game, and the Titans have run for three touchdowns.

Welker’s concussion doesn’t slow Broncos down

By Darin Gantt ProFootballTalk.com December 8, 2013

Not only was it cold, but the Broncos were also shorthanded.

But quarterback Peyton Manning is operating at such a high level right now, it doesn’t appear there’s much that can slow him down.

With temperatures in the teens and wide receiver Wes Welker leaving the game in the second quarter with a concussion, the Broncos didn’t miss a beat, beating the Titans 51-28. That moves them to 11-2, a game ahead of the Patriots for the top spot in the AFC playoff chase.

Manning’s 58 attempts were a career high, and he completed 38 of them for 390 yards and four touchdowns.

The Broncos already had four players with at least 10 touchdowns each (Welker, Knowshon Moreno, Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas), and wide receiver Eric Decker’s closing in on it with eight.

Throw in kicker Matt Prater kicking a league-record 64-yard field goal, and the offense was practically perfect.

The concussion for Welker is his second this month, which will bring his status for Thursday’s game against the Chargers into question. Welker took a hard shot from Titans safety George Wilson just before halftime, and didn’t return.

The Titans actually held the lead at halftime, but their physical style faded in the second half, which was primarily because of Manning. At 5-8, their chances are effectively over.

Adam Gase bristles at talk of Peyton Manning struggling in the cold

By Mike Florio ProFootballTalk.com December 8, 2013

The prevailing narrative regarding quarterback Peyton Manning — that he stinks in the cold weather — has reached critical mass this week, with the question being openly asked and the Broncos aggressively firing back.

“I’ve only been around him two years, but the thing that probably [ticks] me off more than anything is the fact that I don’t want anybody else as my quarterback,” Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase said, via Mike Klis of the Denver Post. “I’m going to go in with him every Sunday, and it’s a great feeling to have. When you don’t have a guy like that — and I’ve been in that spot a lot — it [stinks] when you know you walk in there and you don’t have a shot. So I’ll take him any day of the week.”

The Broncos will again play in the cold on Sunday, against a Titans team Denver should beat. And that’s the most overlooked aspect of the notion that Peyton struggles in the cold. The more accurate assessment is that maybe Jim Irsay was right. Maybe Peyton tends to hold the ball a little too tightly in big games.

Typically, more big games happen in the cold. And so, if Peyton struggles in big games, he’s more likely to struggle in cold games.

Today’s game isn’t a big game. If he wins, the narrative may not need to be dumped but adjusted. It’s not the nature of the conditions but the size of the stage that may be the real reason why Peyton struggles in the cold.

Three Keys Unlocked: Broncos vs. Titans

By Andrew Mason DenverBroncos.com December 8, 2013

DENVER -- Peyton Manning was barely touched; the Broncos continued to hound the Titans offense into errors, and Denver kept the Titans defense guessing, leaving them grasping -- and occasionally being penalized for their efforts. All that was enough to ensure a 51-28 win that sealed a third connective playoff appearance and preserved the Broncos' one-game lead in the conference and division standings.

Here's how the three keys to the game, identified Sunday morning, unfolded:

1. KEEP PEYTON MANNING UPRIGHT.

Only one team had more five-sack games than the Titans coming into Sunday, and they entered coming off their best pass-rush game of the year. But the Titans didn't sack Peyton Manning and hit him just once, as he defused their quick-attacking interior pass rushers with the Broncos' requisite array of quick outs and inside routes.

Eventually, the Titans started dialing up blitzes to try and defuse the Broncos, but those were effectively dealt with -- never moreso than when Montee Ball made Manning's 38-yard completion to Demaryius Thomas possible by picking up a blitz, something he acknowledged he wouldn't have been able to do as effectively a few months ago. Ball is mastering pass protection, as any running back playing alongside Manning must do, and this enhances the offense.

2. FORCE MISTAKES.

Going into Sunday, the Titans were 4-1 when they didn't turn over the football, and 1-6 when they did. So when Terrance Knighton grabbed the second interception of his career to end the Titans' first possession after halftime, the Broncos had them exactly where they wanted them -- and had exploited the turnover tendency that keeps quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick from being perceived as a long-term answer at the game's most prized position.

This was also the third time this year that the Broncos have had a positive turnover margin (plus-two), and only the second time this year that they didn't turn over the football. It's not a coincidence that the Broncos also broke 50 points the last time they avoided a giveaway (in Week 4, against Philadelphia).

3. SPREAD IT AROUND. Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas and Wes Welker were each targeted at least 10 times -- which, for Welker, was quite impressive, given that he only played the first half before being forced from the game because of a concussion.

But the defining statistic of an offense that had arguably its best overall day of the season rested in how the touchdowns were dispersed: six scores by six different players: Decker, Welker, Thomas, Ball, Knowshon Moreno and Julius Thomas. This game wasn't about Manning finding one mismatch and repeatedly exploiting it; it was about Manning finding a different weak spot on each play.

"All year, we’ve been talking about how dynamic our entire offense is," said Julius Thomas, who grabbed five passes for 35 yards and the touchdown in his return to action. "There are guys that maybe hadn’t been getting as many touches in the beginning of the season. Now, they’re going out there and they’re showing everybody what they can do."

This should not change Thursday, even if Welker is not cleared to play after going through the post-concussion protocol. Manning targeted Welker's replacement in the slot, Jacob Tamme, five times in the second half; he caught four passes for 47 yards in one half of work.

Three Keys: Broncos vs. Titans

By Andrew Mason DenverBroncos.com December 8, 2013

DENVER -- This week, John Fox returned to work after a four-week convalescence following aortic valve replacement surgery. He got right down to business -- practice, meetings, film study, media obligations -- and, at one memorable moment, channeled his inner news anchorman and uttered two words that today will be repeated countless times at Sports Authority Field at Mile High:

"'Arctic blast' has kind of a unique sound to it," Fox deadpanned.

You can't discuss this game without touching upon the weather. The temperature is not expected to break 20ºF (-6.7ºC). If it's 18ºF or below, it is guaranteed to be among the five coldest home games in Broncos history.

But winds will be light, unlike the gale-force gusts that battered the Broncos and Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Nov. 24. The impact on the Broncos' play-calling balance cannot be understated.

"No wind makes a big difference to me," said offensive coordinator Adam Gase. "It can be as cold as you want it but the wind has always been the biggest factor any time there are cold conditions.”

And that helps explain the Broncos' extreme ground emphasis in New England.

"I know if it’s a windy condition game, I might in my head think we should run the ball," Gase said. "But for the most part the cold is not an issue for us in the passing game. It’s anytime you get a condition of wind, that’s when I see that it’s hard for the passing because you don’t know what’s going to happen."

But with winds between five and seven miles per hour Sunday, it's not an issue. If the Broncos go to a ground-intensive attack, it will be a tactical move, not one based on the conditions -- and it's why the weather isn't one of the three keys to the game. The teams will decide this; the "Arctic blast," catchy-sounding as it may be, will not.

1. KEEP PEYTON MANNING UPRIGHT.

We say this most weeks, don't we?

In this case, there's some reason to fret; the Titans have size and speed on the edges, and the pass-rushing defensive tackle combination of Jurrell Casey and Karl Klug is particularly effective in the pass rush. They had their best game as a duo last week in Indianapolis, with one or both directly or indirectly responsible for four of the Titans' five sacks of Colts quarterback Andrew Luck.

The Titans have three five-sack games this year; only the Kansas City Chiefs have more. Of course, the Chiefs did not sack Manning once in the home-and-home series of recent weeks, and the Broncos have allowed one sack every 33.2 pass plays, the second-best ratio in the league. The offensive line's ability to prevent sacks and Manning's adeptness at avoiding the takedown is why the Broncos have faced few third-and-hopeless situations, and why they eventually move the chains (either via third- or fourth-down conversion) 51.6 percent of the time after they face third down. That's the best in the league, and 10.6 percent above the league average.

2. FORCE MISTAKES.

It's not a coincidence that the Titans are 4-1 when they don't commit a turnover -- and 1-6 when they have at least one. They've averaged 0.4 giveaways per game in their five wins, and 2.29 in their seven losses.

Giveaways are the one aspect of the game that continues to hold back Titans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick; he averages one via fumble or interception every 7.3 possessions, nearly double the rate of season-opening starter Jake Locker. The Broncos had five takeaways against Washington in Week 8 -- the same number they've amassed in the four games since.

3. SPREAD IT AROUND.

This is something the Broncos do better than almost anyone else, especially among their receiving targets. Assuming that tight end Julius Thomas returns after missing the last two games with a knee injury -- he's listed as probable -- Manning has yet another weapon to keep the Titans guessing.

The Broncos would like to apply that spread-the-workload philosophy to the running game as well, and last week was the best example of what they hope to achieve there; Knowshon Moreno touched the football 19 times, while Montee Ball had 14 touches on 13 carries and a reception. But until that game, Moreno had accounted for 62.0 percent of all touches by Broncos running backs; no other back had more than 22.9 percent. This wasn't by design, but inconsistent play from the young reserves had led to the Broncos riding their most reliable horse.

"We can’t have Knowshon burn out on us here at the end," said offensive coordinator Adam Gase. "We need to make sure he plays the rest of the way out and if Montee can cut those reps in half for Knowshon that would be big for our offense."

Ball's breakout game last week was the step the Broncos needed to see from their second-round pick, who appeared as assertive and authoritative as he did during his stellar years at the University of . Nevertheless if Moreno plays the next four weeks and averages just 7.75 touches per game, he will surpass his previous career high, set as a rookie.

"We’ve done our best to wear (Moreno) out," Fox said, jokingly, on Friday. "I think Montee Ball is starting to take that step. That helps take some of the reps off. We’ve been pleased with both of them and we’ll continue to try to grow some of those young guys, as well."

Cold Suits Broncos Just Fine

By Andrew Mason DenverBroncos.com December 8, 2013

DENVER -- The temperature kept plunging through the teens. The wind chill kept diving towards zero -- and eventually went under.

Certain animals thrive in these conditions. Emperor penguins. Walruses. And, until Sunday, naysayers over the Broncos' cold-weather capabilities. They howled like Arctic wolves.

Add Peyton Manning, Matt Prater and their Broncos teammates to that list after Sunday's 51-28 thrashing of the Tennessee Titans.

You're not supposed to have an effective offense in the cold. At least not with Peyton Manning at the controls. The future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, who played the first 14 seasons of his career for a team whose home games were in a dome or under a retractable roof.

But the same Peyton Manning came to Denver 11 years ago and led the Colts on game-tying and game-winning drives in the fourth quarter and overtime, claiming a 27-24 win on a snow-swept night. He also threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns as the mercury plunged toward single digits in last January's playoff loss.

In the run-up to Sunday, Offensive Coordinator Adam Gase took a question about Manning's cold-weather capability personally. He snapped back with a direct response that found its way onto one newscast after another. And he could hardly be blamed for it; mentally, he's armed to the maximum with facts and data. He knew better. He knew that for a passing game, it wasn't about temperature, but the wind speed.

And he knew that unlike the Nov. 24 loss at New England, when gale-force gusts hit Gillette Stadium, that the conditions Sunday would be placid by comparison. Breezes were light. And Manning was vintage: he beat the Titans with an array of short passes, then burnt them downfield: Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas and Wes Welker all caught passes of at least 24 yards apiece, with the yardage coming before the catch.

Manning's tosses to the sideline had the zip they needed. Only one pass had a chance of being intercepted, and he ended with 39 completions -- the second-most of his career and the most in Broncos history. It looked like the Manning of warmer days when the Broncos played the Ravens, Eagles, Cowboys, Chiefs and others. Only the heaters on the bench and parkas on everyone in sight revealed anything different. Manning didn't want to talk about the cold weather after the game -- "I wasn’t trying to answer (the question), because I didn’t give it validation in the first place," he said. He didn't have to talk about it. His performance provided the answer to anyone who had any lingering questions.

There's something else you're not supposed to do in the cold: hit 64-yard field goals.

The "K" balls used for placekicks, already segregated from the rest of their leather- bound brethren so they can't be doctored, take on the consistency of concrete blocks in extreme cold, or so it's been said. That's a bit of an exaggeration, but it certainly was not comfortable, and Matt Prater admitted that he didn't even test his leg beyond 61 yards pregame.

"It was so cold I didn't think we would kick one that far," he said. "I went back to I think 61 maybe."

Then Jacob Tamme ran out of bounds at the Tennessee 46-yard-line three seconds before halftime. That set it up inside the 65-yard mark that is the typical outer reach of an attempted field goal at the end of the half.

"Tamme told me after the game I owe him because he went out perfectly to make it a 64-yarder," Prater said, "so he told him I owe him a steak or something."

Befitting the conditions, perhaps caribou would be more appropriate. With a thud, Prater's foot struck the football -- effectively a frozen leather block.

"But by that time, my foot was numb, so I couldn't really tell," he said.

After that once-in-a-lifetime kick drew the Broncos within 21-20 at halftime, Manning resumed his work, soaring toward a performance that was as beautiful as any finely chiseled ice sculpture.

And with that, the Broncos checked off their first goal Sunday: they qualified for the playoffs. If they cross other items off their task list, they'll have to hear the cold- weather critiques again, even though they looked more comfortable in the chill than a pack of polar bears.

"They'll find something. They'll probably say, 'Well, he's not good below zero.' They'll find something," said defensive tackle Terrance Knighton.

"But I consider ourselves a weatherproof team."

Press Box Named for Saccomano

By Gray Caldwell DenverBroncos.com December 8, 2013

DENVER -- On the cusp of watching his 870th Broncos game in person, Broncos Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Saccomano was honored for his 36 years with the team.

Just before kickoff, a cloth conceiling a plaque in the south end off the press box was removed. It featured Saccomano's likeness and a message -- officially, the press box at Sports Authority Field is now the Jim Saccomano Press Box. He was also honored on the field during a break in the first half.

"Today is a great day for the Denver Broncos and for Jim Saccomano," Broncos President Joe Ellis said. "This is a well-deserved honor."

The plaque was created by sculptor Brian Hanlon, who also helped mold the 24 pillars in the team's newly unveiled Ring of Fame Plaza.

"It’s so surreal -- I’m taken aback," Saccomano said as the plaque was unveiled. “Good grief is all I can say.”

Saccomano will retire at the end of the season, transitioning into a consulting role with the club from there.

The longest-tenured pro sports administrator in Colorado history, Saccomano elected to thank several groups of people upon receiving the honor.

“I want to thank every member of the press – print, electronic, network, social, every single one that I’ve ever dealt with, big or small, over this period of time," he said. "I want to thank all the players, all the coaches and administrators. I want to thank my family and so-forth. I particularly want to thank the crews here now -- Patrick Smyth, Rebecca Villanueva, Erich Schubert."

But he wanted to thank a few more people in particular.

"My mother’s 99 and has no idea that this is happening, my dad is long gone. But I want to thank them," he continued. "I want to thank (former Broncos Owner) Gerald Phipps, who brought me aboard. I thank (Broncos Owner & CEO) Pat Bowlen, who was the kind of guy who doesn’t micromanage and lets you do your job. I thank (Broncos President) Joe Ellis, not just because we’re standing here. His vision, foresight – it’s tremendous. And most of all, I thank my wife Joann – who, for my whole career, gave her permission and consent to me putting the Broncos and the press ahead of our family. Thank you.” During his 36 years with the Broncos, Saccomano has worked 26 Super Bowls — 21 with the NFL’s public relations staff and five more with the team, including its back- to-back World Championships (1997-98). He has chaired the NFL’s media relations and international committees and has served on the league’s postseason, radio- television and special projects committees.

He has received numerous awards throughout his career, including the inaugural Pete Rozelle Award (1990), given annually to the NFL’s outstanding public relations staff, and the Charlie Callahan Award for Public Relations. In 2010, he was recognized with a lifetime achievement award from the Order Sons of Italy in America Colorado Foundation.

Saccomano graduated with honors from Metro State in 1970 and earned his master's degree in journalism from the University of Colorado in 1977. He was recently awarded an Honorary “C” from CU during halftime of the Buffs’ football game against USC on Nov. 23 for his many contributions to his alma mater.

An author of four books about the Broncos, Saccomano worked three years with the Denver Bears, a minor league baseball team, prior to joining the organization.

"Everybody makes a lot of sacrifices in our organization," Ellis said, "but nobody made more than Jim Saccomano."

Broncos Clinch Playoff Spot

By Gray Caldwell DenverBroncos.com December 8, 2013

DENVER -- The Denver Broncos are headed to the playoffs.

Wild finishes gave the Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens wins earlier in the day, meaning only a Broncos win against the Tennessee Titans would secure the club a place in the postseason.

Four quarters later, a 51-28 victory clinched it.

“That’s our goal," Head Coach John Fox said of the playoffs. "But our goal is still to win the division and obviously get the best seed we can. Our biggest goal is to get to the big game and win the big game.”

It marks the team's third consecutive playoff berth, and the franchise's 20th overall.

The win gave quarterback Peyton Manning his 13th season in which his team has made the playoffs, which according to Elias Sports Bureau surpassed Brett Favre's previous record for the most by an NFL quarterback in history.

"It’s good," wide receiver Eric Decker said. "I guess you have some security but our job is not finished – winning this division is number one and winning this conference is number two. And we have to make sure that we get better as a team as a whole. We have a big goal and expectations for this year and that’s just one week at a time and grinding away."

Cornerback Chris Harris Jr. echoed those sentiments, noting that there are still three more games to improve the team's seed.

But the team still has the one-week-at-a-time mentality that has served it well to this point. And that means all eyes are on the San Diego Chargers for a matchup in just four days.

"We're just trying to keep pushing," linebacker Von Miller said. "We're not worried about playoffs. We want to take care of San Diego right now. Continue to take it one play at a time. We don't want to bite off more than we can chew. That's what's been working for us, so we're going to stick to it."

How It Happened: Broncos 51, Titans 28

By Gray Caldwell DenverBroncos.com December 8, 2013

DENVER -- A record-breaking field goal got the Broncos back on track Sunday at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

As time expired in the first half, Matt Prater knocked an NFL-record, 64-yard field goal through the uprights to pull the Broncos within a point of the Tennessee Titans.

"Everybody was saying, 'It's not the game-winning field goal,'" linebacker Von Miller said. "Motivation-wise, momentum-wise, it certainly felt like it."

Two quarters later, Denver had a 51-28 victory, moving the club to 11-2 on the season and securing a playoff berth in the process.

“That’s our goal," Head Coach John Fox said of the playoffs. "But our goal is still to win the division and obviously get the best seed we can. Our biggest goal is to get to the big game and win the big game.”

The 51 points tied for the second-most in team history and made the Broncos the first team since the 1970 NFL merger to score at least 50 points three times in a season.

The offense ran 91 plays -- the most in team history in a non-overtime game -- and in the process gained 551 yards, marking the sixth-most in a game in team history.

“Well, you score 51 points, so you’re doing something right," said quarterback Peyton Manning, who threw for 397 yards and four touchdowns. "We had a lot of first downs. I don’t know how many, but we were first-down, second-down, first- down. When you’re in that kind of rhythm it puts a lot of pressure on the defense. It doesn’t give them a chance to even get to their third-down packages. It helped us to move the ball down the field."

For the second week in a row, the Broncos found themselves in an early hole.

The Titans led by as many as 11 in the first half thanks to three rushing touchdowns -- two courtesy of Shonn Greene and one from Chris Johnson. At that point, the Broncos had managed a Wes Welker touchdown on fourth down and a Prater field goal to trail 21-10.

“We went through some adverse situations in that first – we have to find a better way to hold them to field goals there and not give them momentum," defensive tackle Terrance Knighton said. "But I’m just happy about how we finished. We finished strong enough to get a ‘W’ and let our offense get on the field more.”

To that point, 24 unanswered points followed quickly.

It started with a 10-play drive that Julius Thomas capped with an 8-yard touchdown catch.

"We know what we have the capability and potential to do if we were executing," said Thomas, who set a new Broncos record for touchdown catches by a tight end with 11. "All year, we’ve been proving that if we get things going, that we’ll be explosive and we’ll put points up on that scoreboard. So we’re not going to get down if we’re down 14 points, or whatever the situation was. Just going to keep fighting and we know we’ll be able to put it in the end zone.”

After a Titans three-and-out -- one of four the defense forced -- Prater's field goal fired up the team at the half.

"You felt the energy in the stadium as we ran off the field," Fox said. "No doubt that energized our football team.”

On the opening drive of the third quarter, Manning found Demaryius Thomas for his third touchdown pass of the game. Three plays later, a Knighton interception -- thanks to pressure by Miller -- gave the offense the ball back at Tennessee's 43- yard line.

The ensuing eight-play drive culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by Knowshon Moreno to move the score to 34-21 in Denver's favor.

Tennessee wasn't finished, as a 41-yard strike from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Justin Hunter -- who finished the game with 114 receiving yards -- moved the Titans back to within six.

But that was as close as Tennesee would get.

Seventeen more unanswered Broncos points -- touchdowns by Eric Decker and Montee Ball and a third Prater field goal -- put the game out of reach for good.

Now, the playoff-bound Broncos prepare for the AFC West-rival San Diego Chargers on a short week. The matchup comes in just four days on Thursday Night Football.

"We're just trying to keep pushing," Miller said. "We're not worried about playoffs. We want to take care of San Diego right now. Continue to take it one play at a time. We don't want to bite off more than we can chew. That's what's been working for us, so we're going to stick to it."

Peyton’s Take: Broncos vs. Titans

By Stuart Zaas DenverBroncos.com December 8, 2013

DENVER – With plenty of speculation throughout the week of how well Peyton Manning could throw the ball in the cold, Manning let his arm do the talking.

The quarterback set a franchise single-game record with 39 completions in Denver’s win against Tennessee on Sunday, breaking the old mark of 37.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, Manning became the only player in at least 15 years to have 4-or-more touchdown passes with zero interceptions in a game with a temperature below 20.

“Threw the ball pretty well. On offense, I felt like we had a pretty good plan early,” Manning said. “We had a good plan and I thought we threw the ball well and guys caught the ball well.”

Manning finished 39-of-59 for 397 yards with four touchdowns and zero interceptions for a 107.8 rating.

That marked the seventh time this season he’s thrown for at least four touchdowns in a game, setting a new NFL record.

His four touchdown passes up his season total to 45, which ties him with Aaron Rodgers for fifth-most in league history for a single season.

The 59 attempts against the Titans tie Manning with John Elway for the team single-game record in that category. But, the offense wasn’t one-dimensional by any means, as the team racked up 154 rushing yards on 32 carries.

In total, the offense posted 551 net yards from scrimmage, marking the sixth- highest total in team history in that category.

“You never plan for 95 plays,” Manning said. “We had a lot of first downs. I don’t know how many, but we were first-down, second-down, first-down. When you’re in that kind of rhythm it puts a lot of pressure on the defense. It doesn’t give them a chance to even get to their third-down packages. It helped us to move the ball down the field. We ran the ball well and I thought the line protected well against a good Titans pass rush. That was really critical.”

Manning topped the 300-yard mark for the 11th time this season, tying him with Tom Brady for the second-most 300-yard games in a season in league history. His four touchdown passes made him the first player in nine years to throw for four touchdowns in a game with a temperature below 20 degrees. The offense became the first team since the NFL merger to top the 50-point mark three times in the same season.

Still, there were two trips to the red zone that resulted in field goals, leaving possible points on the field.

“Well, you score 51 points, so you’re doing something right,” Manning said. “We’ll study the film, even in this short week, and we’ll look at a couple of the red zones where, ‘Hey, what could we have done better to get into the end zone?” You’re down there that close inside the two or three-yard line, I want to say maybe twice, and had to settle for field goals. Those are points left on the board. There are still a lot of things we’re doing well. But you study each game individually, and it’s about doing it each week.”

Next up for Manning and the Broncos, who clinched the franchise’s 20th all-time postseason berth with the win, is a short week of preparation for Thursday night’s game against the San Diego Chargers.

“We’ve got a short turnaround – 95 plays is probably not the best scenario for a Thursday night game and we took some injuries and we’re not sure how that’s going to affect us,” Manning said. “I’m not a fan of Thursday games for this reason alone. But we’ve got to deal with it and we’re playing a division opponent who we had a close game against the last time and now we’ve got them here at home.”

Prater Makes History

By Mike Morris DenverBroncos.com December 8, 2013

DENVER -- When his foot connected with the ball and sent it soaring through the frigid air, Matt Prater wasn’t sure if his kick had quite enough “oomph” to make its destination.

Once the ball finally landed and a thunderous roar rang out at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Prater stood alone in NFL annals as the man responsible for the longest made field goal in league history.

Prater’s 64-yard field goal on the final play of the first half of the Broncos’ 51-28 win over the Titans broke Tom Dempsey’s record of a 63-yard field goal that had stood for over 33 years – and had been equaled by Sebastian Janikowski, David Akers and former Broncos kicker Jason Elam.

But as the ball soared through the air, then began its rapid and wobbly descent towards the goalposts, Prater didn’t know whether the ball would clear the crossbar.

“You know, it was so cold – I knew I had hit it pretty good but I just wasn’t sure with the cold and everything if it was going to make it,” Prater said. “But then when I saw the ref’s hands go up, I can’t even explain how I felt after.”

His holder, punter Britton Colquitt, never had any doubt.

“I just told him to kick it as hard as he can, which is kind of what I always tell him, and follow through,” Colquitt said. “I felt like as long as he didn't do something crazy, he was going to make it. There was no question.”

The stage for Prater’s kick was set after quarterback Peyton Manning and the offense moved the ball 39 yards in the closing seconds of the half – with a 7-yard pass from Manning to tight end Jacob Tamme getting Denver within range to attempt the record-breaking kick.

“Tamme claims that he ran out of bounds so Prater could get the record — at the right spot,” Colquitt smiled.

The situation progressed so rapidly, however, that Prater said he didn’t even have time to consider the record.

“It happened so quick, I didn’t really have a lot of time to think,” Prater said. “So I just went out, basically tried to kick it my hardest and hopefully it went straight.” Getting enough power behind the kick in such bitter temperatures, however, made attempting a 64-yard kick an even steeper challenge.

“It’s a lot worse, especially the first couple kicks,” Prater said regarding kicking in the cold.

That frigidness did, however, offer one reprieve.

“By that time, my foot was numb, so I couldn’t really tell. You know?” Prater joked to a chorus of laughter from reporters.

Although Prater’s kick etched his place in history, it also incited a wave of emotion within his teammates that was immediately apparent as the Broncos swarmed the field to celebrate. And with Denver still trailing 21-20 even after the kick went through the uprights, that surge of momentum could not have come at a better time for the Broncos.

“Matt’s kick at the end of the half was awesome. I’m really happy for him,” Manning said. “Really just a momentum boost for us. It felt like even though we were down one, it was tied or almost like we had the lead. To get that field goal and get points knowing we were going to get the ball at the beginning of the second half I thought was really critical.”

Denver rode that wave of momentum into the second half, outscoring Tennessee 31-7. And while Prater’s kick didn’t win the game – as he’s done other times in his career – it certainly did prove to be a catalyst of sorts.

“Everybody was saying, 'It's not the game-winning field goal,'” linebacker Von Miller said. “Motivation-wise, momentum-wise, it certainly felt like it.”

If nothing else, it certainly provided a well-timed spark for a Broncos team trailing by a point headed into the locker room.

“Prater kind of looked at me like, 'Aren't we down one, still?' Colquitt said. “I was like, 'Yeah.' He was like, 'It kind of feels like we're winning, doesn't it?' It definitely did."

Prater noted that he couldn’t have accomplished the feat without the help of Colquitt and long snapper Aaron Brewer.

“He does a great job,” Prater said. “Him and Aaron are super consistent and awesome at what they do.”

And while both Prater and his teammates noted that he’s made field goals from 70- yards or longer in practice, he was quick to point out that he couldn’t have kicked a football much farther given the weather conditions. “I don’t know about with this weather. Not 10 degrees,” Prater said. “I’m about maxed out.”

But on this frosty Sunday in Denver, Prater’s all was enough to make it a day – and a kick – that he’ll surely never forget.

“I can’t even explain it,” Prater said. “It was just crazy.”