DENVER BRONCOS vs. INDIAANAPOLIS COLTS Sports Authority Field at Mile High ● Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014 FINAL SCORE: BRONCOS 31, COLTS 244 ● ATTENDANCE: 76,939
MANNING LEADS BRONCOS TO WIN IN SEASON OPENER
Broncos QB Peyton Manning helped lead the Broncos to a 311‐24 win over his former team of 14 seasons—the Indianapolis Colts. With the win, Manning joins Brett Favre as the only two quarterbacks to earn a win against each of the current 32 NFL franchises. Manning, who completed 22‐of‐36 passes (61.1%) for 269 yards with three touchdowns (111.9 rtg.) against the Colts, now owns at least a .500 record against 29 of the 32 teams he has faced during his career.
MOST NFL TEAMS A QUARTERBACK HAS DEFEATED, NFL HISTORY Player No. 1. Peyton Manning 32 Brett Favre 32 3. Tom Brady 31 Drew Brees 31 Kerry Collins 31 6. Ben Roethlisberger 30
WARE NOTCHES MULTIPLE SACKS IN BRONCOS DEBUT
Broncos DE DeMarcus Ware totaled 1.5 sacks in his Broncos debut to give him 118.5 for his career and tie Packers OLB Julius Peppers for 17th on the NFL’s all‐time sack list (and tie Peppers for third among active players in that category).
MOST CAREER SACKS AMONG ACTIVE PLAYERS Player Sacks 1. John Abraham 133.5 2. Jared Allen 128.5 3. DeMarcus Ware 118.5 Julius Peppers 118.5 5. Robert Mathis 111.0
‐more‐ JULIUS THOMAS PICKS UP WHERE HE LEFT OF IN 2013
Broncos TE Julius Thomas led the team with seven receptions for 104 yards (14.9 avg.) with three touchdowns to represent just the ninth time a Denver tight end has totaled 100 yards and multiple touchdowns (third time for Thomas) in a game. His three touchdowns tie a Broncos record for a single game and give him 15 for his career to tie Dwanye Carswell (1994‐ 2005) for the third‐most by a tight end in Broncos history.
MOST REC. TDs BY A TIGHT END, MOST REC. TDs BY A TIGHT END, BRONCOS HISTORY SINGLE GAME, BRONCOS HISTORY Player Years G TD Player Opp. (Date) TD 1. Shannon Sharpe 1990‐2003 (12) 172 55 1. Julius Thomas vs. Ind. (9/7/14) 3 2. Riley Odoms 1972‐1983 (12) 153 41 Shannon Sharpe vs. S.D. (11/16/03) 3 3. Julius Thomas 2011‐2013 (4) 24 15 Shannon Sharpe vs. S.D. (10/6/96) 3 Dwayne Carswell 1994‐2005 (12) 163 15 Shannon Sharpe vs. K.C (12/12/93) 3 5. Tony Scheffler 2006‐2009 (4) 57 14
GAMES BY A BRONCOS TIGHT END WITH 100 RECEIVING YARDS AND MULTIPLE RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS
Player Opponent (Date) Rec. Yds. Avg. TD Riley Odoms vs. K.C. (12/10/78) 7 165 23.6 2 Bob Micho at K.C. (10/18/87)* 9 105 11.7 2 Shannon Sharpe at LAA (1/2/94) 6 115 19.2 2 Shannon Sharpe vs. S.D. (10/6/96) 13 153 11.8 3 Shannon Sharpe at K.C. (10/20/02) 12 214 17.8 2 Shannon Sharpe vs. S.D. (11/16/03) 7 101 14.4 3 Julius Thomas vs. Bal. (9/5/13) 5 110 22.0 2 Julius Thomas at Dal. (10/6/13) 9 122 13.6 2 Julius Thomas vs. Ind. (9/7/14) 7 104 14.9 3 *replacement game
MISCELLANEOUS GAME NOTES
Broncos S Rahim Moore posted the first two‐interception game of his career and became the first Bronco since LB Wesley Woodyard in 2012 to record multiple takeaways in a game (vs. S.D., 11/18/12, INT, FR)… LB Nate Irving totaled five defensive stops (4 solo), including two tackles for a loss and one sack… Manning eclipsed 65,000 career passing yards in the first half… LB Brandon Marshall led the Broncos with nine tackles (7 solo) in his first regular‐season NFL start… Rookie CB Bradley Roby and free‐agent CB Aqib Talib tied for the team lead with three passes defensed apiece.