Watch: Broncos’ Roby picks up fumble for game-winning TD
The Denver Broncos defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in an eventful Thursday night game after cornerback Bradley Roby returned a Jamaal Charles fumble 21 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.
The fumble was the second of the game by the Chiefs’ running back. Kansas City had five turnovers on three fumbles and two interceptions by Alex Smith.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Chiefs scored the game’s first 14 points in the second off a Charles 34-yard run and a 55-yard interception return by Marcus Peters.
The Broncos—and Peyton Manning in particular—quickly overcame a slow start, tying the game before halftime on a 16-yard pass to Emmanuel Sanders and a one-yarder to Virgil Green.
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In the third, both teams swapped field goals to enter the fourth tied at 17–17.
A 61-yard drive by the Chiefs ended on a Knile Davis eight-yard rush with 2:27 remaining, but Manning responded with a sterling 10-play, 80-yard drive that culminated in a 19-yard touchdown pass to Sanders with 36 seconds remaining.
After the ensuing kickoff resulted in a touchback, Charles took a delayed handoff from Smith and gained about one yard before fumbling. The football bounced directly toward Roby, who scooped it and ran 21 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 27 seconds left on the clock.
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- Mike Fiammetta