Sanders receptive to playing star role
G L ENDALE, A RIZ.» The evolution of Emmanuel Sanders has reached new heights.
Who says you can’t teach an olddog, or a ninthyear NFL receiver, new tricks?
The Broncos defeated the Cardinals 4510 on Thursday night, snapping a fourgame slide, and Denver’s first offensive touchdown stunned the orangeheavy crowd inside State Farm Stadium. Sanders, four days removed from a taunting flag against the Rams which cost Denver four points in a threepoint defeat, wasted no time restoring his reputation.
The Broncos’ offense faced firstand5 from just inside the Arizona 30yard line midway through the first quarter. Quarterback Case Keenum took a snap under center and faked a handoff to running back Royce Freeman while Sanders got the ball on an endaround. But Sanders’ didn’t run for long. He stopped, tracked fellow wide receiver Courtland Sutton streaking into the end zone and tossed him a dime in stride for the score.
It marked Sanders’ first career touchdown pass.
Asked about the play, Sanders said, “How often do you get to throw a touchdown pass? I gotta ice my arm. It’s a little sore . ... What a great call by (offensive coordinator) Bill Musgrave.
“I’m having fun out here. That’s what it’s about.”
“You have to give the coaches a lot of credit for that play,” said Keenum. “They saw something in the defense they wanted to exploit and it was designed great. Emmanuel ran a great route.”
In Week 3 at Baltimore, Sanders took a 35yard reverse to the house; his firstever NFL rushing score. Sanders is now the only wide receiver in team history to record a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in the same season — and the first leaguewide in a decade (2008, Baltimore’s Mark Clayton).
However, while taming the Cardinals, Sanders wasn’t done yet.
The Broncos began the second quarter with a 213 advantage. Only four plays into that drive Keenum found Sanders uncovered for an easy 64yard touchdown punctuated with a classic Sanders frontflip into the end zone. Sanders ended his night with six receptions for 102 yards before leaving with an ankle injury.
“I work my butt off,” Sanders said. “It feels good to see that work paying off. It’s very humbling, because I know how it feels not to be on that field.”
On Tuesday, linebacker Von Miller all but guaranteed a victory, saying the Broncos were going to kick the Cardinals’ butt.
“It just felt good to go out there and back it up,” Sanders said.
The last Broncos’ player, regardless of position, to score a throwing and receiving touchdown in the same game? Some guy named John Elway in 1986.
Good company to keep.