Manning, Broncos whip rival Raiders
After throwing yet another touchdown on a play that worked exactly as it was drawn up, Peyton Manning ran to the end zone and headbutted the lucky receiver, running back Lance Ball.
That was about as rough as things got for Manning on Sunday — an afternoon he spent piling on in the second half instead of catching up.
Off to a fast start for the first time as a Bronco, Manning led Denver to three third-quarter scores in a 37-6 rout of the Oakland Raiders — the first time Denver has beaten its AFC West rival at home since 2007.
Denver (2-2) outscored the Raiders 27-0 in the second half.
“He’s getting more comfortable,” coach John Fox said. “Let’s not forget he didn’t play for over a year and this is a new team, new coaching staff, new city, new field, new everything for him. The type of guy he is, he’s going to get better and better.”
Picking and poking with short crossing routes and screen passes against a depleted Oakland defence, Manning finished 30 of 38 for 338 yards and three TDs. For the second straight game, he didn’t throw an interception.
Willis McGahee finished with 112 yards rushing for the Broncos for his 32nd career 100-yard game, the most of any active player. Demaryius Thomas had 103 yards receiving. This marked the first time the Broncos have had a 300-yard passer and 100-yard rusher and receiver since opening day in 2007.
The Raiders (1-3) have now been outscored 55-7 in the third quarter this season. Under new coach Dennis Allen they have allowed more points over the first four games (125) than in any year except 1961 and 1962.
“It was nothing more than a good, old-fashioned butt-whupping,” said quarterback Carson Palmer, who finished with 202 yards passing.
FALCONS 30, PANTHERS 28: Matt Bryant kicked a 40-yard field goal with five seconds left as the Atlanta Falcons rallied past Carolina to remain unbeaten. Despite taking a career-high seven sacks, Matt Ryan threw three TD passes for Atlanta. Bryant added three field goals.
TEXANS 38, TITANS14: Danieal Manning and Kareem Jackson returned interceptions for touchdowns and Matt Schaub threw two TD passes for the Texans (4-0), who are off to the best start in club history. Titans quarterback Jake Locker left in the first quarter and did not return after hurting his left, non-throwing shoulder on a hit by Glover Quin.
49ERS 34, JETS 0: Carlos Rogers returned a Santonio Holmes fumble 51yards for a touchdown, and Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter and backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick all ran for scores as the 49ers routed the Jets. New York lost wide receiver Holmes to a foot injury on the play that led to Rogers’ fumble recovery. X-rays were negative and an MRI is scheduled for Monday.
CARDINALS 24, DOLPHINS 21 (OT): Jay Feely kicked a 46-yard field goal 6:31 into overtime to keep Arizona unbeaten. The Cardinals forced OT when Kevin Kolb threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Andre Roberts with 22 seconds left in regulation.
VIKINGS 20, LIONS 13: Percy Harvin returned the opening kickoff 105 yards for a TD and Marcus Sherels scored on a punt return early in the third for Minnesota.
RAMS19, SEAHAWKS13: Rookie Greg Zuerlein kicked four field goals, including a 58-yarder and a club-record 60-yarder, and the Rams used a fake field goal to score their only touchdown of the game.
CHARGERS 37, CHIEFS 20: Philip Rivers threw for 209 yards and two touchdowns, and San Diego capitalized on six Kansas City turnovers.
REDSKINS 24, BUCCANEERS 22: Billy Cundiff redeemed himself for a poor day kicking, booting a 41-yard field goal with three seconds left. Cundiff missed three earlier attempts, including a 31-yarder that would have put the Redskins up by two scores early in the fourth.
BENGALS 27, JAGUARS 10: Andy Dalton threw two TD passes and ran for a score, and the Bengals finished with six sacks, putting constant pressure on Blaine Gabbert and overcoming a rash of defensive injuries.