The Denver Broncos have secured the AFC West title with a 22-10 victory over the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium.
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The Broncos ran the ball in the early stages of the game as CJ Anderson powered his side downfield, before Manning fired a strike to Demaryius Thomas to shift the visitors to the red zone. However, they failed to score a touchdown on three attempts as they settled for a field goal.
Denver extended their lead as Manning fired deep down the right sideline for Julius Thomas to make a 20-yard reception and move them into striking distance again. Once more, the Chargers held firm inside their 10-yard line and limited the visitors to three points from the boot of Connor Barth.
The home side missed the opportunity to get on the scoreboard as two penalties cost them good field position, and that resulted in 50-yard field goal attempt by Nick Novak, which the Broncos managed to block.
The Broncos produced another strong drive towards the end of the half, but they failed to power the ball over from the one-yard line, forcing Barth to kick another field goal from 19 yards.
However, in concerning news for the visitors Manning was forced from the field and replaced by Brock Osweiler for a drive, which ended in a three and out.
San Diego took the resulting punt back to the red zone with a strong run from Eddie Royal, but they failed to score a touchdown as Novak got them on the board with a field goal.
In the second half, Manning returned to the field, but his side couldn't get anything going on offense as they punted away to the Chargers. Philip Rivers moved the Chargers into the red zone, but once again they failed to score a touchdown, while Novak missed the close-range field goal.
San Diego were to rue that miss when the visitors extended their lead before the end of the third quarter as Manning threw to Demaryius Thomas on a comeback route and the receiver sprinted into the endzone for the score.
Rivers dragged the Chargers back into contention when he found Antonio Gates on a slant route for a five-yard touchdown, but the Broncos restored a comfortable cushion when Barth fired over from 49 yards.
The visitors all but sealed their win when Rivers was intercepted by Aqib Talib with a pass over the middle, which allowed Barth to notch his fifth field goal of the game as the Broncos held out to secure the division title.
Simon Sinclair
