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Chargers shock Manning’s Broncos
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The San Diego Chargers shocked Peyton Manning and the Broncos 27-20 on Thursday, boosting their own National Football League playoff hopes while denting Denver’s aspirations of clinching the AFC’s top seeding.
Ryan Mathews ran for 127 yards and a touchdown and San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers threw two touchdown passes to Keenan Allen in the AFC West division clash.
Rivers was 12-of-20 for 166 yards for the Chargers, who improved to 7-7 and moved a half-game behind the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins for the AFC’s second wildcard playoff berth.
Manning completed 27-of-41 passes for 289 yards with two TDs and an interception for the Broncos, who fell to 11-3.
Already assured of at least a wildcard berth, the Broncos are still battling the 10-3 Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC West crown. Denver has the upper hand over the Chiefs, owning the head-to-head tiebreaker thanks to two wins over Kansas City this season.
Even if they win their division, however, the Broncos could lose out in the race for the American Conference top seed. The 10-3 New England Patriots are now very much in the running for the top spot as they visit Miami tomorrow in an AFC East division clash.
“You can analyze it any way you want ... I thought we prepared to play a division game on the short week, and thought we prepared to play, we didn’t play as well as we would have liked,” Manning said. “It’s hard to pinpoint a reason right now.
“There were some mistakes made out there in all three phases that were critical, and we weren’t able to overcome them.”
Denver’s defeat was a boon for the Patriots, but the Dolphins have plenty to play for as well. Tied with reigning Super Bowl champions Ravens for the sixth and final AFC playoff spot, Miami needs every win it can get over the last three weeks of the regular season.
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