Broncos end losing streak
DENVER – The Denver Broncos still have their troubles with the red zone and yellow flags. The dark cloud that hung over them during their month of misery, though, is gone.
Kyle Orton drove them on six scoring drives, Matt Prater kicked four field goals and safety Brian Dawkins led a ferocious defense 48 hours after calling a players-only meeting, and the Broncos beat the New York Giants 26-6 Thursday night.
Elvis Dumervil dumped Eli Manning twice, extending his NFL-leading sack total to 14. Dumervil’s second one came in the fourth quarter and resulted in a fumble that sealed Denver’s first win since Oct. 19.
Behind three takeaways, the Broncos (7-4) halted their freefall and pulled within a half game of AFC West leader San Diego. New York (6-5), which snapped its four-game losing streak on Sunday, fell two games behind Dallas, which beat Oakland earlier Thursday, in the NFC East.
The Broncos outgained the Giants 213-38 in the first half but settled for field goals on three drives, including their first two trips inside the Giants 10-yard line as they continued their monthlong red zone struggles.
Denver finally capitalized on its good field position after Dawkins recovered a fumble by backup running back Danny Ware at the Giants 38.
Brandon Marshall’s leaping one-handed 28-yard catch set up Knowshon Moreno’s 1-yard TD run that made it 13-0, and Prater added a 47-yarder to give the Broncos a 16-0 halftime lead.
Broncos 26, Giants 6
| N.Y. Giants | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 6 |
| Denver | 3 | 13 | 0 | 10 | — | 26 |
Den—FG Prater 26.
Den—FG Prater 32.
Den—Moreno 1 run (Prater kick).
Den—FG Prater 47.
NYG—FG Tynes 39.
NYG—FG Tynes 52.
Den—Stokley 17 pass from Orton (Prater kick).
Den—FG Prater 24.
| NYG | Den | |
| First downs | 15 | 23 |
| Total Net Yards | 267 | 373 |
| Rushes-yards | 16-57 | 40-138 |
| Passing | 210 | 235 |
| Punt Returns | 2-20 | 4-27 |
| Kickoff Returns | 2-40 | 3-87 |
| Interceptions Ret. | 1-24 | 1-6 |
| Comp-Att-Int | 24-40-1 | 18-28-1 |
| Sacked-Yards Lost | 3-20 | 1-10 |
| Punts | 5-50.2 | 3-48.3 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 3-2 | 0-0 |
| Penalties-Yards | 4-45 | 8-61 |
| Time of Possession | 24:30 | 35:30 |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—N.Y. Giants, Jacobs 11-27, Ware 4-27, Manning 1-3. Denver, Moreno 19-88, Buckhalter 20-51, Orton 1-(minus 1).
PASSING—N.Y. Giants, Manning 24-40-1-230. Denver, Orton 18-28-1-245.
RECEIVING—N.Y. Giants, Smith 7-71, Manningham 5-48, Nicks 4-66, Jacobs 3-30, Boss 2-22, Hixon 1-5, Ware 1-(minus 4), Da.Johnson 1-(minus 8). Denver, Marshall 6-86, Scheffler 4-53, Gaffney 3-48, Moreno 2-19, Graham 1-17, Stokley 1-17, Buckhalter 1-5.