Today on DenverBroncos.com, we began a new series titled “Top 10 Tuesdays,” where we will count down the top 10 plays in various categories over the next five weeks.
The first list looked at Peyton Manning’s top 10 touchdown passes of the season.
Here’s the order we came up with:
10: Manning’s 400th TD pass and first as a Bronco vs. Pittsburgh
In Denver’s season opener against Pittsburgh, Manning hit Demaryius Thomas on a screen pass and the wideout raced 71 yards to the end zone for the score that put Denver ahead 14-13 in the game it would go on to win 31-19. The pass marked Manning’s longest of the season.
9: Manning to Decker for a 51-yard TD at Baltimore
Manning hit Eric Decker in stride on a 51-yard bomb to put the Broncos ahead 31-3 against the Ravens in Week 15.
8: Manning to Stokley for a 38-yard TD vs. Houston
In the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans in Week 3, Manning went over the middle to Brandon Stokley, who made the 38-yard catch over the Texans’ safety. The score started Denver’s comeback, but the Broncos would end up losing the game 31-25.
7: Manning to Decker for an 11-yard TD vs. Kansas City
Manning found a narrow window between the cornerback and the safety to hit Decker for an 11-yard scoring strike in the regular-season finale. The play put Denver ahead 14-3 in the game that it would win by a final score of 38-3 to earn the AFC’s No. 1 seed for the playoffs.
6: Manning to Decker for an 4-yard TD at Cincinnati
Manning hit Decker on a back-shoulder fade to give Denver a 31-20 lead against the Bengals with 3:36 to play in the game. Decker made the catch despite drawing a flag for pass interference against the Bengals and the 31-20 score would wind up being the final margin of the Broncos’ victory.
5: Manning to Moreno for a 14-yard TD vs. Baltimore
Manning floated a pass over the Ravens linebacker in coverage on Knowshon Moreno, who came up with a diving catch in the back corner of the end zone. The touchdown put Denver ahead 21-14 in the second quarter of the AFC Divisional Round game that the Ravens would go on to win 38-35 in double overtime.
4: Manning to Thomas for a 10-yard TD vs. Tampa Bay
Manning found Thomas despite double coverage over the middle in the end zone for a 10-yard score. The play gave the Broncos a 21-10 lead in the Week 13 game it would win 31-23.
3: Manning to Thomas for an 8-yard TD vs. Tampa Bay
In the same game as No. 4, Manning and Thomas connected for an 8-yard touchdown. This pass was another one fit into a tight window and put the Broncos on top 14-10 in the third quarter. The play marked Manning’s 28th touchdown pass of the season, which set a franchise record.
2: Manning to Thomas for a 22-yard TD vs. Cleveland
With a pass that couldn’t have been placed any better, Manning hit Thomas in stride for a 22-yard touchdown pass that opened the scoring against the Browns in Week 16. Denver went on to win that game 34-12 to improve to 12-3 on the season.
1: Manning to Stokley for a 21-yard TD at San Diego
Manning put the Broncos ahead for good in the team’s historic comeback win at San Diego on Monday Night Football in Week 6 with a 21-yard pass to Stokley. Manning audibled as the final seconds ticked off the play clock before throwing a pass where only his receiver could come up with the ball. That’s exactly what happened as Stokley went over the defender to make the catch and drag both feet in bounds to give the Broncos a 28-24 lead in the fourth quarter.
Let us know what you think of the list in the comment section below. Did we miss any plays? Were any ranked too high or too low? What would your top 10 list look like?
Tags: Peyton Manning, Top 10 Tuesdays
Minter seems to be a “tough as nails” player, from what I gather thus far.
baylinorcrush, thanks you got it,
RH709, you are correct about my statement, it was very Non-Productive because I sent it form my PC at work
Broncos20: I like where your going with the DE Hunt or maybe NT. I believe that a tall, big defensive line is key to collapsing the pocket and batting down passes. key to those quick over the middle passes, slants that need to get out fast when defense is getting pressure on QB.
I sure was disappointed with Chris Gronkowski not being more productive out of the backfield. I believe he will be gone come training camp.
I’m with you TRB and probably most of BRONCO COUNTRY. We had that game won against Baltimore even though we had all the mistakes that went with it and of course the one mistake at the end. This game did play over and over like a bad dream hence the reason something happened here that was unbelievable. The good news is we are an up and coming team again and will be for a long time with JE at the helm. He bleed Orange and Blue…baby!
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!
This is a great article describing D-line players and techniques. Wolfe is a perfect 3-technique (under) tackle and JDR used him very well at this spot. Now I think the John’s and Jack will be looking for either a 0 or 1-technique guy for the other tackle spot.
Personally, I think they would like a 0-technique, nose tackle type. My thought is to command a double team from the center and a guard while still controlling both A gaps. This would allow the linebacker to read pass first before stepping up for run support.
A 1-technique guy would be nice too but then a LB has to be more on their toes to fill the other A gap on a run play.
Forgot the link.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/08/12/defensive-line-techniques-the-prototypes/
Olap, my apologies. I thought you were serious and wasn’t reading it as a joke (context is hard to understand in print sometimes.) Some people seriously think things like that qualify as “needs”.
Again, my apologies for jumping on your case.
Too bad Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State won’t make it to us.
Kwame Geathers, DT, Georgia is a later round pick with good size but looks like he doesn’t use that size very well and is quite slow.
I like Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama. He looks like he can line up as a 2, 1 or 0-technique guy and still get the job done. In a 2-technique lined up straight on a guard, he dominates the 1-on-1. He can push the pocket while lined up in 1-technique and getting doubled by the center and guard. He is quite as good 2-gapping from the 0 but I think he could do it pretty well if need be. I could see JDR wanting this kid, given what I think the plan for the defense is.
I think Minter makes it down to us. If not Te’o depending on how things shape out. Minter is a great LB too and could rise up the boards. Teo’s 40 will undeniably hurt him along with his poor bowl play and all this hoax nonsense. But he seems like a sure fire replacement for Urlacher with the bears. I like that he seems to be a leader of men on the field tho. Woodyard is very vocal in that role as well. Been a captain for years (ST) but still a cap. Von lets his play do the talking. And DJ just plays because he is payed to lol. He gets the job done, but i have never seen a less vocal guy. The man barely gives locker interviews. Almost never. Great way to avoid saying something dumb i suppose.
Like schneider said … we very well could trade down if we don’t see what we want … and thats fine. I was dissapointed last year because we were in prime position for Doug Martin but we traded the pick instead and THEY got Doug. Wolfe has been good tho. Love draft season … not quite yet upon us but its fun to see how things shape out.
TRB
RH709, no problem you cool man
Sharrif Floyd DT Florida, Tyler Eifert TE Notre Damn, Kwanne Short DT Purdue, Jesse Williams DT Alabama, Kevin Minter MLB LSU, Tavon Auston WR WVU, John Jenkins DT Georgia, Sylvester Williams DT UNC, Zac Ertz TE Stanford, Alec Ogletree MLB Georgia, Xavier Rhodes CB Florida State Johnathan Banks CB Mississippi State, Dantone Jones DE UCLA and Manti Te’o MLB Notre Damn. Those are the picks that all mocks I have seen have given us. A lot of good prospects.
One guy who stood out for our pick in the 2nd was Arthur Brown. He was the pick in a lot of mocks where we didnt take MLB in the 1st. A lot of the descriptions talk about us taking him and moving him the MLB. Now Arthur Brown JR is a 6-1 228 OLB (Former Safety) I like the reasons the given about it. How we are a small quick athletic LB corp and he has great speed and good in pass coverage and stopping the run. Plus he is a leader. Only thing is with the bigger power backs still around in the NFL I an see him getting run over rather easily.
TRB Wolfe was drafted to be a DT and Hunter was going to be the DE but when Hunter went down the moved Wolfe to the edge. That is why I want us to get a long DE (Like Hunt) as well as a big BEEF DT (Like Jenkins). Move Wolfe inside where he can push the interior of the pocket keeping QBs from stepping up in the pocket.
and a new blog.
You hit the nail on the head AB, Many of us have been calling for the beef for a long time. Jenkins is the Beef. He will demand two o linemen and that frees us up and lets the Wolfe loose.