The Denver defense forced a Chiefs punt to give the offense the ball with 1:37 remaining. Quarterback Peyton Manning used the time efficiently, orchestrating a 59-yard touchdown drive to extend the lead to 21-3 just before halftime.

The drive began with an 11-yard completion to wide receiver Brandon Stokley, which made Peyton Manning the Broncos’ single-season passing yards record-holder.

A play later, Manning hit tight end Jacob Tamme for 13 yards down to the 33-yard line. After an incomplete pass to wideout Eric Decker, Manning hit Stokley again for 9 yards and then fullback Jacob Hester gained 8 yards on a run. Manning spiked it at the 16-yard line to stop the clock with 15 seconds left.

On the next play, Manning threw to Decker in the end zone, who made a juggling one-handed touchdown reception. Click here to view the NFL Network highlight of the scoring play.

The touchdown and extra point conversion put Denver up 21-3 just before the teams entered the locker rooms.

It gave Decker his second straight multi-touchdown game and fourth of the season. It was his fifth touchdown in the last three weeks. In the game, Decker has five catches for 60 yards and two scores — all game-highs.

Manning has a quarterback rating of 138.1 on 17-of-22 passing for 218 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.

The Broncos moved the chains 18 times in the first down and allowed Kansas City to do so only six times. They outgained the Chiefs in net yards 277 to 89.

In the second quarter, Peyton Manning became the franchise’s single-season leader in completions with his 385th of the season.

Later in the second quarter, he became the franchise’s record-holder in passing yards in a single season.

His 11-yard completion to wide receiver Brandon Stokley gave him 4,535 yards on the year, surpassing Jay Cutler’s old record of 4,526, set in 2008.

That means that Manning now holds the records for the most completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns in a single season by a Broncos quarterback.

After a missed field goal attempt by Kansas City, the Denver offense took over on the 24-yard line and drove down the field for its second touchdown of the game.

It began with a short Knowshon Moreno run, which was followed by a record-breaking completion by Peyton Manning. The quarterback hit tight end Virgil Green for an 11-yard first-down reception, his 385th completion of the season. That broke the record for most completions by a Broncos quarterback in a single season, previously held by Jay Cutler.

Manning then hit wide receiver Demaryius Thomas for 9 yards and Moreno moved the chains after that with a 2-yard carry. It was the third catch of the game for Thomas to give him 53 receiving yards.
From just shy of midfield, Manning hit wide receiver Eric Decker and tight end Joel Dreessen for two more first downs, gains of 10 and 12 yards respectively.

Moreno made it three straight first downs with a 17-yard burst to move Denver into the red zone. A play later, Manning hit Decker on an 11-yard touchdown pass, extending the Denver lead to 14-3 following the extra point conversion. Click here to see the NFL Network highlight of Decker’s touchdown.

The 9-play drive covered 76 yards and took up 4:00.

Manning is now 12-of-14 on the day for 166 yards and a touchdown, good for a passer rating of 139.9.

With his 35th touchdown pass of the season, he is one of eight quarterbacks in NFL history to reach that mark multiple times.

Decker’s touchdown was his 12th of the year. His 20 touchdowns in 2011-12 are the most ever by a Broncos receiver in a two-year span.

The Chiefs answered Denver’s early touchdown with a field goal after forcing a turnover.

Following Kansas City’s second punt in as many possessions, Denver started a drive on their own 9-yard line.

The Broncos gained its first 16 yards with runs by Knowshon Moreno and Ronnie Hillman, and then quarterback Peyton Manning hit wideout Demaryius Thomas twice for gains of 20 and 24 yards.

On the play after Thomas’ second catch, Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas tackled Hillman on a carry and put his helmet on the football, knocking it loose.

Cornerback Brandon Flowers scooped up the fumble and returned it 64 yards to the Denver 12-yard line. Manning and tight end Joel Dreessen chased down Flowers for the touchdown-saving tackle.

Looking to convert the turnover into points, the Chiefs gave it to running back Jamaal Charles on the first two plays, and the running back gained 7 yards. The pair of runs ended the first quarter.

To begin the second period of play, the Chiefs faced third-and-3 on the 5-yard line. Quarterback Brady Quinn tried to connect with wide receiver Jon Baldwin, but it fell incomplete through the back of the end zone.

That brought out Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop, who converted on a 23-yard field goal to make the score 7-3.

Kansas City left tackle Donald Stephenson suffered a left shoulder injury in the first quarter. His return is questionable.

The Chiefs’ first-string tackle, Branden Albert, is inactive for today’s game, so while Stephenson is out they are down to their third-string tackle.

On Denver’s first offensive play, quarterback Peyton Manning hit wide receiver Brandon Stokley, who lined up in the slot, for a 29-yard reception.

A pair of receptions by Eric Decker came on two of the next three plays, the first gaining 9 yards and the second gaining 14, to move Denver into the red zone.

With Decker’s second catch, he topped the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career. He and Demaryius Thomas are the first pair of Broncos receivers to top the 1,000-yard mark in the same year since 2004.

On third-and-6 from the Kansas City 10, Manning found fullback Jacob Hester for a 7-yard gain and a first down to the 3-yard line.

On the very next play, Manning gave it to running back Knowshon Moreno who took it in for the score. Click here to view the NFL Network highlight of the scoring play.

Following Matt Prater’s extra point, the Broncos led 7-0 in the first quarter.

Manning was 4-of-5 passing on the drive, connecting with three different receivers.

The drive took 8 plays, covered 69 yards of ground and took off 3:06 of clock. Denver has now scored a touchdown on the opening drive in four of its last five games.

Representing the team at midfield for the coin toss were the captains: quarterback Peyton Manning, defensive end Elvis Dumervil, cornerback Champ Bailey, linebacker Wesley Woodyard, guard Chris Kuper and the game captain, wide receiver Eric Decker.

Kansas City won the toss and chose to receive, so the Broncos started the game on defense.

Kicker Matt Prater put the opening kickoff through the end zone to start the Chiefs off at their own 20-yard line.

The Broncos came out on defense with four down linemen – defensive end Derek Wolfe, tackles Kevin Vickerson and Justin Bannan and Dumervil at the other end.

The starting linebackers were Von Miller, Keith Brooking and Woodyard.

In the secondary, Rahim Moore and Mike Adams were the safeties with Bailey and Chris Harris at the corners.

Following a Chiefs three-and-out, the Broncos took over on their own 30-yard line.

On the offensive line, the Broncos came out with Dan Koppen at center, Manny Ramirez and Zane Beadles as the guards and Orlando Franklin and Ryan Clady as the tackles.

Wide receiver Brandon Stokley was in the slot and tight end Joel Dreessen was on the line of scrimmage. Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas were out wide.

Manning was in shotgun with Moreno next to him at running back.

The inactives for Sunday’s contest against the Chiefs have been announced. The following players will not suit up against Kansas City:

BRONCOS:
G C.J. Davis
WR Trindon Holliday
FB Chris Gronkowski
TE Julius Thomas
QB Caleb Hanie
CB Tracy Porter
DT Sealver Siliga

CHIEFS:
WR Josh Bellamy
QB Ricky Stanzi
S Abram Elam
RB Nate Eachus
OL Rich Ranglin
T Branden Albert
DE Tyson Jackson