Manning rallies Broncos to victory

Associated Press

SAN DIEGO

Peyton Manning threw three touchdown passes in the second half and Tony Carter and Chris Harris scored off turnovers by Philip Rivers as the Denver Broncos overcame a 24-0 halftime deficit to stun the San Diego Chargers 35-24 on Monday night.

Manning was 13 of 14 for 167 yards in the second half for the Broncos (3-3) who tied the Chargers atop the AFC West.

Rivers was intercepted four times — three in the fourth quarter — and lost two fumbles.

Manning’s 21-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Stokley gave Denver its first lead of the game, 28-24 with 9:03 left.

Stokley outleaped defensive back Marcus Gilchrist to catch the ball, and then got both feet down before tumbling out of the end zone.

Harris sealed the victory with a 46-yard interception return for a touchdown with 2:05 left. It was his second pick of the night.

Manning finished 24 of 30 for 309 yards with one interception.

The second half was a complete reversal of the first two quarters when the Chargers bolted to a 24-0 lead on Antonio Gates’ second touchdown reception.

Quentin Jammer intercepted Manning and returned it 80 yards for his first career touchdown. Before Jammer’s TD, the Broncos appeared on their way to their first score of the game with Manning’s 55-yard pass to a wide-open Eric Decker. But he tripped himself, got up and was tackled at the Chargers 30-yard line.

Manning clapped both hands to his helmet in disbelief, yet another sign of frustration by the star quarterback.

After Denver’s 4-yard gain, Manning threw an incomplete pass and then his short pass intended for Matthew Willis was intercepted by Jammer at the San Diego 20.

Jammer went 80 yards and just made it into the corner of the end zone with 6 minutes to play in the second quarter for his first TD in 11 years in the NFL. He has never lived up to expectations of a No. 5 draft pick.