Another loss in Mile High City

Manning beats Steelers in return

from neck injury

Associated Press

DENVER

Peyton Manning made a successful NFL return from a year’s sabbatical, leading the Broncos past the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-19 in his Denver debut Sunday night.

The four-time MVP coming off four neck surgeries completed 19 of 26 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns.

He got a big assist from another free agent, cornerback Tracy Porter, whose 43-yard interception return of Ben Roethlisberger’s pass with 2 minutes left sealed the win.

Manning, jettisoned by the Indianapolis Colts in March after missing all of last season with a nerve injury that weakened his throwing arm, hit Demaryius Thomas with a 71-yard touchdown toss for his first score as a Bronco. It was his 400th career TD toss.

Manning joined Brett Favre (508) and Dan Marino (420) as the only NFL quarterbacks to reach that milestone. He’s also needed the fewest games to do so. This was Manning’s 209th game, while it took Favre 228 games and Marino 227.

On the touchdown, Thomas caught the ball between defenders and then simply took off. No one could catch him.

It was almost reminiscent of what happened last season between the two teams, when Denver ended Pittsburgh’s year on Thomas’ 80-yard TD catch and run from Tim Tebow on the first play of overtime in the AFC wild-card playoff game.

This time, though, there was no Tebow under center, just a four-time NFL MVP.

Through three quarters, Manning was 12 of 16 for 178 yards.

The Steelers looked as if they had regained the lead with 24 seconds left in the third quarter when Jonathan Dwyer scampered in from 11 yards. But after review it was ruled his knee touched the field at the 2 late in the quarter.

Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers’ offense have been highly proficient, especially on third downs as they converted 11 of 16 chances. But they struggled to get the ball into the end zone, settling for two field goals by Shaun Suisham.

Just before halftime, Roethlisberger found his tight end Heath Miller over the middle and Miller simply walked into the end zone for a 4-yard score with 28 seconds remaining in the half. The Steelers converted on four third downs during the 14-play scoring drive.

Roethlisberger finished 22 of 40 for 243 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw an interception.

Earlier in the second quarter, Denver’s Knowshon Moreno bounced outside for a 7-yard TD run. Manning was magnificent on Denver’s scoring drive, completing 6 of 7 passes for 54 yards. He also flashed some speed as he scrambled away from pressure and ran for 7 yards.

Moreno made a nifty cut on his surgically repaired right knee, juking Pittsburgh defenders before bounding into the end zone. Moreno missed a good chunk of last season after tearing his ACL at Kansas City.

Manning, coming off four neck surgeries, was playing in his first real game since Jan. 8, 2011. He completed his first pass for the Broncos — a 13-yarder to Eric Decker — and took his first hit when he was sacked by Larry Foote.

Manning finished 19 of 26 for 253 yards and two touchdowns.

The Steelers drove to the Broncos 3 early in the second quarter, but couldn’t punch it in the end zone.