KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Peyton Manning threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first quarter Sunday night, helping the Denver Broncos to an early 14-0 lead over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Manning capped an effortless 74-yard drive with a 23-yard third-down pass to Demaryius Thomas for his first touchdown. Then, after the Broncos forced their second three-and-out, Manning found C.J. Anderson on third down with a 15-yard touchdown strike.
The Chiefs had minus-10 yards of first-quarter offense. Alex Smith was sacked twice.
The unheralded Anderson, who ran for 167 yards last week against Miami, already had 11 carries for 58 yards against Kansas City. He got the start Sunday night in place of Montee Ball, out with a groin injury, and Ronnie Hillman, who is sidelined with a foot injury.
The Broncos (8-3) entered the game with a half-game lead over San Diego (8-4) in the crowded AFC West. The Chiefs (7-4) needed a victory to forge a three-way tie.