Broncos & Cardinals SWEEPS the NFC North including DEMOLISHING the Green Bay Packers

[simmytbone]

Hey guys,

2 NFL Teams from the West have certain things in common:

They are 3-1 against the AFC North, they lost in Pittsburgh to the Steelers, they def. the Bengals on Prime Time Television, but they also SWEPT the NFC North

Those 2 teams that I'm talkin' about are the AFC West Denver Broncos and the NFC West Division Champions Arizona Cardinals

But also, another thing that they have in common, they not only def. the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings, but they also DEMOLISHED the Green Bay Packers which includes SACKING Aaron Rodgers

Here are the stories:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametra...150927_DEN@DET

Peyton Manning throws 2 TD passes, Broncos beat Lions 24-12
By LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer
Sep. 28, 2015

DETROIT (AP) Peyton Manning was cool and confident, lofting passes to teammates as if they were buddies in his backyard.

Whether it was third or fourth down, in the second or fourth quarter, the 39-year-old Manning showed he still has it.

Manning converted a fourth down with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas with 5 seconds left in the first half. Then he threw an 11-yard scoring pass to Owen Daniels on a third down with 2:28 remaining, lifting the Denver Broncos to a 24-12 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday night.

He credited the coaching staff with using a pistol formation, giving him the ball in a short shotgun with a running back behind him, after he was under center for some snaps during the first two games.

''I imagine it will be part of the arsenal throughout the season,'' Manning said. ''It gave us some help in protection.''

Manning was sacked only once after he was sacked seven times in the first two games, helping him more than double his longest pass of the year on his 45-yard pass to Thomas.

''We protected him better than we have,'' Denver coach Gary Kubiak said.

Manning was 31 of 42 for 324 yards with two TDs and an interception. He Brett Favre as the only players in NFL history with at least 6,000 completions.

The last time the Broncos (3-0) won their first three games was in 2013, when they reached the Super Bowl.

The Lions (0-3) are off to their worst start since 2010, when they finished 6-10.

''We do have 13 games left,'' Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. ''They're not handing out trophies after three games and you can't be eliminated after three games.''

Aqib Talib blocked an extra-point kick by former Bronco Matt Prater early in the second quarter to keep Denver's one-point lead. The Broncos also stopped a 2-point conversion run, keeping them ahead 14-12 early in the third quarter.

Stafford had three turnovers, including a fumble and interception at midfield in the fourth quarter. He might've had a good reason to be rattled because DeMarcus Ware was in on two sacks and he was hit and hurried throughout Detroit's home opener.

''Anytime you have that many turnovers, that's going to give you some problems,'' Caldwell said.

Broncos running back C.J. Anderson left in the first half to be evaluated for a concussion, but was cleared and returned in the second half.

Thomas had nine receptions for 92 yards and a lead-padding score in which he outleaped Darius Slay to snatch the football out of the air. He celebrated by backpedaling into the end zone, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Stafford was 31 of 45 for 282 yards with a 16-yard TD pass to Ameer Abdullah in the third quarter, two interceptions and a fumble on a play in which he had at least once chance to throw the ball away. Calvin Johnson had eight receptions for 77 yards and drew a pass-interference penalty against Talib in the end zone to set up Joique Bell's 1-yard leap over a pile of lineman.

It looked as if Detroit's defense was going to prevent the Broncos from taking advantage of Stafford's second turnover, but it negated a missed field goal by being in an illegal formation.

''I'm at fault,'' Caldwell said.

Denver got 5 yards closer and Brandon McManus made the field goal to give the Broncos a five-point lead.

Stafford then tried to force a pass to Johnson and safety David Bruton Jr. dropped into a zone to pick off the pass he tipped to himself with his right hand, then returned 12 yards.

''Our responsibility is get to the ball on defense,'' Bruton said.

Moments later, Manning lofted a 34-yard pass to Emmanuel Sanders, who outjumped Slay, to set up his throw that only the 6-foot-3 Daniels could catch in the end zone.

NOTES: Lions LB DeAndre Levy (hip) was inactive for the third straight week, and DE Ezekiel Ansah (groin) and OG Larry Warford (ankle) were injured during the game. ... Just after Anderson cleared a concussion test, backup RB Juwan Thompson left the game with a neck injury.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametra...151004_MIN@DEN

Denver's defense leads Broncos past Vikings 23-20
By ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Pro Football Writer
Oct. 5, 2015

DENVER (AP) Bursting through the line for jaw-dropping plays is quickly becoming the Denver Broncos' calling card.

Only this time, the offense joined the party that's been ''pass rushers only'' until Sunday.

Ronnie Hillman raced around the left sideline on a classic stretch play for a 72-yard touchdown run, and the league's top-ranked defense collected seven more sacks in a 23-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

''We had three bad weeks of running the ball and tonight we got it started,'' Hillman said after his third career 100-yard game. ''This week it was just me and C.J. (Anderson) got tired of everyone trying to tell us that we can't run the ball.''

The unbeaten Broncos (4-0) revved up their ground game behind Hillman and it came in handy on a day the Vikings (2-2) picked off Peyton Manning twice and turned the takeaways into 10 points.

The Broncos came into the game averaging just 57 yards rushing. With Manning in the pistol formation behind a patchwork offensive line and two tight ends lined up on the left side, Hillman went left, gathered in Manning's pitch, hit the crease and was gone down the sideline.

It was the longest touchdown run by a Broncos running back in 15 years.

''I knew nobody was going to catch him,'' teammate Demaryius Thomas said. ''I was happy. It's good for the offense, gives guys confidence we can hit those long runs.''

Hillman finished with 103 yards on 11 carries for his third career 100-yard game.

Denver's top-ranked defense limited Adrian Peterson to 81 yards on 16 carries - when Peterson was the MVP in 2012, his lowest output was 86 yards against the Texans and Wade Phillips, now Denver's defensive coordinator.

Peterson did get a 48-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-inches to pull Minnesota to 20-17 with 10 minutes left. Cornerback Aqib Talib was right there in the middle, but had already turned his hips and by the time he turned back, Peterson was by him.

The line ''spread like the Red Sea,'' Peterson marveled. ''It just opened up.''

''That's just `AP,''' Von Miller said. ''We came into the game knowing that he was going to make plays and we're fortunate that that was the only big one.''

Free safety Harrison Smith's interception two plays later set up Blair Walsh's tying field goal from 33 yards with 5:11 remaining.

Manning drove the Broncos 55 yards in nine plays, and Brandon McManus's 39-yard field goal with 1:51 left broke the tie.

''You have to have a short-term memory in this league,'' Manning said of bouncing back from his two turnovers. ''On both occasions we responded the next series with scoring drives.''

Then, Denver's defense went to work to close out another game.

Peterson missed the block on T.J. Ward and Miller smothered the loose football after the blitzing safety's sack-strip of Bridgewater at midfield with 29 seconds left.

''Definitely frustrating, especially when I feel like it's my fault,'' Peterson said, explaining Ward was hidden behind linebacker Brandon Marshall. ''(I've) got to come through and make that block for Teddy.''

All four of Denver's wins have come down to the closing minutes.

''I don't even think of it as close anymore,'' Miller said. ''That's just how we play. It's just how football is. You stop thinking about the days when we would put up 40 and 50 (points) on teams. This is the National Football League and we're playing tough teams every week.

''I don't want to call it close because that's just how it's going to be in this league. It was another great game for us.''

NOTES: Manning, who threw a 1-yard TD pass to a wide-open TE Owen Daniels on fourth-and-goal, has now led his teams to a 4-0 start seven times, most in NFL history. Next up at four is Fran Tarkenton. ... Hillman's long run is tied for the fourth longest in franchise history. ... Bridgewater threw for 269 yards despite not having wide receivers Charles Johnson (ribs) and Jarius Wright (hand). ... Manning joined Brett Favre (113) as the only QBs to win 100 home starts in the NFL. ... Broncos WR Cody Latimer (groin) was the only injury of note. ... The Broncos are the only team that hasn't been scored on in the first quarter.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametra...151122_DEN@CHI

Osweiler throws for 2 TDs, Broncos beat Bears 17-15
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
AP Sports Writer
Nov. 22, 2015

CHICAGO (AP) Brock Osweiler refused to let a day go to waste while he waited for his chance - and watched one of the game's greatest quarterbacks.

He had a chance to learn from Peyton Manning and made the most of his opportunity when he finally got called on.

Osweiler threw for two touchdowns filling in for the injured Manning, and the Denver Broncos stopped Jeremy Langford on a 2-point conversion run in the final minute to beat the Chicago Bears 17-15.

Langford scored on a 2-yard run with 24 seconds left to cap a 65-yard drive. But the Broncos were ready for the run on the conversion attempt and stopped Langford to secure a narrow victory.

Osweiler completed 20 of 27 passes for 250 yards in the first start of his four-year career, while the five-time MVP stayed back in Denver because of injuries to his foot, ribs and shoulder. Osweiler got sacked five times, but he kept his poise against an aggressive defense. It all added up to a neat birthday for a backup who turned 25 on Sunday.

''I don't know if anybody believed me, but I really was telling the truth - I have not wasted a single day sitting behind Peyton,'' Osweiler said. ''I fully recognize that he might be the greatest quarterback to ever play, if not one of the greatest. I wasn't going to let one of those days go by where I didn't learn something. I've been very appreciative for my situation.''

Ronnie Hillman ran for 102 yards. The AFC West-leading Broncos (8-2) played turnover-free ball and got back to winning against former coach John Fox after dropping two in a row.

Osweiler threw a 48-yard touchdown to Demaryius Thomas on Denver's first possession of the game and a 10-yarder to Cody Latimer early in the fourth quarter to make it 17-9 after Chicago cut the lead to one.

''He does this all of the time in practice, in preseason,'' linebacker Von Miller said. ''I kind of came out here and expected it. What he did is what I expected him to do.''

The Bears (4-6) drove to the Denver 4 after Latimer's touchdown, only to have Jay Cutler's fourth-down pass to Langford in a crowd in the end zone get broken up.

Asked why he went for it rather than kick a field goal, Fox said: ''I think we hadn't made many trips down there, and when we had, we hadn't scored touchdowns. It had been kind of a field-goal game. At that point in the game, we felt that was going to be maybe our last opportunity so we were aggressive and came up short on fourth-and-4.''

Chicago also came up short in its bid to hit the .500 mark.

The Bears had won two in a row to jump into playoff contention in the NFC, something few would have expected this season. They are clearly making strides under Fox, who split with Denver in January after leading the Broncos to four first-place finishes in the division and a trip to the Super Bowl.

But Chicago had trouble reaching the end zone against the league's No. 1 defense, even though the Broncos were missing outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (back). The Bears settled for three field goals by Robbie Gould before that late touchdown.

Jay Cutler threw for 265 yards in his first meaningful game against Denver since the trade to Chicago in 2009, even though the Bears were missing running back Matt Forte (knee) and receiver Alshon Jeffery (groin, shoulder). He had an interception and lost a fumble in the fourth quarter with the Bears on the Denver 33.

Cutler got hit by Von Miller as he was throwing and the ball popped up off a lineman before Denver's Malik Jackson cradled it.

The Broncos had a chance to add to a four-point lead midway through the third quarter after Danny Trevathan returned an interception to the Chicago 25, only to come away empty-handed.

Denver went for it on fourth-and-1 at the 2 rather than kick a field goal. That backfired when Hillman tripped on Osweiler's foot and got stopped for no gain.

''I've got to get my big feet out of the way,'' Osweiler said.

For at least one week, a 6-foot-8 quarterback with size 17s did a good job filling some big shoes.

NOTES: Bears RB Ka'Deem Carey exited in the third quarter with a concussion after a helmet-to-helmet hit from Denver's T.J. Ward. ... Broncos left guard Evan Mathis limped off the field with an ankle injury in the closing minutes of the game. ... Field judge Rick Patterson left in the fourth quarter with an injury. It was not clear how he was hurt.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametra...150920_ARI@CHI

Palmer throws 4 TDs in Cardinals' 48-23 win over Bears
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
AP Sports Writer
Sep. 20, 2015

CHICAGO (AP) As long as Carson Palmer is in the lineup, the Arizona Cardinals believe they can beat anybody. And they will be tough to knock off if he keeps playing like this.

Palmer threw for four touchdowns to lead the Cardinals to a 48-23 victory over the Chicago Bears, who lost Jay Cutler to a pulled hamstring Sunday.

Palmer connected with Larry Fitzgerald for three of his TDs, giving the quarterback seven in two games after returning last week against New Orleans from a torn anterior cruciate ligament that cut short his season after just six games a year ago.

''I've never been around this deep of a team,'' Fitzgerald said. ''I was around Hall of Famers in Anquan (Boldin) and Edgerrin James and Kurt Warner, but besides that, on the offensive side of the ball I've got some guys that really can play over there.''

Palmer was 17 of 24 with 185 yards to improve to 15-2 in his last 17 starts. Fitzgerald had 112 yards, and with those three TDs, he matched a career high he set against Philadelphia in the conference final seven years ago.

David Johnson returned the opening kickoff a club-record 108 yards and added a rushing TD, becoming the first player in NFL history with a rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown and kickoff-return touchdown in his first two games to begin a career.

Chris Johnson ran for 72 yards with Andre Ellington sidelined by a sprained right knee for the Cardinals (2-0). And, coach Bruce Arians gained a measure of revenge after the Bears hired Marc Trestman over him in January 2013.

''I think the running game is so much better,'' Palmer said. ''It just gives us another dimension. I think last year, teams were a little less aggressive and kind of sitting back waiting for the pass.''

Cutler walked to the locker room after he was stiff-armed trying to tackle Tony Jefferson on a 26-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the first half.

That was the biggest development in a game that included several big plays and ended with Chicago (0-2) remaining winless under new coach John Fox. The seven touchdowns allowed tied the franchise record for the Bears, who had never given up 48 points in a home game. They also tied a club record with 170 penalty yards.

Cutler completed his first eight passes for 120 yards before getting picked off. He threw a 48-yard touchdown to Josh Bellamy. But the injury on Jefferson's interception return was another big blow for a team that was already missing its top receiver with Alshon Jeffery out because of a hamstring problem.

Cutler was not available for comment afterward, and Fox would not say if he expects his quarterback to return this season.

''It takes a while to run tests,'' Fox said. ''Our medical people will inform me and then I will inform you.''

Now, the Bears could be missing their quarterback when they visit defending NFC champion Seattle. That would likely mean a start for Jimmy Clausen, who was 14 of 23 for 121 yards after Cutler went down.

''You've just got to keep pushing forward,'' Clausen said. ''I felt the air was deflated a little bit, but guys did a great job just trying to (say) `let's go, let's go, let's go' and pick up the tempo a little bit, try to move the chains.''

Clausen's long pass on the opening drive of the second half got picked off by Patrick Peterson, leading to a 28-yard touchdown catch by Fitzgerald that made it 35-20. David Johnson added a 13-yard scoring run to make it a 22-point game, sending Arizona to a lopsided victory after a wild first half.

Along with Johnson's team-record return on the game's opening kickoff, there were two long pass interference penalties by Chicago's Kyle Fuller and Alan Ball that led to touchdowns for the Cardinals. The Bears also got a pair of field goals in the final minute of the half, thanks to a fumble recovery on a punt and an interception by Jared Allen.

All that was overshadowed by Cutler's injury.

Arizona had just grabbed a 21-14 lead when he threw a pass behind Martellus Bennett, resulting in an easy interception for Jefferson. As he tried to make a tackle, Cutler got stiff-armed and landed on his right shoulder. But the Bears said he injured his hamstring.

NOTES: Cardinals WR J.J. Nelson left with a shoulder injury. LB LaMarr Woodley also hurt his shoulder, but returned. ... For Chicago, Bellamy's TD was also his first career reception. He is in his fourth year in the league. ... Bears rookie Jeremy Langford scored his first TD on a 1-yard run.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametra...151011_ARI@DET

Palmer throws 3 TDs to help Cardinals dominate Lions 42-17
By LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer
Oct. 11, 2015

DETROIT (AP) Carson Palmer earned a break. Matthew Stafford was forced to sit.

Palmer threw for three touchdowns, Stafford was benched after throwing a third interception, and the Arizona Cardinals routed the Detroit Lions 42-17 Sunday.

Palmer was poised and efficient, completing 11 of 14 passes for 161 yards. He threw a 14-yard pass to Darren Fells, an 18-yard connection to John Brown, and a 2-yard strike to Larry Fitzgerald for scores.

''I feel comfortable and confident,'' said Palmer, whose 154.2 passer rating was the second highest of his career that started when Cincinnati drafted him No. 1 overall in 2003.

The Cardinals (4-1) have a two-game lead in the NFC West and Larry Fitzgerald said no one on the team would be celebrating on the flight home.

''It's far too early,'' he said. ''At this point of the season last year, we had a two-game and we didn't win it.''

It may not be too early to wonder when Detroit is going to win.

The Lions (0-5) have the dubious distinction of being the NFL's only winless team, for a second straight week, and are off to their worst start since becoming the league's only 0-16 team in 2008.

When they host Chicago (2-3) next week, Stafford is expected to start. Caldwell said he simply substituted Stafford out as a manager would with a pitcher.

''Going forward, we do think he's our best quarterback,'' he said.

Arizona defensive end Cory Redding, who played for the Lions' infamous team seven years ago, had an interception that he almost returned for a score, only to be stopped by Stafford. Redding hopes the Lions snap their skid because he doesn't want the current players to join him and his former teammates in league infamy.

''I don't wish that on my worst enemy,'' Redding said.

Stafford was picked off on passes well short of receivers and missed at least one wide-open option. Stafford was told to stay on the sideline in the third quarter and wasn't surprised because of what he heard from coach Jim Caldwell at halftime.

''He warned me at halftime that I only got one more,'' Stafford recalled.

Stafford was 20 of 32 for 188 yards with a 6-yard TD pass to Theo Riddick that gave Detroit a 7-0 lead after its defense didn't allow the Cardinals to score a point - or even pick up a first down - following two turnovers in the first quarter. He was replaced by Dan Orlovsky, who threw his first pass since 2012 and took a snap for the first time in two years. In Detroit at least, he is best remembered for obliviously running out of the back of the end zone when rolling out to pass for a safety during a setback at Minnesota when the franchise set a record it didn't want.

After the Lions lost every game in 2008, they drafted Stafford No. 1 overall out of Georgia, ignoring questions about his inability to throw accurately. Now, they are relatively stuck after signing him two years ago to a $53 million, three-year extension that keeps him under contract through 2017.

Orlovsky completed 21 of 38 passes for 191 yards with a TD late in the game and an interception.

Stafford and Orlovsky combined to set an NFL record with 70 pass attempts in a regulation game, surpassing the 69 thrown by Vinny Testaverde of the New York Jets in a 2000 loss to Baltimore, according to STATS.

Palmer helped the Cardinals average an NFL-high 37 points entering the game, and they surpassed that with a mixture of plays.

Chris Johnson had 11 carries for 103 yards, giving him nearly 300 yards rushing in three games. Rookie David Johnson took over in short-yardage situations, scoring on a 4-yard run to put Arizona ahead 14-7 early in the second quarter and a 2-yarder late in the first half.

Rashad Johnson matched a career high with two interceptions. Patrick Peterson picked off a pass and limited Calvin Johnson to five receptions and 67 yards.

''Once we got the first couple turnovers, it was like piranhas with the blood in the water,'' Arizona coach Bruce Arians said. ''I was just worried we were going to start taking the ball away from each other.''

NOTES: Cardinals LB Alex Okafor and LB Kenny Demens both had knee injuries during the game. ... Lions LB DeAndre Levy was cleared to return from a hip injury only to aggravate it against Arizona.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametra...151210_MIN@ARI

Freeney's defensive play saves Arizona's 23-20 win
By BOB BAUM
AP Sports Writer
Dec. 10, 2015

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) Dwight Freeney considered retirement. A month into the season he still wasn't on a team. Then the Arizona Cardinals came calling, looking to boost their troubled pass rush.

The 35-year-old veteran of 14 NFL seasons helped a whole bunch Thursday night.

Freeney stripped the ball from Teddy Bridgewater with 5 seconds remaining to deprive the Vikings a chance at the tying field goal, and the Cardinals clinched a playoff berth with a 23-20 victory over Minnesota.

''That's why I came back, because moments like this, you can't duplicate those in life,'' Freeney said.

Bridgewater moved the Vikings to the Arizona 31-yard line, well within the range of Blair Walsh. But Freeney hit the quarterback's arm as Bridgewater tried to pass. The ball came loose and Calais Campbell recovered for Arizona.

''To be able to have this type of dream situation, fourth quarter, game on the line, it's kind of like ninth inning, two outs,'' Freeney said, ''one of those situations for a defensive lineman, and I was able to make a play.''

Arizona coach Bruce Arians said the Vikings ''were in field goal range for sure. It was a great play by him and that's why he's going to the Hall of Fame.''

Bridgewater said he ''had a clear understanding of the situation'' when the play unfolded.

''We didn't have any timeouts, couldn't afford to get tackled in bounds,'' he said. ''The play was designed to push the ball down a little and allow our guy to make the catch and get out of bounds. I had that clock going off in my head. I was ready to throw.''

Chandler Catanzaro's 47-yard field goal with 1:23 to go was the winning score as Arizona (11-2) won its seventh in a row.

Bridgewater passed for 335 yards and a touchdown for the Vikings (8-5), who were playing without four defensive starters but made it close after being embarrassed at home by Seattle 38-7 on Sunday.

Carson Palmer threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns for the Cardinals, who will win the NFC West if Seattle loses Sunday at Baltimore.

Minnesota's Adrian Peterson wanted more carries than the eight he got (for 9 yards) against the Seahawks. He got them, carrying 23 times for 69 yards, but had only 31 yards on 19 attempts after his 9-yard touchdown run on the Vikings' first possession of the night.

Palmer connected on scoring plays of 65 yards to John Brown and 42 to Michael Floyd. His 30th and 31st touchdown passes broke the franchise record of 30 set by Kurt Warner in Arizona's 2008 Super Bowl season.

Floyd caught five passes for 102 yards. David Johnson, the rookie who stepped in when the Cardinals' top two backs were hurt, rushed for 92 yards in 19 attempts.

After Walsh's 54-yard field goal cut the Arizona lead to 20-13 and the Cardinals failed to convert on third-and-1, the Vikings went 88 yards in 11 plays, tying it 20-20 on Bridgewater's third-down, 7-yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace with 4:50 remaining.

Arizona moved downfield and left guard Mike Iupati caught a deflected pass for 10 yards in the drive to the decisive field goal.

The Vikings fumbled the ball away three times: once deep in Arizona territory; again near midfield to lead to a Cardinals touchdown; and finally when Freeney, who signed with Arizona on Oct. 13, burst around the left side of the Minnesota line to knock the ball away and preserve the victory.

Peterson had one of the fumbles on what was supposed to be a reverse. Josh Mauro knocked the ball away from him and Alex Okafor recovered at the Arizona 43. Five plays later, Palmer threw to Floyd, who followed Larry Fitzgerald's crunching block and raced down the sideline for the touchdown that made it 17-10

The Vikings had tied it 10-all on Walsh's 44-yard field goal with 7 seconds left in the first half. Earlier, Minnesota was driving for what would have been the go-ahead touchdown when Jarius Wright caught a short pass from Bridgewater, then was hit by Deone Bucannon and fumbled. Bucannon recovered at the Arizona 15.

Notes: The total yardage was nearly even: 393 for Arizona, 389 for Minnesota. ... The Vikings almost won even though they didn't have safeties Harrison Smith and Andrew Sendejo, linebacker Anthony Barr and nose tackle Linval Joseph. ... Arizona WR and special teams player Brittan Golden was being evaluated for a concussion after a hit in the second half. ... Cardinals tight end Jermaine Gresham, a game-time decision, did not play due to a knee injury.

and here'es the BIGGEST Stories of all...

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametra...0151101_GB@DEN

Manning, Broncos throttle Rodgers, Packers 29-10
By ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Pro Football Writer
Nov. 1, 2015

DENVER (AP) This is exactly what Gary Kubiak envisioned when he returned to Denver: Peyton Manning running bootlegs and rollouts, using his tight ends as targets and watching his running backs race into the end zone.

The Broncos finally found some offense to go with all that defense, powering their way past the Green Bay Packers 29-10 Sunday night.

Any more questions about Denver's worthiness as a contender or an unbeaten?

In only the fourth meeting of teams 6-0 or better, Manning tied Brett Favre's NFL record with his 186th regular-season win and Denver's defense rattled Aaron Rodgers into one of the worst games of his career.

Wearing the same blue jerseys they donned while beating the Packers for their first Super Bowl win in 1997, the Broncos dominated the Packers, outgaining them 500 yards to 140.

''It was just a big measuring stick for the whole team and everybody really took that to heart and stepped up to the challenge,'' said DeMarcus Ware, whose fourth-quarter sack of Rodgers resulted in a safety.

The Broncos are 7-0 for the first time since their 1998 team that won the Super Bowl after going 14-2.

The Packers (6-1) fell from the unbeaten ranks, throttled not only by the league's stingiest defense but by a quarterback who finally looked like a five-time MVP and not a creaky 39-year-old learning a new system.

''I felt we beat a good football team tonight,'' Manning said. ''It took the whole team ... Great job by the defense.''

And, at long last, by the embattled Broncos offense that scored more points on Green Bay than any opponent this season.

Manning didn't throw a touchdown pass hours after brother Eli lost despite throwing six of them. The Packers intercepted him late in the fourth quarter but never pressured or sacked him, allowing Manning to complete 21 of 29 passes for 340 yards.

So, maybe this marriage of Manning and Kubiak will work out after all.

''I've been very determined to get comfortable in this offense,'' Manning said. ''... I knew this was not going to be an easy transition. I can't say that a lot of what's happened has been a surprise to me. It was kind of what I expected, there were going to be some rough times, rough patches and rough parts of the transition.''

Rodgers was 14 of 22 for just 77 yards - the lowest total of his career in a game where he wasn't knocked out by injury. He was sacked three times and hit several more, including four hits on Green Bay's first drive alone that had Rodgers making hurried throws the rest of the night.

''We had goals and hit all our goals tonight,'' Von Miller said.

Along with Rodgers over and over.

''It's a good defense,'' Rodgers said, ''a really good defense. They have a good pass rush. They cover well.''

And hit hard.

''Compliment Denver. That's a humbling loss,'' Packers coach Mike McCarthy said, adding that he hadn't had his butt ''kicked like that in a long time.''

Ronnie Hillman ran for two touchdowns in helping Denver build a 17-0 lead and when he was on the sideline with a sore thigh, C.J. Anderson ran for a 28-yard TD that made it 24-10.

Anderson ran for 101 yards and Hillman 60, and Demaryius Thomas caught eight passes for 168 yards.

Also making a sudden appearance in Denver's offense were the tight ends - as targets. Freed up from blocking with the offensive line meshing like it hadn't all season, they gave Manning an option over the middle he'd been missing since losing Julius Thomas and Jacob Tamme to free agency.

Virgil Green caught three passes for 61 yards and Owen Daniels had three for 44.

The Packers came into the game leading the league with 66 first-quarter points, but Rodgers was hit early and often as the Broncos' pass rush hemmed him in and didn't let him loop around for his patented re-sets.

''He's a very elusive quarterback and we had to make sure he was corralled in the pocket,'' Ware said.

At halftime, the Broncos inducted owner Pat Bowlen into their ring of fame. Bowlen, 71, stepped down from his daily duties running the team 15 months ago to fight Alzheimer's disease and was not in attendance. Terrell Davis, the hero of the `97 Super Bowl team that was honored before the game, said Bowlen ''may not be here in body, but he's definitely here in spirit.''

NOTES: In the three previous matchups of unblemished teams this late in the season, none was a blowout. In 1921, the Akron Pros and Buffalo All-Americans tied 0-0. In 1973, the Vikings beat the Rams 10-9 and in 2007, the Patriots beat the Colts 24-20. ... Packers CBs Sam Shields and Quinten Rollins left in the first half with shoulder injuries.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametra...0151227_GB@ARI

Cardinals sack Rodgers 8 times, rout Packers 38-8
By BOB BAUM
AP Sports Writer
Dec. 27, 2015

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) The Arizona Cardinals flattened Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

That makes it nine straight wins for the Cardinals, who think they're still gaining steam.

''You want to play your best ball at the end of the season,'' Arizona defensive lineman Calais Campbell said, ''and I think this is the best game we've played.''

The Cardinals sacked Rodgers eight times and returned two of his fumbles for touchdowns in a dominant 38-8 victory.

Carson Palmer threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns for the Cardinals (13-2). The winning streak is the franchise's longest since the 1948 Chicago Cardinals won 10 in a row.

Green Bay was without starting left tackle David Bakhtiari with an injury and lost starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga to an ankle injury during the game.

So the Packers (10-5) were in no position to slow the rout.

''They were very aggressive to the line of scrimmage,'' Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said. ''They played very well and took advantage of it.''

In all, Packers quarterbacks were sacked nine times in their most one-sided loss of the season. Dwight Freeney had three and Campbell 2 1/2. Cory Redding rambled 36 yards with one of the fumbles for a score, and Jerraud Powers took another 5 yards for a touchdown.

The Packers dropped into a tie with Minnesota for the NFC North lead when the Vikings cruised to a 49-17 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday night. Green Bay hosts Minnesota in its regular-season finale next Sunday.

''This was a playoff-style game and we played terrible,'' Rodgers said, ''but we have won a lot of games here. When you play long enough you are going to be on the wrong side at times, but I am confident that we have guys and myself that, when it matters for all the marbles, guys will show up.''

The nine sacks were the most for the Cardinals since they had 10 against Philadelphia on Dec. 7, 1986, two years before the franchise moved to Arizona.

Arizona clinched at least the No. 2 playoff seed in the NFC. It still can take the No. 1 seed with a win over Seattle and a Carolina loss to Tampa Bay next weekend.

''We still really haven't done anything other than get a bye,'' Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said. ''You don't get rings for byes; you only get T-shirts and hats.''

Palmer completed 18 of 27 passes and was intercepted once. Michael Floyd caught six passes for 111 yards for the Cardinals, who entered the game with the NFL's No. 1-ranked offense.

Rodgers was 15 for 28 for 151 yards and a touchdown with one interception.

The game was close until a big reversal of fortune in the final minute of the first half.

With Arizona leading 10-0, Palmer attempted to lob a screen pass to David Johnson near the line of scrimmage but Mike Daniels, the Packers' 6-foot, 310-pound defensive tackle, picked it off and Green Bay had the ball on the Arizona 15.

But on third-and-goal at the 10, Justin Bethel stepped in front of intended receiver James Jones and intercepted the pass in the end zone. Rodgers' seventh interception of the season gave the Cardinals the ball at the 20 with 57 seconds to play.

A 47-yard pass to Floyd advanced the ball to the 33 and two more completions, plus a defensive holding call, set up Palmer's 7-yard scoring pass to John Brown, putting Arizona ahead 17-0.

Things just got worse for the Packers from there.

On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, Green Bay's James Starks fumbled and Powers recovered at the Packers 28. Palmer threw 14 yards to Floyd, and then Johnson ran 14 yards for a score to make it 24-0.

The 6-foot-4, 318-pound Redding's TD made it 31-0.

NOTES: Freeney made an extra $300,000 in incentives with his three sacks. ... Arizona was without both of its usual starting safeties. Rashad Johnson missed his second game in a row with an ankle injury after being listed as questionable. Tyrann Mathieu is out for the season with a torn ACL. ... The Packers didn't have cornerback Sam Shields (concussion). ... Palmer had to wear a hula dancer outfit for a time pregame for losing a bet in a weekly accuracy competition on Friday.

credit: cbssports.com

Cardinals & Broncos; 2 Teams that are on the verge of clinching #1 Seeds


Quarterbacks Peyton Manning & Carson Palmer all smiles and a reason to celebrate


Wide Receivers Demaryius Thomas & Larry Fitzgerald also have another reason to celebrate


Coaches Gary Kubiak & Bruce Arians all smiles and laughs


Detroit Lions' Coach Jim Caldwell & Matthew Stafford trying to recover from their losses


Chicago Bears' John Fox & Jay Cutler came close on def. the Broncos, but recovering from the Cardinals LOSS


Vikings' Teddy Bridgewater & Mike Zimmer came so close on 2 occasions on the road


Packers' Aaron Rodgers & Coach Mike McCarthy on those moments that they would rather forget


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