Denver beats Kansas City on two late touchdowns 9 seconds apart

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The curse of Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos lives on in Kansas City.

Bradley Roby returned Jamaal Charles's second fumble 21 yards for a touchdown with 27 seconds left Thursday night, completing a stunning comeback for a 31-24 victory over the Chiefs.

It was Denver's second touchdown in nine seconds.

Manning threw for 256 yards and three scores, the last to Emmanuel Sanders with 36 seconds left as the Broncos (2-0) appeared to force overtime.

But on the next play, Charles was stripped by Brandon Marshall and the ball bounced into Roby's hands.

"I'm not quite sure I'd ever been in one quite like that," Manning said. "That was a new one for me."

The dramatic about-face came after Knile Davis gave Kansas City the lead with 2:27 left on an 8-yard run, raising hope among a sellout crowd that the Chiefs win in this series.

Charles finished with 125 yards rushing and a touchdown, but he will only remember his fumbles — one in the red zone early in the game, the other deep in his own territory late in the game.

Alex Smith threw for 191 yards for Kansas City, but he also was picked off twice.

Manning threw a pick-six of his own, but he responded when it mattered the most.

The Broncos had taken over at their own 20-yard line with 2:27 left and trailing 24-17, and the seven-time All-Pro hit Sanders over the middle on third-and-10 from the Chiefs 19 for the tying touchdown.

Associated Press