Tag: Brandon McManus

Broncos vs. Texans series history: Denver holds slight edge

The Denver Broncos will face the Houston Texans in Week 14. Here’s a look back at the series history between the two teams.

The Denver Broncos (4-8) will meet the Houston Texans (8-4) in Week 14. It will be just the eighth time the teams have played in the regular season.

The Texans entered the league as an expansion team in 2002. As a result, it’s a team that the Broncos have only faced a handful of times. In fact, out of the 31 other teams in the league, the only team the Broncos have seen less is the Carolina Panthers.

The Broncos hold a slight 4-3 edge in the all-time series. Another interesting note between these two teams is that the Texans have never taken two in a row from the Broncos. However, with a win over the Broncos last November, the Texans will have a chance to change that on Sunday.

Last meeting: November 4, 2018: Texans 19, Broncos 17

There are a few memorable things from this game, but most of them surround three people — Brandon McManus, Demaryius Thomas and Vance Joseph.

This was the first game for Thomas after the Broncos traded him just prior to the league’s trade deadline. His first game came against his former team. He caught three passes for 61 yards on the day.

For McManus, he was made the scapegoat for the loss as he missed two field goals, including a 51-yard attempt as time expired. That kick would have won the game.

His first miss was blamed more on Joseph than on him. With 18 seconds left in the first half and facing a 4th-and-9 from the Houston 44-yard line, Joseph decided to send McManus out for a 62-yard field goal. He missed. That then gave the Texans great field position to work with and after two quick completions by Deshaun Watson, Ka’imi Fairbairn booted a 46-yard field goal to end the first half.

Instead of going into the half down three, the Broncos went in down six and that proved to be the difference in the game. It seemed that Joseph’s coaching seat became boiling hot following this loss.

It was a game that revolved around the kicking game. In addition to that series prior to halftime, Fairbairn made a 37-yard kick with less than a minute to play to put the Texans up by two points just prior to the miss by McManus.

Kickoff for Sunday’s game is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. MT and the contest will air on CBS. Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon will call the action.

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Brandon McManus, Vic Fangio weigh on on nixed 65-yard field goal attempt

“I’m mad because I didn’t get to kick,” Broncos kicker Brandon McManus said.

Just before halftime of Sunday’s game against the Chargers, the Broncos were within range of a 65-yard field goal attempt. Had the team let kicker Brandon McManus attempt it, he would have been attempting to set an NFL record for the longest field goal in league history.

Fangio changed his mind about the attempt, though, and had McManus return to the sideline. The kicker was clearly furious about the decision and slammed his helmet on the ground. McManus was asked about his outburst after the game.

“I think we’re two grown men and we understand the ebbs and flows of the game,” McManus said. “He hasn’t been here that long to see my total range in training camp over the years and stuff like that. I knew I could make it. They’ve seen me make it in practice.

“We were right at the line that they gave them. I went out there the first time, went out there a second time, I was just proud. There is one way that you can take the frustration and let it affect you later throughout the game, but I was just happy with myself to hone it in.”

McManus got some consolation later in the game when he nailed a 53-yard game-winning field goal as time expired. Fangio believes not allowing McManus to attempt a 65-yarder may have helped him convert the game-winner later in the contest.

“I didn’t want to try the 65-yarder,” Fangio said on Sunday evening. “At that point, I didn’t think it was desperation. I’ve seen many times where guys go out there and try extra-long kicks. They alter the mechanics and it affects him the rest of the game. I’m going to say that that decision not to let him go out there for the 65-yarder led him to making the 52 and the 53-yarder.”

The coach and kicker aren’t necessarily on bad terms — McManus is upset he didn’t get a chance to break the record but he understands Fangio’s viewpoint.

“At the end of the day, I’m mad because I didn’t get to kick, and in his mind, he made the right decision for the team,” McManus said following a 23-20 win. “I have no problem with that, but like I said, I would love to have my name in the history books.”

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4 takeaways from Broncos’ 23-20 win over Chargers

The Denver Broncos were able to get Drew Lock a win in his first career start in NFL with a 23-20 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.

You often hear that the NFL is a “week to week” league. That is a true statement.

In one week, you can go from feeling like your team is as bad as it gets to being quite excited after one small change. However, switching quarterbacks should not be considered a small change, particularly when the quarterback is a highly-drafted rookie.

Drew Lock took over as the Broncos quarterback on Sunday and his rookie debut was met with tempered expectations, mainly because the organization seemed hesitant to put him on the field.

He came through with flying colors against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13, leading the Broncos to their fourth win of the season. Here’s what we took away from this game.

1. Drew Lock showed flashes

(Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

This is the obvious place to start. Lock wasn’t sensational by any means but he showed flashes while completing 18 of 28 passes and throwing two touchdowns. He did have one interception but for his first start, against a defense that features the likes of Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram and Derwin James, this effort was more than sufficient.

It’s also exciting for fans to see a quarterback that the team used a high draft pick on getting off to a good start in his career. This team is starving for a “quarterback of the future” and has been for years.

While that may or may not be Lock, this was a good way to start things out on the right foot.

2. Courtland Sutton is a star

(Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

Sutton is quietly having a tremendous season for the Broncos and is quickly blossoming into one of the game’s top young receivers. He really likes to play the Chargers too.

In two games against Los Angeles this year, Sutton has eight catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns.

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Twitter recap of Drew Lock’s first start for Broncos

The Denver Broncos defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 23-20 with Drew Lock becoming Denver’s 7th starting QB since Peyton Manning retired.

The Denver Broncos beat the Los Angeles Chargers 23-20 on Sunday with Drew Lock becoming the Broncos Denver’s seventh starting quarterback since Peyton Manning retired after the 2015 season. The Week 13 game did not yield a bad luck ending as kicker Brandon McManus hit the game-winning 53-yard field goal before jubilant bone-chilled home fans.

Here is a Twitter recap of the game.

That was 19,094 who did not pay for parking or concessions.

Devontae Booker ran into Chargers punter Ty Long, incurring a 15-yard personal foul. The Chargers retained the football with a first down and then converted the penalty into a field goal.

The Broncos capitalized on a turnover of their own when Brandon McManus hit a 31-yard field goal.

Left guard Ron Leary left the game with a concussion.

The Broncos’ offense was anemic during the second half, scoring only two field goals.

After his second sack of the game, defensive tackle Derek Wolfe left the field due to injury.

Safety Justin Simmons played another strong game with several key tackles.

With 14 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Chargers tied the game 20-20 with Michael Badgley’s 46-yard field goal. The Broncos regained possession and with nine seconds left, Lock threw an incomplete deep pass Sutton, but cornerback Casey Hayward committed pass interference. The ball moved 37 yards within field goal range.

McManus — with no time left in the game — hit the game-winning 53-yard field goal.

Overall, Lock played a respectable inaugural NFL game, going 18-of-28 for 134 yards, with two touchdowns against one interception, good for an 84.5 passer rating. Phillip Lindsay had 17 rushes for 58 yards. Courtland Sutton caught four passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns. McManus accounted for 11 of the Broncos’ 23 points, with three field goals and two extra points.

Up next for Denver is a road game against the Houston Texans in Week 14.

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WATCH: Brandon McManus gives Broncos thrilling victory over Chargers

A thrilling finish gave the Broncos a victory over the Chargers in Drew Lock’s first start at QB.

The Los Angeles Chargers kicked a field goal with eight seconds left in Denver Sunday to tie the game with the Broncos at 20-20. With a rookie making his first start at QB in Drew Lock, for sure Vic Fangio would have the former Missouri star take a knee and head to overtime.

Not so fast. After Lock kept looking at the playsheet/wristband, he took the snap and unloaded. Chargers DB Casey Hayward clobbered Courtland Sutton and pass interference was called.

Lock was overjoyed at the penalty.

The 37-yard penalty gave Brandon McManus a shot at a long field goal.

And he was true. McManus, who wanted to try a 65-yarder at the end of the first half but was denied by Vic Fangio, nailed the kick for a 23-20 victory.

And Lock celebrated as one would after their first victory as a starting quarterback.