Trailing 24-0 in third, Broncos rally to stun Chargers

October 16, 2012

Peyton Manning threw three touchdown passes in the second half, and Tony Carter and Chris Harris scored off turnovers by Philip Rivers as the Broncos overcame a 24-0 third-quarter deficit to stun the Chargers, 35-24, Monday night in San Diego.

Manning completed 13 of 14 for 167 yards in the second half for the Broncos (3-3), who tied the Chargers atop the AFC West.

Rivers was intercepted four times, three in the fourth quarter, and lost two fumbles.

Manning's 21-yard pass to Brandon Stokley gave Denver its first lead at 28-24 with 9:03 left. Harris sealed it with a 46-yard interception return for a TD with 2:05 left. It was his second pick of the game.

Manning completed 24 of 30 for 309 yards with one interception.

Ravens' Lewis out for season

Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis will miss the rest of the season with an arm injury, an enormous blow to an already depleted defense that uncharacteristically has struggled. The Ravens also lost cornerback Lardarius Webb for the season after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Lewis tore his right triceps in a 31-29 win over Dallas. He leads Baltimore (5-1) in tackles and is its team leader. Lewis turns 38 in May, so it's possible that Sunday's game was his last. "That's for Ray to speak on," coach John Harbaugh said.

In a spectacular 17-season career, Lewis has been to 13 Pro Bowls, was named Super Bowl MVP and twice was defensive player of the year.

Vilma turns to federal judge

Jonathan Vilma again is asking a federal judge to overturn his suspension in the NFL's bounty probe of the Saints, and the NFL Players Association is making a similar request on behalf of three other players.

In papers filed in U.S. District Court in New Orleans, Vilma said commissioner Roger Goodell conducted a "farcical review" of previously overturned disciplinary action before ruling last week that the Saints linebacker would remain suspended for the season.

Vilma said Goodell has continued to abuse his power and demonstrate bias, leaving no hope for a fair process that would respect Vilma's "industrial due process rights." -- AP