BRONCOS WIN AGAIN
DENVER (AP) – Denver won its 10th straight game Sunday as Peyton Manning threw three touchdown passes for the 72nd time of his career in a 34-12 victory over the Cleveland Browns. Denver (12-3) pulled into a tie for first place in the AFC with Houston, which fell 23-6 to the Vikings. Manning finished with 339 yards on 30-for-43 passing. Von Miller was in on two sacks for the Broncos, the second of which knocked Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden out of the game with a right shoulder injury. Miller has 17 1/2 sacks on the season, breaking Elvis Dumervil’s franchise record. If Denver defeats Kansas City at home next week and Houston loses at Indianapolis, the Broncos would be the AFC’s top seed.
BROWNS-BRONCOS INJURIES
Brown leaves game with head injury
DENVER (AP) – Cleveland Browns cornerback Sheldon Brown left the game with a head injury after colliding with Broncos receiver Brandon Stokley late in the second quarter Sunday. Brown was trying to cover Demaryius Thomas over the middle of the field when he bumped into Stokley, who drew an offensive pass interference penalty. Brown stayed down before being helped to the bench. Broncos cornerback Tracy Porter left with a concussion in the first quarter. Porter was banged up when he hit Josh Gordon after the Browns receiver caught a pass for a short gain. This was Porter’s first game back since Oct. 7 and he lasted only three plays.
He has missed nine straight games after experiencing symptoms similar to those he had last summer that preceded a seizure.
BROWNS-CRIBBS TWEETS
Cribbs lashes out at fans on Twitter
DENVER (AP) – Cleveland Browns returner Joshua Cribbs lashed out at fans in an obscenity-laced tweet after a 34-12 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Said Cribbs: “See all the negativity on twitter after I gave my life to this …. . So 2 all u who are against me …. all y’all! I’m still gonna do me!” He would later delete the tweet. Later, Cribbs posted: “2 all browns fans who are with us win or lose, we got Pitt next week & this loss makes us hungry for a W!!!”
Cribbs had a rough afternoon for the Browns as he fumbled a punt in the fourth quarter, which set up a Broncos score.
MLS-RAPIDS-DYNAMO TRADE
Rapids trade Omar Cummings to Dynamo for Sturgis
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (AP) – The Colorado Rapids have traded forward Omar Cummings to the Houston Dynamo for midfielder Nathan Sturgis and allocation money. The 30-year-old Cummings had scored 39 regular-season goals since joining the Rapids and had 14 as Colorado won the league title in 2010. He has seven goals in 28 appearances with Jamaica’s national team. After missing the playoffs for the first time since 2009, Colorado has allowed Conor Casey to leave for Philadelphia and acquired Edson Buddle from Los Angeles. The 25-year-old Sturgis has been with Los Angeles (2006-07), Real Salt Lake (2007-08), Seattle (2009-10) and Toronto (2011) in addition to Houston. Allocation money can be credited against the MLS salary cap or to acquire players from outside the league.
