ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) – It was early November in Cincinnati. The Broncos quarterback dropped back to pass and found a receiver open for a 30-yard gain. Four plays later, Denver scored the winning touchdown and John Elway, in his 16th and final season, had the 39th game-winning drive of the 40 he would engineer in the fourth quarter or overtime. Fast forward 15 years to another November day in Cincinnati. Elway runs the team from the front office and the quarterback he brought to Denver, Peyton Manning, directs a five-play, 80-yard drive that gives the Broncos the fourth-quarter lead. It’s his 48th game-winning drive. Manning now holds the NFL record in a category Elway once defined. Coach John Fox says of Manning: “I think he thrives on it. I think most competitors do.”
Elsewhere in the NFL…
Green Bay 31 Arizona 17
Baltimore 25 Cleveland 15
Houston 21 Buffalo 9
Carolina 21 Washington 13
Chicago 51 Tennessee 20
Detroit 31 Jacksonville 14
Indianapolis 23 Miami 20
Seattle 30 Minnesota 20
Tampa Bay 42 Oakland 32
Pittsburgh 24 N-Y Giants 20
Atlanta 19 Dallas 13
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
New York 100 Philadelphia 84
Toronto 105 Minnesota 86
Orlando 115 Phoenix 94
Atlanta 104 Oklahoma City 95
L-A Lakers 108 Detroit 79
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – The doctor of Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano says his leukemia is in remission.
Dr. Larry Cripe tells The Associated Press that Pagano’s white blood cell count was normal and his bone marrow showed no indication of the disease.
Earlier Monday, interim coach Bruce Arians said the 5-3 Colts hoped to have Pagano back on the sideline for their regular-season finale Dec. 30. Pagano spoke to his players before and after Sunday’s 23-20 victory over Miami.
Pagano was diagnosed with leukemia Sept. 26 and remained hospitalized until Oct. 21 as doctors treated him with chemotherapy. He has been resting at home since then.
Sunday marked the first time he was allowed to return to Lucas Oil Stadium.
Pagano will go through a second round of chemotherapy soon because some cancerous cells may remain in his body.
NFL-MONDAY NIGHT
Saints and Eagles meet tonight in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Tonight’s NFL game features two teams teetering on the edge of collapse. It’s the 2-5 New Orleans Saints hosting the 3-4 Philadelphia Eagles.
Michael Vick has quarterbacked the Eagles to three straight losses and there are questions about his job security. Perhaps he turns things around tonight against the Saints leaky defense. New Orleans is the first team since at least 1950 to surrender more than 400 yards in seven straight games.
Drew Brees continues to put up impressive passing numbers for the Saints, but there’s no room for error. When he struggled last week against Denver, the Saints were blown out 34-14.
NFL-NEWS
Chiefs Crennel removes himself as D-coordinator
UNDATED (AP) – Kansas City Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel (kreh-NEHL’) has relieved himself of duties as defensive coordinator.
Crennel had been juggling head coaching and coordinator duties since taking over on an interim basis when Todd Haley was fired last December. Crennel announced Monday that Gary Gibbs would become defensive coordinator and he would spend more time with the entire team.
The 1-7 Chiefs also waived starting cornerback Stanford Routt and signed defensive tackle Shaun Smith.
NFL-JETS-RYAN
Jets coach Ryan still has no power
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) – New York Jets coach Rex Ryan and several of his players are among thousands of New Jersey residents still without power in their homes in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
Ryan said Monday as the team returned from its bye week that his home in Summit has yet to get power back. He recognizes he is in the same situation as many others in the area recovering from the hurricane and its aftermath.
Ryan stressed to his players in a morning meeting that “obviously you have to take care of family, that’s first and foremost. Yourself probably second and this team third.”
Also from the NFL:
– The Baltimore Ravens’ game at the Pittsburgh Steelers will remain on Sunday night, Nov. 18. Week 11 is when flexible scheduling kicks in, allowing the NFL to move a more appealing matchup into prime time if need be. But with the rival 6-2 Ravens and 5-3 Steelers again battling for the AFC North title, NBC is keeping the game.
OBIT-DURHAM
ESPN radio announcer Jim Durham dies at 65
BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) – ESPN radio announcer Jim Durham, who called NBA games for the network, has died. He was 65.
ESPN said Monday that Durham died over the weekend at his home in Tomball, Texas. A cause of death was not announced.
In 2011, Durham received the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport.
Durham was the lead play-by-play commentator for NBA games on ESPN Radio since its inception in 1996. His last assignment for ESPN was Tuesday’s season opener between Boston and Miami.
A Chicago native, Durham called Bulls games during Michael Jordan’s first seven seasons. He also served as a broadcaster for the Dallas Mavericks, Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros.
