Broncos Peyton Manning Eric Decker too much for Chiefs

Denver Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker (87) caught four of Peyton Manning's give touchdown passes in a win over the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City Mo. on Dec. 1 2013.(Photo Denny Medley USA TODAY Sports)

Story HighlightsPeyton Manning threw for five touchdowns Sunday and has 41 on the seasonManning was 22 of 35 for 403 yards he now has 4 125 through 12 gamesEric Decker caught eight passes for 174 yards and four touchdowns

KANSAS CITY Mo. So which is it Is Peyton Manning the leading candidate for MVP or is he an over the hill quarterback who has lost his fastball

From game to game quarter to quarter and even throw to throw Manning's arm strength and the amount of wobble in his passes have been dissected and analyzed.

He's great He's toast Look at that accuracy Whoa now that was a duck

BOX SCORE Broncos 35 Chiefs 28

Never was the Manning roller coaster more acute than in the Broncos' 35 28 win vs. the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium where the narrative that Manning had lost his arm strength gained traction as he threw two first half interceptions with both turnovers leading to Chiefs touchdowns and a 21 14 halftime lead for Kansas City.

Then came the third quarter.

Manning slung completions of 20 yards and 37 yards on the first drive after halftime the second long throw a dart to Eric Decker who blew past two Chiefs defensive backs and caught the pass in stride in the end zone the second of his four touchdown catches. On 80 92 and 95 yard TD drives in the third and early fourth quarters in which the Broncos erased the Chiefs' lead there was little about Manning to criticize.

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) drops back to pass against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City Mo. on Dec. 1 2013. Manning threw five TD passes in the Broncos' 35 28 win.(Photo John Rieger USA TODAY Sports)

Not that his teammates ever were concerned. Receiver Andre Caldwell watched plenty of the coverage about Manning's diminishing arm strength in the six days after the Broncos lost to the New England Patriots on a frigid night in Foxborough Mass. Manning had a season low 150 passing yards and completed 52.8% of his passes in that game.

He threw for 403 yards and five touchdowns Sunday.

MOVED Moreno weeps during national anthem

I laugh at it because I know he can do it Caldwell said. I know he can make any throw on the field. He does it all the time in practice and he did it here tonight. It'll shut them up until we have to play in the cold. If he plays like that in a cold weather game they'll be quiet.

TRAGEDY Police investigate death in Arrowhead parking lot

Manning could get that chance quickly with temperatures expected to be below freezing for much of the next week in Denver including Sunday when the Broncos host the Tennessee Titans.

Manning and the Broncos (10 2) head into that game with a one game lead on the rest of the AFC in the race for the No. 1 seed and with what basically amounts to a two game lead over the Chiefs in the AFC West. Denver completed a season sweep of the Chiefs two weeks after winning the teams' first matchup in Denver.

Sunday's game was markedly closer thanks to Manning's two first half interceptions an improved Chiefs running game and a strong performance from Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith who nearly led a game tying drive in the game's final minutes.

Smith threw an interception on the Chiefs' first possession but was very good for the rest of the game. He was elusive on his feet in rushing four times for 46 yards threw two impressive touchdown passes in the first half and made several gusty throws in the failed comeback attempt none better than the third and long prayer from his end zone after the two minute warning that saved a desperation drive.

But Smith's final pass on fourth down from Denver's 13 yard line was batted away in the end zone to seal Kansas City's third consecutive loss. The Chiefs have not won since their bye week and have allowed 103 points in the losses two to Denver and one to the San Diego Chargers.

Barring an epic collapse the Chiefs (9 3) should make the playoffs likely as the No. 5 seed.

It's important we get ourselves back and ready to go and finish the season like we're capable of coach Andy Reid said. I know our guys coaches and players will do that.

PHOTOS Best of Week 13 action

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