Broncos vs. Giants 2013 final score: Peyton wins Manning bowl, 41-23

The battle of brothers was decided by each team’s supporting cast.

by James Dator

Sep 15, 2013, 11:46 PM UTC

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James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.

It wasn’t seven touchdowns, but the elder Manning beat his younger brother in the head-to-head matchup, 41-23.

Peyton Manning threw for 307 yards and two touchdowns in the Broncos' victory. It wasn't until the third quarter that he managed to throw for a touchdown, finding Wes Welker on a 2-yard score. The difference-makers on offense were Manning's supporting cast, as running back Knowshon Moreno ran for two touchdowns, while Trindon Holliday returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown.

Eli Manning was let down by his receivers, as numerous passes were dropped and opportunities were left on the field. As a result he began forcing his passes, throwing four interceptions. The Giants' running backs became a non-factor, combining for just 23 yards on 19 carries.

The unsung heroes of Sunday’s game will be the Broncos’ defensive backs. They did an excellent job covering a talented group of Giants receivers and intercepting Eli four times in the victory. The addition of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was a sage one and could be what puts the Broncos over the top this season.

Injury report

Duke Ihenacho left the game in the fourth quarter with an apparent knee injury. The status of the Broncos defensive back is not known at this time.

Fantasy studs and duds

Knowshon Moreno became an unexpected fantasy stud as the Broncos running back finished Sunday’s game with 107 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns.

Peyton Manning had another solid game, though it didn’t tip the scales like last week. His two touchdowns and 307 yards passing represented a solid result.