Broncos 28, Chargers 20: Peyton Manning threw for 330 yards and four touchdowns as visiting Denver built a big lead and held off a late comeback in its first game since coach John Fox underwent heart valve surgery.

Demaryius Thomas had seven catches for 108 yards and three touchdowns as the Broncos (8-1) remained one game behind first-place Kansas City in the AFC West heading into next week's showdown with the Chiefs in Denver. Running back Knowshon Moreno rushed for 65 yards and had eight receptions for 49 yards as the Broncos beat the Chargers (4-5) for the fourth straight time.

Philip Rivers threw for 218 yards and a touchdown and Ryan Mathews ran for 59 yards and a score for San Diego, which lost despite controlling the ball for 38:03. Denver had the ball for only 57 seconds in the first quarter but led 7-0 on Manning's 74-yard scoring strike to tight end Julius Thomas.

The Chargers had a 3-to-1 edge in time of possession in the first half but saw the game get away in the final two minutes of the second quarter. San Diego's Nick Novak missed a 37-yard field goal with 1:38 left and Manning quickly moved Denver 73 yards in nine plays, capping the drive with a 7-yard pass to Demaryius Thomas for a 21-6 lead at the break.

Manning hooked up with Demaryius Thomas on a 34-yard screen pass on the opening drive of the second half to make it 28-6 but the Chargers fought back. Rivers followed a Manning fumble with a 7-yard scoring toss to Danny Woodhead and Mathews plunged in from a yard out to cut the deficit to 28-20 with 10:42 to play, but San Diego was stopped on its next possession and Denver ran out the clock.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Manning, who tied New England's Tom Brady for the most TD passes through the first nine games of the season with 33, aggravated a right ankle injury in the waning minutes and said he will undergo an MRI exam on Monday. ... Chargers LB Larry English (biceps), OLs King Dunlap (concussion) and Nick Hartwick (neck) and FB Le'Ron McClain were all knocked out of the game with injuries. ... Demaryius Thomas became the first Denver player with three receiving touchdowns since TE Shannon Sharpe in November 2003. ... Fox, who was released from the hospital on Friday, will receive a game ball, Manning said.