Manning, Decker go unplugged on TD throw

Denver Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker sprints during the team's Summer Scrimmage at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Saturday, August 4, 2012. (BroncoTalk.net photo)

No electricity? No problem.

Peyton Manning can still deliver.

The veteran signal-caller was faced with a short-circuiting dilemma during the Denver Broncos‘ stadium scrimmage Saturday. As the offense faced 3rd and 6 from the nine-yard line, technical difficulties prevented Manning from getting the play call from offensive coordinator Mike McCoy.

“The headphones went down, actually. Sometimes those do on occasion,” Manning said. “So instead of burning the timeout, Coach McCoy just told me, ‘If the phones go down, just call something that you like.'”

“How about a touchdown?”, Manning must have thought, as he settled on the play in his head. He began his trademark audible from behind center, shouting out the play to his offensive linemen and receivers. The crowd of 41,304 caught wind of what Manning was doing and began cheering wildly, sending themselves into a fever pitch.

With one second on the play clock, Manning hiked the football. Wide receiver Eric Decker pulled a double-move on corner Drayton Florence, then zinged toward the front left corner of the end zone. Manning sent the football skyward, and it floated perfectly into Decker’s hands, over his back shoulder, and in stride. Touchdown.

“It was excellent coverage by Florence, but Decker did a good job kind of holding his eyes until the last minute,” Manning said. “Back shoulder fades are a hard route to cover. That was something he and I have been working on.”

That work made Manning and Decker a lights-out combination.