The Broncos lead the San Francisco 49ers 17-7 after one quarter in Denver. Peyton Manning connected for his first touchdown pass in a Broncos uniform, which he quickly followed up with a second in the final minute of the quarter. Manning hit Eric Decker on both touchdown strikes, pacing the Broncos to a quick 17-point lead over the 49ers. The first touchdown was a 10-yard pass to Decker on a corner route. Before the snap, the veteran wideout came in motion for what looked like a route down the middle. But Decker crossed up the Niners and ran a perfect route -- crossing the goal line, planting and cutting to the sideline. Manning hit him in stride as he went to a knee. 49ers cornerback Carlos Rogers did not have a chance to get to the ball.
Manning would hit Decker for the second Broncos score just four minutes later, after the defense forced a turnover. The Broncos' defensive front applied pressure to quarterback Alex Smith, forcing a fumble which Wesley Woodyard pounced on at the 25-yard line. Just four plays later, Manning found Decker on another corner route, dropping the ball at the back pylon for the score. Manning's day would be over after the second touchdown throw, finishing 10 of 12 for 122 yards.
The Niners would get on the board in the final minute and cut the deficit to 10, thanks to a failed onside kick attempt by Denver. Alex Smith promptly hit tight end Vernon Davis down the right side line for a 44-yard score to make it 17-7. But the first quarter certainly belonged to Manning and the Denver offense.
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