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Broncos’ Peyton Manning: Emmanuel Sanders will ‘fit right in’

Aug 23, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (10) bows following his second touchdown reception late in the second quarter of a preseason game against the Houston Texans at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 23, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (10) bows following his second touchdown reception late in the second quarter of a preseason game against the Houston Texans at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning found his old friend Julius Thomas early and often. The two connected for three touchdowns and over 100 yards in the 31-24 win against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday night. But Emmanuel Sanders was there, too. He was second on the Broncos in receiving with 77 yards on six catches. He made the most of his eight targets, and he seems like a great, new toy for Manning and the offense.

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“I think he’s fitting in pretty well,” Manning said, via the Denver Post. “It’s not easy changing teams, changing offense. He’s gotten better each week. My confidence is high in him, started out the game going right to him, then had the long one to him where we almost got a touchdown. So I thought it was a good start for him in his first game as a Bronco.”

It was a good start. But the Broncos, as a whole, didn’t finish like Manning would have liked. They let the Colts back in the game in the second half.

“It’s hard to say,” Manning said. “Opening night in my history is you come out a little sluggish and guys have nerves. We set the bar pretty high the way we played in the first half. It was disappointing in the second half with the three and out on our first series.”

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