CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Moments after the Denver Broncos gave the Carolina Panthers a good old-fashioned shellacking Sunday, they gave coach John Fox a game ball. "There were a lot of motivating factors to help us win this game, and coach Fox was the biggest one," Von Miller said. Peyton Manning made sure Foxs return to Carolina was successful, throwing for 301 yards and a touchdown, and the defence turned in a dominating performance to lead the Broncos to a 36-14 rout.au Manning threw his 420th touchdown pass to move into a tie for second place on the NFLs list with his childhood hero Dan Marino. He trails only Brett Favre (508). "I have never felt comfortable kind of being mentioned with him," Manning said. Manning had plenty of help from his teammates. Linebacker Miller harassed Cam Newton all day and Trindon Holliday returned a punt 76 yards for a touchdown as the Broncos (6-3) won for the fifth time in six weeks. The Broncos sacked Newton seven times, including once for a safety, and Miller pressured him into an interception Tony Carter returned 40 yards for a score. Fox spent nine seasons in Carolina before his relationship with owner Jerry Richardson dramatically deteriorated when the organization failed to offer him a contract extension. So Sundays win was a taste of revenge, although Fox took the high road after the game. "You just feel good to win," Fox said. "You put a lot into these things. It is seven days of hard work and countless hours. Its all for naught if you dont win." Miller was all over the field and finished with a sack, forced fumble and four tackles for a loss. "We want to be feared and respected for a relentless pursuit for the ball," Miller said. Denvers defence put on a show, pressuring Newton all day and forcing him to make quick decisions that often resulted in mistakes. "We changed up our protections, did a couple of things differently and they were still able to break through," Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. After a strong start, Newton finished 21 of 36 for 241 yards with two touchdown passes to tight end Greg Olsen. He threw two interceptions. By the end of the game Newton looked tired, discouraged and a little beat up. Despite spending most of the day on his back, Newton wouldnt pass blame on his offensive line. "This is the same offensive line that did an excellent job a lot of times today, so Im not thrashing them." Newton said. "... I think personally I have to do a better job of getting the football out, getting it to my outlets." Miller, selected No. 2 in the 2011 NFL draft, one spot behind Newton, was a disruptive force right from the start. He sacked Newton on the second series and celebrated by imitating Newtons Superman routine, pretending to rip open his shirt. The Panthers (2-7) appeared ready to give the Broncos a challenge early while playing in all-black uniforms, jumping to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 4-yard pass from Newton to Olsen. But it was all Broncos after that as theyd score 29 straight points. After a slow start, Manning started to pick apart Carolinas defence and was 16 of 20 for 135 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Stokley. With the game tied at 7, Holliday put the Broncos ahead with a nifty punt return for a controversial touchdown. As Holliday sprinted the final 25 yards to the end zone alone and untouched, television replays appeared to show him flip the ball out of his hand in celebration about a yard before he reached the end zone. In a pool report, NFL referee Al Riveron said, "The entire scoring play is reviewed" and that it was confirmed it was indeed a touchdown. Said Holliday: "We had that problem last week, but I thought I got the ball across the goal line. Ill have to go back and look." Prater later made it 17-7 on a 53-yard field goal. Early in the third quarter, Charles Johnson sacked Manning and forced a fumble that Greg Hardy recovered. But on the next play Miller grabbed Newtons ankle in the backfield as he was trying to throw and Carter stepped in front of the pass near the sideline and returned it for a touchdown and a 24-7 lead. Prater added another field goal and Mike Adams sacked Newton for a safety to make it 29-7. "I should have thrown it out of bounds," Newton said. "I have to be more mature than that. Its better to be second-and-10 than have a pick-six." Manning said after the game he was honoured to be in the same company with Marino, who was his favourite playing growing up. "Dan Marino, after my dad retired, was my favourite quarterback growing up," Manning said, "so it is pretty much documented through the years when I have been asked about Dan Marino how I feel about him." NOTES: Broncos DE Elvis Dumervil left the game with a shoulder injury in the second quarter and did not return. ... Panthers TE Greg Olsen posted his first career 100-yard receiving game in six seasons. ... The Panthers have not won back-to-back games this season under Rivera. We... Matthews Jersey .Shved took over in crunchtime as Russia picked up their first Olympic medal in mens basketball."This is one of the best moments of my life. When you come to the Olympic Games and win a medal, not every athlete can do this," Shved said. Nico... Batum Jersey . -- Little-used forward Kyle Miller scored a fluke stoppage-time goal in his first start for Sporting Kansas City, salvaging a 1-1 draw against English side Stoke in an international exhibition on Wednesday night. http:/... . He can officially add general manager to that list. DiLeo was introduced Monday as the new GM and he says he has the experience and ideas that can make the Sixers winners in the East. 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Were not in a position where we can rely on other people to lose," said Braun, who finished with three hits including two doubles. "We knew heading into todays game that we finally had an opportunity to pick up a game if we won and it looked improbable, but we found a way again." Norichika Aoki led off the ninth with bunt single, took second on a passed ball by catcher Jesus Flores and moved to third on Rickie Weeks fly ball out. Rather than intentionally walk the reigning National League Most Valuable Player, the Nationals pitched to Braun who promptly singled to left, scoring Aoki. Braun then stole second and came around to score the go-ahead run on Ramirezs double to left. After moving to third on a Clippard wild pitch, Ramirez scored on Travis Ishikawas infield single. Jose Veras (5-4) worked one inning in relief and John Axford pitched the ninth for his 32nd save. "I think anytime you dont score for a long period it seems like the energy is gone, but I watched the way the guys were playing," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "Were still getting after it. I havent for a long time -- I havent seen this team just kind of show up. Thats not what theyre doing." Despite the loss, Washingtons magic number for clinching the NL East fell to seven following Atlantas loss at Philadelphia. On Thursday, the Nationals clinched the first post-season berth by a Washington baseball team since 1933. "That one hurt," said Nationals manager Davey Johnson, who admitted he was "tempted" to let Jackson pitch the ninth. Instead he went with Clippard, who only got two outs and allowed three runs on four hits in his fifth blown save on the season and third loss this month. In nine September appearances, he has allowed nine earned runs in 8 1-3 innings. "Im trying to figure it out, Im searching right now," Clippard said. "Well get it figured out, Im not too worried about it. Im still confident as heck. It hurt tonight, Im not going to lie to you." Before the game Nationals manager Davey Johnson announced he plans to use Clippard and Drew Storen in the closer role going forward. Clipparrd has 32 saves this season after taking over for Storen, who underwent elbow surgery this year after recording 43 saves in 2011 Jackson efficiently limited the Brewers before being removed by a pinch-hitter, allowing one run over eight innings, scattering six hits with six strikeouts on 101 pitches.dddddddddddd He did not issue a walk for the first time since May 13 at Cincinnati. Adam LaRoches two-run homer in the first inning gave Washington the early lead and Bryce Harpers defence kept it that way until the ninth. The blown save denied Jacksons bid at becoming the fifth Nationals starter with at least 10 wins this season. In his longest and most effective start since returning from the disabled list in August, Brewers starter Shaun Marcum worked six innings, allowing two runs on four hits with three strikeouts. He silenced Washingtons bats after LaRoches homer, surrendering only two base hits after the first inning. With Ryan Zimmerman on first base after a two-out single, LaRoche turned on a 1-1 pitch from Marcum and parked it over the right field wall for his 31st home run, putting Washington ahead 2-0. Jonathan Lucroy cut the lead in half leading off the second with a towering solo home run to left off Jackson, who responded by striking out the side. The strong-armed Harper kept the Brewers from tying the game in the fourth. Braun led off the top of the inning with a double and Ramirez followed with a single to centre. With Braun rounding third, Harper charged the grounder and threw a strike to catcher Jesus Flores, who blocked the plate and tagged out the Brewers sliding left fielder. Ramirez took second on the play and moments later had the opportunity to test the 19-year-olds arm after Lucroys base hit to centre. He declined, remaining on third. Jackson escaped the inning by inducing Ishikawa into a ground ball double play. Jean Segura singled against Jackson with one-out in the eighth inning. Trying to steal second, Segura was thrown out by Flores on the back-end of a double play as pinch-hitter Corey Hart struck out. The dramatic conclusion followed. "This is probably the best team in baseball and has been all year so you know nothing is going to come easy and whenever youre on the road its that much more challenging," Braun said about beating the 91-win Nationals. "Certainly weve been finding different ways to win -- a lot of guys contributing." Notes: Before the game, Milwaukee acquired veteran catcher Yorvit Torrealba from Toronto for cash considerations. In 59 games with the Blue Jays and Rangers this season, Torrealba is batting .233 with four homers and 14 RBIs. He is expected to join the team on Saturday. ... Left-hander Gio Gonzalez aims for his 20th win on Saturday while the Brewers counter with righty Wily Peralta. ' ' '