Nov 23, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (10) reacts after catching a two point conversion during the second half against the Miami Dolphins at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos won 39-36. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders passed a huge milestone on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, surpassing the 1,000 yard mark for the first time in his NFL career. Many believed that Sanders’ inclusion in the Broncos’ offense would yield great results, but I don’t know if anyone could have foreseen exactly how potent he could be in this system.
So far this season (11 games), Sanders has caught a career-high 76 passes for 1,079 yards and seven touchdowns. Those numbers all pass his career marks in each category, and he is also fourth among NFL receivers with his 76 grabs.
Sanders has proven that he is not just a big play threat — he is a bona fide star receiver who catches nearly everything thrown his way. Peyton Manning managed to overthrow him three times on Sunday against the Dolphins, all three plays that would have resulted in easy touchdowns, but Sanders has been able to be incredibly consistent for the Broncos and came off of a game where he had a concussion to play and dominate the very next week.
This guy is tough as nails, and has been a significant upgrade for the Broncos’ offense, although Eric Decker’s 13 touchdowns might be tough for Sanders to match as we have just five games remaining.
With a matchup on Sunday against the Chiefs, the Broncos are going to be counting on their star addition to blow the top off of a Chiefs defense that just lost on the road to the Oakland Raiders. To be certain, Kansas City will be playing their A-game after learning that stud safety Eric Berry will need further testing for a mass discovered on his chest that is believed to potentially be lymphoma.
Either way, it’s been a phenomenal opening season for Sanders in Denver, and he’s proven to be worth every penny and then some that the Broncos paid him this offseason. The team that he was rumored to have signed with — the Chiefs — are on deck so hopefully he has a little something extra for them.