San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is sacked by Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe (not pictured) in the third quarter Monday night at Qualcomm
San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is sacked by Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe (not pictured) in the third quarter Monday night at Qualcomm Stadium. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

SAN DIEGO — One night, decades from now, as the fire in the hearth burns bright orange, you will grab a tattered No. 18 jersey from the closet, gather your grandkids and tell them tall tales from the game when Peyton Manning became a Broncos legend.

How on heaven or earth did Denver beat San Diego 35-24 on Monday night?

"I've never seen a football game turn on such a big wave," Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey said.

The Broncos scored five straight touchdowns after nearly being run out of the AFC West division race in the first half.

In all his glory, Tim Tebow never created a greater football miracle.

Manning has something more powerful than unbreakable faith. He possesses Hall of Fame talent.

John Elway, the king of all Denver comebacks, never did anything more improbable on the football field.

But Manning did not do it alone.

The miracle began with an Elvis sighting.

Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil, whose $14 million salary had almost as many zeroes as his no-show performances on the field in 2012, turned the momentum of the season and perhaps changed the course of history in the division by stripping the football from San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers in the third quarter.

As the scoreboard clock ticked toward five minutes remaining in the third period with Denver trailing 24-7, Dumervil busted a move, got the edge and blew up Rivers in the millisecond before the Broncos' No. 1 nemesis could deliver a pass.

The fumble was returned 65 yards for a Denver score by Tony Carter. The officials went to the videotape. The stadium was turned into a game show set as the replay was shown on giant screens. A throng of orange-clad Broncos interlopers argued with the hometown crowd. Nobody really sought justice. Every man, woman and child in the stands screamed for what benefited his or her favorite team.

Was Dumervil concerned the officials might overturn the play?

"Yeah, man," he said. "That was a touchdown. We needed it."

The verdict: Fumble. Touchdown stood.

"That's the play we had to have to make a comeback," said Manning, who completed 24-of-30 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns.

On the San Diego sideline, Rivers fell to a crouch, like a petulant child who had been denied the last cookie in the jar.

It was beautiful sight to behold.

Check that: stunningly beautiful.

Stunning because the Broncos were awful while falling behind 24-0 in the opening half. The play-calling was so mindless, it made one pine for Josh McDaniels (well, almost). A failure to communicate between receiver Matthew Willis and Manning resulted in an interception returned 80 yards for a San Diego touchdown. Receiver Eric Decker, previously known for his hook slide, tripped as he rounded third and headed for home, self-arresting a certain touchdown for Denver.

"We had a big play to Decker and a guy made a great tackle ... I mean a piece of of grass made a great tackle," said Manning with perfect comedic timing. "When those things happen, you kind of wonder: 'Hey. Wow. Is it meant to be?' "

It's easy to laugh now.

Give the Broncos this: They are too stubborn to quit. In previous losses, they were down big to Atlanta, Houston and New England. "I think we finally got tired of coming up short," Bailey said.

The rest of the Broncos' schedule reads like a $100 question on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" Cleveland? Two gimmes against the Chiefs? The cumulative record of Denver's remaining foes is 19-37.

As Broncomaniacs chanted near the visiting team locker room and the sullen Chargers hit the showers, a team of emergency technicians rolled a stretcher on the stadium elevator, punched a button and made a beeline for the concourse.

There was a woman in labor.

Boy or girl, there's only one name suitable for a night when Denver dreams of a championship were born anew: Peyton.