DENVER -- Observed and heard in the locker room after the Denver Broncos' 47-14 win Sunday over the Oakland Raiders at Sports Authority Field at Mile High:
Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas had X-rays on his right middle finger after Sunday's victory and left the stadium with a splint. However, Thomas said he did not suffer a fracture. "It was a play in the second quarter," Thomas said. "I'll be all right." Thomas still finished with eight catches for 115 yards, but the injury probably resulted in a dropped touchdown pass with just under six minutes remaining in the third quarter. Thomas has played through a right ankle injury in recent weeks but set career bests in catches (111) and receiving yards (1,619) this season.
Safety David Bruton Jr. was taken off the field while strapped to a stretcher after a block in the back by defensive end Denico Autry during a Raiders punt return with 5:15 left in the game. Autry's hit was away from the play and directly on Bruton's back, replays showed. Bruton was taken by ambulance to a local hospital but was alert and had feeling in all of his extremities. He was released from the hospital shortly after the game and had been treated for a concussion. Several of Bruton's teammates saw the hit as unnecessary, dirty and worth a fine from the league. "That was straight flagrant," Broncos defensive end DeMarcus Ware said. "That shouldn't happen ... that shouldn't happen ever."
Thomas' season yardage total broke Rod Smith's franchise record, set in 2000. Smith was on the Broncos' sideline Sunday. "It means a lot to me because it was Rod Smith," Thomas said, adding that he has respect for what Smith accomplished in his career. "
Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, who has dealt with a right thigh injury over the past three weeks -- he suffered it just before halftime in the team's Dec. 14 victory over the San Diego Chargers -- put himself among the list of players happy they earned a first-round bye. "Think this bye, we needed it. We're a little beat up physically -- I know I am," he said. Asked later how he felt at this point in the season, Manning said, "I feel like all the other players in that locker room -- guys that have played 17 weeks of physical football -- so I think this bye week is coming at a good time."