Photo: CBS Sports
Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno let the tears flow — and we do mean flow — during the playing of the national anthem ahead of the Broncos holding off the Chiefs, 35-28, Sunday in Kansas City, Mo.
CBS cameras caught Moreno’s stoic face as the music played, when suddenly both his eyes burst with a narrow stream of tears that rushed down his face as if from a faucet.
The spontaneity of the crying, along with the copious and gushing nature of the tears, led many on Twitter to question the authenticity of the emotional display.
But Moreno told Fox Sports his river of tears was just prompted by the emotion of the game.
“Everything just balled all into one,” Moreno said. “It’s like the quiet before the storm with that National Anthem, it just kind of gets me sometimes. Just being emotional and grateful to play this game we love.”
Hard to believe, but Moreno said he was not even aware of the waterworks: “I don’t even notice. I don’t know, man. I’m an emotional player. Every week it’s the same thing.”
A week after rushing for a career-high 224 yards, Moreno put together another impressive showing, catching four passes for 72 yards and a TD as the Broncos survived a late Chiefs rally. Peyton Manning threw for 403 yards and five touchdowns — four of them to Eric Decker — as Denver (10-2) seized control of the AFC West.