ENGLEWOOD, Colo. –With 400 yards and four touchdowns in Houston – the last of which setting a new NFL record of touchdown passes in a season – quarterback Peyton Manning was once again nominated for the FedEx Air Player of the Week.
Manning broke Tom Brady's record of 50 touchdown passes in a season when he found tight end Julius Thomas for a 25-yard strike in the fourth quarter. That play capped off a run of 21-unanswered points that put the game out of reach and locked up the AFC-West title for the Broncos.
"I really feel like it's a team accomplishment – certainly an offensive accomplishment," Manning said after the win in Houston. "A lot of people played roles in this. I think it's a unique thing and a neat thing to be part of NFL history – even if it may be temporary. I personally think all season records are going down – especially if they go to 18 games and there won't be an asterisk next to them. So, (Tom) Brady will probably break it again next year if not the year after.
"We'll enjoy it for as long as it lasts and hopefully the Hall of Fame will just send the ball back once
somebody throws for more."
Earlier in the game, he also found wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker – twice – for touchdowns. Manning's previous career-high for touchdowns in a season was 49, a mark he set in 2004 with the Indianapolis Colts. Brady threw for 50 in 2007 to set the new record.
Manning has now thrown for 5,211 yards this season, just 265 yards shy of tying Drew Brees' record for passing yards in season. With one regular-season game remaining, Manning is more concerned with getting a win than he is with setting a new record for passing yards.
"To me, if we would have had a losing record and you break an individual record and you're just throwing a lot of yards and you don't have a chance to make the postseason that doesn't mean a whole lot," Manning said Sunday. "Touchdowns to me means that you're scoring points and helping your team win games."
Manning has won the FedEx Air Player of the Week Award three times this season. He won twice in the first three weeks with a seven-touchdown performance in the season opener and again in Week 3 after going 32-of-37 for 374 yards and three touchdowns. He won the award again in Week 13 after throwing for 403 yards and five touchdowns in Kansas City. To vote for Manning this week, visit to www.nfl.com/fedex.
