Peyton Manning Ties NFL Record in Denver Broncos Season Opener Victory
While most quarterbacks start slowing down in their late 30s, veteran quarterback Peyton Manning is still cruising at age 37.
The Broncos quarterback tied an NFL record with his seven touchdown passes Thursday night in the team's 49-27 victory over the Baltimore Ravens at Mile High in Denver. It was the first time Manning has thrown seven touchdown passes in a game and the third time he has thrown at least six.
"It was an awesome night," Manning said to NBC after the game. "Our offensive line did a heck of a job against a great pass rush, gave me good time."
The defending Super Bowl Champion Ravens just couldn't match Manning's high-powered offense. Julius Thomas, Demaryius Thomas, and Wes Welker had two touchdowns while Andre Caldwell scored on the only catch he had all night.
On the other side of the ball, it wasn't such a pretty opener for Joe Flacco. The Super Bowl MVP threw a pair of touchdown passes but also had two interceptions. From the sound of it, he seemed a bit jealous about Manning's touchdown total.
"That's a sweet way to start a season," Flacco said, according to the Associated Press. "You get ahead throwing that many touchdowns. I mean, shoot, he's almost halfway to 20 already."
The Broncos scored with ease despite a handful of injuries as the team now looks more and more like the Super Bowl contender people expected to see.
The Broncos will have the momentum -- and a couple extra days of rest -- as they prepare for a trip to New York next weekend to face the Giants in the anticipated "Manning Bowl." Eli and Peyton Manning have faced each other twice, but this will mark the first time Peyton will be facing his brother as a member of the Broncos.