Denver Broncos vs. Arizona Cardinals: Manning’s 500th TD pass for the win

Peyton Manning's big day was getting into the spotlight. Manning joined Brett Favre in the NFL's most exclusive of clubs with his 500th touchdown toss Sunday when the Denver Broncos handed the Arizona Cardinals their first loss, 41-20. "Football is the ultimate team game, and I guess one man has to accept it and I really accept it, in behalf of a lot of coaches and teammates," Manning said. He threw for the 479 yards and four touchdowns putting him one of the five of Favre's record 508.

After getting his touchstone touchdown -- a 7-yard dart to tight end Thomas -- out of the way early. Thomas set a record of 226 yards on eight catches, beating Sharpe's 214 yards set against Kansas City in 2002. Welker's seven receptions moved him past Rod Smith for the most catches in NFL history by an undrafted player. He has 854, five more than Smith caught for Denver between 1995-2006.

Welker's record-breaker came on the last play on the first half of the game, something Manning called "kind of a ha-ha moment for scouting, for not drafting him. So, whoever was a general manager in 2004, those guys ought to send him an apology letter."

Thomas caught touchdown passes of 31 and 86 yards, and his 77-yard touchdown was nullified on a chop block by Thomas that sent defensive end Campbell from the game with a right knee injury.

Left tackle Ryan Clady was engaged with Campbell and was whistled for the flag. But it was the Pro Bowl tight end who crashed low into Campbell and drew the wrath of Arizona coach Bruce Arians. The Broncos' offensive output was their best in franchise history. They had 567 yards against Atlanta in 2004.

Manning's 500th TD throw came in his 244th career regular season game, 49 fewer games than it took Favre. Footballs from Manning's milestone TDs usually end up in his receiver's trophy cases, but he kept this one.

Manning saw cornerback Antonio Cromartie lined up 1 on 1 on Thomas and hit his big receiver in stride at the 40. Cromartie crumpled to the grass and Thomas sped into the end zone with an 86-yard score that gave Denver a 21-13 halftime lead. Stanton was 11 for 26 for 118 yards before being knocked from the game on a hard hit by Von Miller in the third quarter. On his third series, Logan Thomas threaded a pass through linebacker Nate Irving's grasp and into the arms of running back Andre Ellington for a stunning 81-yard score that made it 24-20. That ended up being Thomas' only completion in eight attempts. Brandon McManus, whose solid start convinced the Broncos they should release the suspended Matt Prater, made it 27-20 when his 41-yard field goal bounced off the left post and through the uprights.

Lastly, Manning's 86-yard TD toss tied a career best, matching the one he threw to Marcus Pollard on Nov. 18, 2001, for the Colts against the Saints. ... Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson sprained his left ankle. ... With Ball (groin) out, Juwan Thompson capped the scoring with his first NFL TD, an 8-yard run.

 

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