HOUSTON — Peyton Manning had to prepare for a 2-point conversion and couldn’t celebrate when he set the NFL record for touchdown passes in a season in 2004.
On Sunday, when Denver’s quarterback regained the record against the Texans, he was able to soak in the historic moment.
“It was very special,” he said. “Very rarely during an NFL game do you get to have a moment like that.”
Manning regained his record with 51 when he threw for 400 yards and four touchdowns, including three in the fourth quarter to give Denver its third straight AFC West title. He surpassed the 50 TD passes Tom Brady threw in 2007 and led the Broncos (12-3) to a 37-13 win over the Texans (2-13) that extended Houston’s franchise-record skid to 13 games.
Manning did it on a 25-yard pass to Julius Thomas with 4:28 remaining. Just 2 ½ minutes earlier, he tied the mark with a 20-yard pass to Eric Decker.
Manning figures Brady will overtake him again one day, especially if the NFL moves to an 18-game regular season.
“I think it’s a unique thing and a neat thing to be a part of NFL history, even though it may be temporary,” he said. “So I’m going to enjoy it as long as it lasts, and hopefully the Hall of Fame will send the ball back once somebody throws for more.”
He entered the game with 47 and his first touchdown came on a 36-yard pass to Demaryius Thomas in the second quarter. The second was a 10-yard throw to Decker earlier in the fourth period.
The Broncos already had a spot in the playoffs, but their victory, combined with Kansas City’s loss to Indianapolis, gave them the division crown.
“This only means something because it helped our team win games and we won the division today in a competitive AFC West,” Manning said. “That’s a good thing.”
Manning had previously established the record by throwing 49 touchdown passes in 2004.
He has a career-high 5,211 yards passing this season, which is third in NFL history and 265 yards shy of the 5,476 yards Drew Brees gained in 2011.
“The guy is a great quarterback, obviously,” Houston interim coach Wade Phillips said.