Peyton Manning Sets NFL Record As Broncos Clock Texans 37-13

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) is congratulated by teammates after throwing a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium. The touchdown pass set an NFL record for touchdown passes in a season. (Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)

It was just a business trip to Houston. Nothing more, nothing less until the Denver Broncos stepped on the field and whopped up on those spur-less Houston Texans 37-13.

The Texans will be visited by the Ghost of Manning Past, the Ghost of Manning Present, and the Ghost of Manning Yet to Come as the first-ballot Hall of Famer broke Tom Brady’s single-season touchdown record when he threw his 51st touchdown of the season to tight end Julius Thomas. Manning also went over 5,000 yards for the first time in his career, and went 32-for-51 for 400 yards and four touchdowns on the day. If he’s not the league’s unanimous MVP, then the trophy might as well be kept in a box this year.

With the win, the Broncos clinched their third straight AFC West title, and with a Patriots loss today, the team could secure the No. 1 spot in the AFC.

Why did Matt Schaub get that $66 million dollar contract again. Talk about an agent MVP there. Schaub went 18-for-37 for 176 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions.

The Broncos went 2-for-11 on third down and still put up 37 points.

Knowshon Moreno ran all over the Texans with 76 yards on 11 carries for a 6.9 avg.

Eric Decker was Manning’s primary target with 10 catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns.

The Broncos defense allowed just 240 yards on the day, and that’s without Von Miller, who left the game in the first quarter with a knee injury (tests will be done on Monday). Mike Adams and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie walked away with interceptions, while Robert Ayers, Sylvester Williams, and Danny Trevathan each walked away with sacks.

If Santa took flight, he’d probably look inside that United plane from Houston and see a bunch of big jolly guys enjoying this win, their 13th of the season. One more to go, and then it’s a brand new season.

The real stuff starts next week.

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