Peyton Manning Set for An Historic Night vs. 49ers on SNF

Oct 12, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) gestures against the New York Jets during the first quarter of their NFL football game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning knows exactly what’s at stake on Sunday, and it’s more than just a football game. Yes, the Broncos want to play host to the 49ers and win, that is of paramount importance, but with three passing touchdowns, Peyton Manning will have broken the all-time record for any player in NFL history over the course of a career.

The San Francisco 49ers are no weak opponent, but this is a matchup that is very favorable to the Broncos and Manning, which is why I feel like they are preparing for an historic night.

The Broncos try to tell the media they don’t think about these kinds of records, and that Peyton Manning doesn’t talk about them, but why would he? In any line of work, unless you’re a bafoon you don’t go parading your accomplishments around, looking for what pee-ons you can drag along with you in your march of success.

“I don’t feel like it’s been a distraction because we’ve handled it and focused on what’s important,” said Manning.

Manning is a humble guy, but you better believe he is thinking about this record and breaking it, and you better believe it’s going to be a sweet feeling when he throws that touchdown pass to break Brett Favre’s all-time mark, especially if it’s in victory.

And that’s what the Broncos are focused on — winning.

"“I don’t feel like it’s been a distraction because we’ve handled it and focused on what’s important,” said Manning."

Certainly, the Broncos don’t want something this positive to become a distraction, and it will be business as usual. Perhaps the players on the team will be competing light-heartedly to be the one to catch the pass, and other teammates are already predicting who is going to be the one to catch it.

Cornerback Chris Harris Jr. feels like it’s going to be Julius Thomas or Demaryius Thomas, so he’s not really going out on a limb there, but it’s a safe bet.

Why is this such a prominent topic? Well, because watching someone break this type of record is pretty impressive in itself, but watching it happen for someone playing for your team on a Super Bowl contender is even more special. This record holds weight because of the way the game is played today. This is almost inarguably the most prominent position in professional sports, the biggest stage in pro sports, and maybe the toughest record to break.

In the day and age of Twitter and every news story being overblown, so to speak, this is the type of record that people want to tune in for.

And they will.

The Broncos are taking on a 49ers team that is missing its top three linebackers in Patrick Willis, Navorro Bowman, and Aldon Smith. It’s a team that has struggled in the red zone defensively. There are strong points in the secondary, but when you look at this matchup, it seems like one the Broncos will be able to exploit. It’s the reason why everyone is talking about this.

Manning may break the record on Sunday Night Football if he throws three touchdown passes. We’re setting up for a huge night in professional sports, and Peyton Manning is the headline. It’s pretty special for football fans, but he’s throwing this pass while in orange.

That’s the icing on the cake.