Five-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning added to his latest record by throwing three touchdown passes to Emmanuel Sanders in the Denver Broncos 35-21 victory over the San Diego Chargers.
The win comes four days after quarterback Manning broke Brett Favre’s record for most career touchdown passes in a 42-17 demolition of the San Francisco 49ers.
Against the Chargers, Manning completed 25-of-35 passes for 286 yards and three touchdowns to bring his career National Football League touchdown total to 513.
Manning said they were aware the Chargers were missing some key players due to injuries on Thursday.
“They were injured. This is two weeks in a row that we have played teams with major injuries. Now we did take care of business,” Manning said of the Broncos who improved to 6-1.
Sanders caught nine passes for 120 yards for Denver, who have won four in a row. Demaryius Thomas caught eight passes for 105 yards.
Manning singled out his receivers for praise, saying they know the game plan and came prepared to play.
“Everybody is running at full speed, knowing the ball can come to them at any moment. It was a good team effort,” he said.
Sanders said he had a feeling in the pre-game warmup that he was going to make something happen.
– ‘Everyone is going to eat eventually’ –
“Everyone is going to eat eventually and tonight was just my night,” Sanders said. “Everybody on the receiving corps comes into games saying ‘this could be their night.'”
Sanders, who is in his fifth season in the league, is on pace to set a career high for receiving yards.
“I was one of those rookies that thought I knew everything,” said Sanders who broke into the league with Pittsburgh in 2010.
“I had to take a step back and tell myself to learn from guys like Peyton Manning. I had to learn to take care of my body. That’s what I do now.”
Ronnie Hillman rushed 20 times for 109 yards and Juwan Thompson carried the ball for 24 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries in the win.
Philip Rivers connected on 30-of-41 passes for 252 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions for the Chargers, who have lost two straight since a five-game winning streak.
Keenan Allen caught nine passes for 73 yards and a touchdown for San Diego, who dropped to 5-3. Antonio Gates became the franchise’s all-time leader in receiving yards after catching five passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns.
Last season in week 15, San Diego defeated Denver 27-20. However, a month later the Broncos eliminated the Chargers from the postseason.
Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals, who have surprised many by leading the NFC West at this juncture in the season, will square off against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Many believed the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks or the San Francisco 49ers would be the division leaders instead of the Cardinals who are one of four remaining teams in the league with just one loss. The Eagles also have just a single loss so far.
Arizona is 5-1, with the 49ers 4-3 and the struggling Seahawks at 3-3.
The Cardinals have won back-to-back games since Denver hammered them on October 5. They beat Washington and Oakland since that loss.
Arizona is 5-1 for the first time since 1976 and 12-3 dating back to last season.
They are first in rushing yards allowed (72.5) and are the only team in the NFL that has yet to allow an opponent to run for 100 yards in a game this season. They have allowed 20 points or fewer in five of six contests.
“Every Sunday gets bigger and bigger,” Cardinals tackle Jared Veldheer said. “It’s nothing but a good start. We need to keep the mindset of ‘We need to win every week.'”
In other games on Sunday it is Detroit at Atlanta, Seattle at Carolina, Baltimore at Cincinnati, Miami at Jacksonville, St. Louis at Kansas City, Chicago at New England, Buffalo at NY Jets, Minnesota at Tampa Bay, Houston at Tennessee, Oakland at Cleveland, Indianapolis at Pittsburgh and Green Bay at New Orleans.