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 The Broncos quarterback, who fought back from a
career-threatening neck injury four years ago, threw four touchdown
passes to push his career total to an NFL-record 510, leading Denver
to a 42-17 victory over the 49ers.
"It was a special night, I think certainly more special because of
the way our team played and because we got the win," Manning said.
"Such a team effort. It's definitely one I'll always remember."
Manning was on the money with his passes from the outset as the
Broncos built a 21-10 halftime lead behind his first three touchdown
throws, including the record-setting 509th to wide receiver
Demaryius Thomas with 3:09 left in the second quarter.
"He played at the highest level, real excellence," 49ers coach Jim
Harbaugh said. "In all phases, the Broncos were on their game,
especially Peyton. Congratulations to him on breaking the record."
Manning, lifted after three quarters in favor of backup Brock
Osweiler with the Broncos leading 42-10, was just too much for a San
Francisco defense that came in with an injury-depleted secondary. He
finished with 318 passing yards, completing 22 of 26 throws.
Thomas caught eight passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns.
"Definitely didn't see it coming," Manning said. "San Francisco is a
great opponent. They have some injuries that I think put some
pressure on their defense, and we were able to take advantage of
it."
And they did it in record-setting fashion.
The Broncos (5-1) moved a half-game ahead of the San Diego Chargers
(5-2) in the AFC West. San Francisco (4-3) fell 1 1/2 games behind
the Arizona Cardinals (5-1) in the NFC West.
"We have to be better than that," 49ers tight end Vernon Davis said.
"We have to be better than that, and we can. We have the guys to do
it. We just have to keep our focus and keep going."
Denver's defense chipped in for the big win with a stout effort
against quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who was sacked six times,
including three times by defensive end DeMarcus Ware and twice by
linebacker Von Miller.
Manning snapped a tie with the previous record-holder, Brett Favre,
when he arced an 8-yard pass to Thomas on a third-and-goal play. The
wide receiver caught the ball in front of cornerback Tramaine Brock
on the left side of the end zone.
"Wasn't feeling real great on that third down," said Manning, who
threw an incompletion on his first try from up close and tripped and
fell for a 7-yard sack on second down. "They dropped eight in
coverage, which can be tough. But Demaryius ran a good route, put
some pressure on that cornerback. I knew I had to get the ball
outside just in case the corner was going to squat, and (Thomas) did
a great job of keeping his feet in bounds."
The record-breaking TD toss prompted a brief in-game celebration
with teammates rushing to congratulate Manning. He even got a
congratulatory pat on the helmet from 49ers linebacker Aaron Lynch,
who sacked him earlier in the game.
San Francisco trailed 21-3 before breaking through for its first
touchdown when Kaepernick finished off an 80-yard drive with a
4-yard pass to wide receiver Stevie Johnson with 11 seconds
remaining in the second quarter.
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Earlier, the 49ers settled for a 22-yard field goal by Phil Dawson
after wide receiver Anquan Boldin couldn't hold onto Kaepernick's
pass at the goal line.
Manning and Thomas teamed up again in the third quarter. On the
first play after cornerback Aqib Talib picked off Kaepernick, Thomas
got behind cornerback Perrish Cox on a go route, and Manning hit him
in stride for a 40-yard touchdown.
Running back Ronnie Hillman put the finishing touches on the rout
with scoring runs of 1 and 37 yards later in the third quarter. The
shorter run was set up after the 49ers were called for pass
interference in the end zone.
San Francisco backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert threw a 20-yard
touchdown pass to wide receiver Bruce Ellington in the game's final
minutes.
Kaepernick completed 24 of 39 passes for 263 yards with one
touchdown pass and one interception.
Manning moved to the cusp of the record after first-quarter scoring
passes of 39 yards to wide receiver Wes Welker and 3 yards to wide
receiver Emmanuel Sanders.
Manning connected with Welker, who dashed down the left sideline
after the catch and dived into the end zone as he was being hit near
the goal line by safety Antoine Bethea. The officials on the field
ruled that Welker got the ball inside the end-zone pylon before
being knocked out of bounds. The judgment was confirmed by replay
review.
Sanders, an offseason free agent acquisition, caught his first
touchdown pass from Manning on a slant route after 49ers defensive
back Dontae Johnson ran into umpire Mark Pellis as he was giving
chase.
NOTES: San Francisco rookie LB Chris Borland made his first career
start in place of Patrick Willis, who was inactive because of a toe
injury. ... 49ers C Daniel Kilgore was carted off the field in the
third quarter, leaving with a leg and ankle injury. ... The Broncos
shook up their offensive line prior to the game, benching RT Chris
Clark in favor of Paul Cornick. ... A 9-foot bronze statue of
Broncos owner Pat Bowlen was unveiled in the Ring of Fame Plaza at
Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Bowlen, whose Broncos teams
have gone to six Super Bowls and won two in his 31 years of
ownership, is battling Alzheimer's disease. He stepped down from an
active ownership role in July.
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