ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- It was an evening that many will remember for its historical significance as quarterback Peyton Manning finished with four touchdown passes, breaking the NFL record for career scoring passes Sunday night in Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
His third touchdown pass in the 42-17 victory against the San Francisco 49ers broke Brett Favre’s record and moved Manning to 509. His fourth was No. 510. Along the way the Denver Broncos showed impact all over the field, including at running back, and started a new right tackle in Paul Cornick.
So, after a long look at the game video, here are some thoughts on the Broncos' offense:
There is bulking up and there is really bulking up. The Broncos like to run two-tight-end formations, will occasionally try three tight ends, and Sunday night used four tight ends, with the fourth being reserve tackle Chris Clark. But there are still some wrinkles to smooth out. With all that size lined up on a first-and-goal from the 49ers' 3-yard line in the Broncos’ first scoring drive, San Francisco linebacker Ahmad Brooks -- the 49ers' best linebacker with Patrick Willis out with an injury -- was still unblocked and tackled running back Ronnie Hillman for a 3-yard loss. The Broncos tried it again, with Manning needing a touchdown pass to break Favre’s record late in the first half, on a first-and-goal from the 49ers’ 1-yard line. In this version the Broncos split Jacob Tamme and Julius Thomas out wide and Thomas likely would have had a touchdown, but Manning threw the ball slightly behind him. Offensive coordinator Adam Gase continues to kick the tires as he searches for options beyond the obvious explosiveness the team has in its three-wide-receiver look. Gase had tight end Virgil Green line up in the backfield as well Sunday, and Green finished with one carry for 3 yards.
Cornick got his first NFL start, and initially it looked as if it could be a long evening for the former North Dakota Stare All American. He had a false start on the Broncos’ second offensive snap and was trailing 49ers linebacker Aaron Lynch when Lynch sacked Manning on the last play of the first quarter. Cornick acted as if he expected running back Juwan Thompson to chip Lynch as Thompson went into the pass pattern. Thompson did not make contact with Lynch, Cornick was late to react, and Lynch had an easy path to Manning. However, Cornick settled in after the bumpy start -- "thought he did a heck of a job, he had some butterflies early, but how could you not?" Manning said -- and showed some feistiness and an ability to anchor in pass protection and move people in the run game. Cornick showed enough promise to offer some optimism that he will play at the level of a starter moving forward.
The 39-yard touchdown pass Manning threw to Wes Welker late in the first quarter to tie Favre at 508 was a testament to some Friday tinkering with the game plan. It was also aided by the fear receiver Demaryius Thomas puts in a defense. From a three-wide set Welker was in the left slot, with Thomas out wide left. At the snap Thomas stepped back as if the bread-and-butter screen play was on the way. 49ers safety Eric Reid and cornerback Tramaine Brock stepped to Thomas, believing he would get the ball. Welker swooped on by Brock, and turned upfield once he got outside the numbers. Brock reacted too late as Manning pump-faked to Thomas and tossed the touchdown pass to Welker. "(The) touchdown to Wes was a little Friday afternoon addition between Adam and I," Manning said. " ... You put it in the game plan late on Friday and it pays off for you on Sunday. Those are small, little moments that kind of make all of the hard work worthwhile." Defensive coaches routinely say one of the most vulnerable times against Manning can be when you think you know for certain what’s coming, because Manning not only remembers what you do, but what he has done in certain situations as well.
It’s not common for starters to get pulled in a regular-season game because things are in hand. But the Broncos did just that in the fourth quarter Sunday night. As a result, Isaiah Burse played four snaps at wide receiver, Will Montgomery played six snaps at guard and Brock Osweiler played nine snaps at quarterback. Osweiler attempted just one pass, a power throw down the hashmarks that could have converted a first down, but Burse did not hang on.