Many National Football League and Denver Broncos fans watched the very well done ESPN documentary, “The Book of Manning,” during the fall of 2013.
It focused on the entire Manning family, Peyton Manning being a big part of that.
As we practice, work, and take time to enjoy the bye week before the playoffs begin I thought we would take one more final regular season look at what Peyton Manning has accomplished, but with the idea that really, it should only be called “The Chapter of Manning,” because Peyton writes new chapters every time he takes the field.
Broncos fans are in the midst of watching one of the most remarkable stretches of play in history, and perhaps the best two-year stretch of all-time, actually.
The NFL announced Thursday that Peyton Manning was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month for December, with his final tally for the month showing 145-of-214 completions (67.8%) for 1,755 yards with 19 touchdowns, while leading Denver to a 4-1 record and the AFC number one playoff seed.
He led all AFC players in attempts, completions, percentage, Passing yards, passing touchdowns, quarterback passer rating and first downs (94) in December, also setting the NFL single season records for most passing yards (5,477) and passing touchdowns (55).
This marks the eighth time in Manning’s career he has been player of the month, and that is also an NFL record—it is his fourth since joining the Broncos, tying Hall of Fame candidate Terrell Davis for the most in team history.
It is all about team, and Manning led the team to 606 points in 2013, the new all-time NFL record.
Of course, there is more……..with Peyton Manning, there always is.
He is the first person from the state of Colorado to ever be named the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, and in leading the NFL in touchdown passes he also tied the all-time record for years leading in that department, with four.
And….
Manning led the Broncos to back-to-back 13-win regular seasons, the first time in Denver history that has been done.
He also set the NFL record for most games with four touchdown passes in a season, with nine. Before 2013, no quarterback ever had four or more TD passes in a single game seven times—Hall of Famer Dan Marino held the previous record with six, and Manning beat that mark by three, an astonishing feat in a 16-game sport.
He also tied the record for most 400-yard games in a season with four—another mark that Marino held, establishing it in 1984. So it lasted 29 years, until Manning’s second season in Denver.
When you know history is being made, never make the mistake of waiting until it is over to savor the moment.
The moment is now. Savor every moment.
The Broncos and Manning hope to write more chapters in the book.
