Raiders fall victim to Peyton Manning’s record-setting performance

Originally published on Silver & Black Report on Dec. 29, 2013

The Oakland Raiders were on the losing side of records once again on Sunday as Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos added to their resume on Sunday.

Manning needed 266 yards to break Drew Brees’ record for most passing yards in a season, and he got just that, only playing in the first half.

Fittingly, Manning broke the record on first and goal from the five yard line as he found an open wide receiver in Demaryius Thomas for the touchdown. The completion gave Manning exactly 266 yards on 25/28 throwing and four touchdowns. Manning now holds the record with 5,477 passing yards on the season.

Manning’s four touchdowns also increases his record for most touchdown passes in a single season, now at 55. Brady previously held the record with 50 touchdown passes.

Manning and the Broncos offense also broke the record for most points scored by a team as well in the first half. Needing just 18 points coming into the game, the Broncos offense broke the record when Manning found Thomas for a 63-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter to give the Broncos the 24-0 lead. Thomas beat cornerback Phillip Adams on the play.

The Broncos rout in the first half also marked the most touchdown passes that a Raiders defense has given up. With the four touchdown passes to the Broncos on Sunday, the Raiders defense has now given up 32 passing touchdowns on the season.

With so many players on one-year contracts, the Raiders front office has some work to do to repair a defense that declined mightily in the second half of the season.

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