With 6:06 remaining in the game and the Denver Broncos down by three points to the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium, Peyton Manning needed just three passing yards to pass Brett Favre for the all-time record. Seven points would have given the Broncos the lead and possibly the win, which would have been Manning’s 187th, also good for best all-time.
With 6:06 remaining and the ball at the Denver 33 yard line, Manning stepped up and into a throw intended for Demaryius Thomas, a receiver he’s connected with dozens of times since arriving in Denver. But Darius Butler got in front of Thomas and made the catch for him.
Record No. 1 denied. Here’s what some of the Denver media had to say…
Ouch! Manning picked off…
— Arran Andersen (@arranandersen) November 9, 2015
Manning picked again. Instead of record setting pass, he throws league leading 13th interception
— Steve Cox (@SteveCoxDenver) November 9, 2015
Why? What exactly does he see there? I don't see an open receiver.
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) November 9, 2015
Then, with 49 yards standing between them and score that could make it a two-possessions game, Andrew Luck took the Colts (with some help from an inexcusable penalty on Aqib Talib) to the Denver five yard line where Adam Vinatieri would attempt a field goal.
The only record that really matters to Manning, looked like it still might have life – albeit marginal. With the field goal, Denver would likely get the ball back with less than 25 seconds on the clock.
And then Denver took a penalty on the field goal try and the Colts were given a first down with the Broncos out of timeouts and just 28 seconds on the clock.
Record No. 2 denied. And the reaction…
And a holding call on the field-goal attempt officially ends it … automatic first down, one kneeldown, 27-24 Colts will be the final.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) November 9, 2015
Peyton gets neither record.. wins or passing yards.. Colts hold on 27-24.. penalties killed em..
— Lionel Bienvenu (@lionelbienvenu) November 9, 2015
Another defensive penalty. Pathetic. Deserve to lose. Just an utter lack of discipline.
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) November 9, 2015
This was not the second homecoming in Indy that Manning or Broncos fans could have hoped for. It will be a long seven days for Peyton Manning as he tries to rebound and pick up both records next week.