AFC Notes

In the NFL’s 95-year history, 1,249 different players have thrown a touchdown pass, but quarterback BRETT FAVRE (508) is the only player to reach the 500-touchdown mark.

Denver’s PEYTON MANNING, who has 499 career touchdowns in 17 seasons with Indianapolis and Denver, is on the verge of joining this exclusive club.

At age 38, Manning remains at the top of his game, and has completed 74 of 111 passes (66.7 percent) for 814 yards and eight touchdowns with one interception for a 108.5 passer rating through the first three games of the 2014 season.

In 2013, Manning earned his record fifth Associated Press NFL MVP Award after setting NFL single-season records for touchdown passes (55) and yards (5,477).

“I can say I have never seen a better year played by a quarterback than Peyton Manning,” said Pro Football Hall of Famer JOHN ELWAY, who now serves as Denver’s general manager and executive vice president of football operations, of Manning’s record-breaking 2013 season. “To see what he did, it was truly amazing.”

Favre recorded his 500th career touchdown pass in his 293rd games on his 9,924th pass attempt. Manning has 8,563 career attempts and will face the undefeated Arizona Cardinals (3-0) in his 244th regular season game on Sunday.

Here’s a look at how quickly Favre and Manning reached each major touchdown pass milestone in terms of games and attempts:

In his career, Manning has connected with 44 different teammates for touchdown passes, demonstrating his unique and consistent ability to find the open receiver, regardless of who it is.

“Peyton’s mind is always going,” says San Diego offensive coordinator FRANK REICH, who served as quarterbacks coach in Indianapolis for four seasons (2008-11) when Manning was with the Colts. “He’s formulating a plan, synthesizing all this information that he is hearing, seeing, studying from other people. He’s listening, but he’s going to call the shots. There might not be another one like him, who does it like he does it.”

MARVIN HARRISON of the Colts was on the receiving end of 112 touchdown passes from Manning, the most of any quarterback-wide receiver duo in NFL history. Denver defensive tackle MITCH UNREIN, on the other hand, has the unique distinction of being the only player whose lone career NFL catch was a touchdown from Manning.

“Luckily, I didn’t drop it,” says Unrein of his one-yard goal-line touchdown catch against the Buccaneers on December 2, 2012. “I didn’t have very much time to get nervous, but I was definitely thinking about it a little bit before the snap. It happened so fast. I kept (the ball) and had Peyton sign it.”

“A lot of players have caught those touchdowns, so I’m grateful for all the receivers and the protection I’ve received along the way,” says Manning.

Below is a look at each of Manning’s milestone touchdowns:

The 44 players who have connected with Manning on at least one touchdown pass:

The number of NFL players to reach each major touchdown pass milestone:

NFC NOTES

DE MARCO MURRAY RUSHING INTO THE RECORD BOOKS

The Dallas Cowboys are tied for first place in the NFC East with a 3-1 record and rank first in the NFL averaging 165 rushing yards per game. Cowboys running back DE MARCO MURRAYleads the NFL in rushing with 534 yards and five touchdown runs.

“He’s a darn good running back,” says Dallas head coach JASON GARRETT. “He runs downhill. He’s got great vision. He breaks tackles. He makes people miss. He finishes runs.”

Murray has rushed for at least 100 yards and a touchdown in each of the team’s first four games and is one of only four players in NFL history to accomplish the feat. The other three – JIM BROWN, O.J. SIMPSON and EMMITT SMITH – are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The longest start-of-season streaks in NFL history with at least 100 rushing yards and a touchdown run:

*Active streak

A look at the game-by-game rushing totals for each of the four players during their streaks:

While Murray has racked up the yards for the Cowboys, he has heaped the praise on his offensive line.

“I have to give credit to the offensive line,” says Murray. “We’re all on the same page. They make it a lot easier for me.”

Dallas quarterback TONY ROMO notes that Murray and the strong running game have given the offense balance.

“I think he is better than a good back,” says Romo. “He is a great back. He is playing with five guys up front on the line. You’re able to see everybody’s true skill set when you have really good complimentary guys around you.”

Adds veteran tight end JASON WITTEN, “The offensive line is really physical. They stay together. And DeMarco has really evolved as a player. He’s a dynamic player. He runs tough. He gets the tough yards. I can’t say enough positive things about him.”

This Sunday against the Houston Texans, Murray will attempt to pass Smith – the NFL’s all-time leading career rusher – and join Brown and Simpson as the only players to start a season with a streak of five games with at least 100 rushing yards and a touchdown run. And while Murray doesn’t spend time thinking about the streak, others around the league see other milestones on the horizon for the young running back.

“If DeMarco Murray can stay healthy this season, he will lead the league in rushing,” says NFL Network analyst and Pro Football Hall of Fame running back MARSHALL FAULK.