Colts: 3 Peyton Manning records we hope are unbreakable
By Adam Weinrib
1. Most TD Passes in a Single Season
This achievement, though with the Broncos, is Manning’s greatest.
OK, we’re really crossing our fingers here. But so far, so good. Plenty of prototypical gunmen in a pass-happy league have been unable to match or surpass this one, and really, is it going to get any easier?
We’re not talking about piling up monstrous numbers year after year and throwing career totals in the toilet. We’re talking about the perfect storm.
Peyton Manning, with the rules on his side, replete with weapons, and finally healthy, agreed with Denver’s thin air to the point that he reached 55 touchdowns. Think of the best passing seasons you can remember. They were close to 55 TDs only in the grand scheme of things, but not in context.
Patrick Mahomes’ MVP season and Tom Brady’s Randy Moss year? 50 each. Dan Marino’s 1984? 48.
The difference between 50 and 55 touchdowns is a full additional game — and the best game you could muster. 3.44 TDs per game, no top seed clinched or division lead stout enough that you can get some rest, no ability to take the foot off the gas pedal. We’d have to see the perfect season be repeated.
And we’re not betting on it.
