Sometime during the 2013 NFL season, we realized that we were watching history in the making.
No, it wasn’t a rookie breaking records or lighting the NFL world on fire, or an undrafted player rising to the top of the NFL landscape.
It was a veteran quarterback on the second team of his career, lighting up defenses after everyone wrote him off as washed.
Peyton Manning had one of the greatest seasons a quarterback has ever had once he arrived to the Denver Broncos after being released from the Indianapolis Colts.
Manning suffered a neck injury that required spinal fusion surgery.
Without Manning, the Colts fell to the bottom of the standings, and picked at the top of the draft for the first time since 1998 when they drafted him.
A whole 14 years later, and Colts Owner Jim Irsay decided he could not let the opportunity of the #1 pick pass over, and took the top quarterback in the class, Andrew Luck.
With that pick, the Colts decided that Manning’s time in Indianapolis was over, and he was released.
What he went on to do in Denver would change NFL history.
Free Agent Frenzy
The race to attract and sign Peyton Manning once he was released from the Colts was a frenzy.
Several teams were interested, but Manning ultimately chose Denver.
Other finalists were the Tennessee Titans, who offered the most money, and the San Francisco 49ers, which would have required a move to the NFC.
Manning wanted to remain in the AFC, and also chose Denver because of how comfortable he was with John Elway and the offensive potential of the team.
He signed a 5yr/$96 million contract that made him one of the highest-paid players in the NFL at the time.
Elway and the rest of the Broncos’ brass had no idea that Manning would be worth way more than that.
The repercussions of signing Manning was the end of the short-term hype of Tim Tebow, and he was traded to the Jets.
A Magical Season
Manning and the offense dominated opponents all season long.
The veteran quarterback finished with 5,477 yards passing on 68.3% completions, with 55 touchdown passes to just 10 interceptions.
His 5,477 yards and 55 touchdown passes are still single-season NFL records, and came at a time when there were only 16 regular season games.
What makes these records even more insane is the fact that the Broncos dominated teams so badly, Manning actually only played the equivalent of a 14-game season after sitting out 16 quarters in blowouts.
The Broncos finished the season 13-3, and led the league in points (606) and touchdowns (76).
Weapons to Spare
Manning might have been the catalyst of the record season, but he had plenty of weapons to throw to.
Denver had four players with 10 or more touchdowns in 2013, and each player experienced career highs across the board catching passes from Manning.
RB Knowshon Moreno had over 1,000 yards rushing and rushed for 10 touchdowns to lead the Broncos’ rushing attack.
The offense featured two 1,000-yard wide receivers: Demaryius Thomas (1,430 yards and 14 TD) and Eric Decker (1,288 yards and 11 TD).
Wes Welker (778 yards and 10 TD) and TE Julius Thomas (788 yards and 12 TD) were also huge parts of the offense.
Especially Welker, who was unstoppable out of the slot on third downs.
A Bittersweet Season
Despite the records, the Broncos did not finish the season with the ultimate prize.
After earning a first-round bye, Denver hosted the San Diego Chargers in the Divisional round, winning 24-17.
In the AFC Championship game, Manning and the Broncos thwarted Tom Brady and the Patriots’ attempt to return to the big dance, escaping with a 26-16 victory.
The Broncos were utterly and completely stymied by the Seattle Seahawks’ record-breaking defense in the Super Bowl, winning 43-8.
It might not have ended the way Manning would have liked, but I don’t think his single-season record in yards or touchdowns will ever be repeated.
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