New Orleans Saints vs Denver Broncos Match Player Stats On Oct 28, 2012

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 28, 2012

Broncos 34, Saints 14: Peyton Manning threw three touchdown passes - two to Eric Decker - and Willis McGahee rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown while host Denver's defense throttled Drew Brees and the NFL's No. 1 passing attack.

Manning picked apart the NFL's worst defense with touchdown drives of 98 and 93 yards, and finished 22-of-30 for 305 yards. Demaryius Thomas had seven catches for 137 yards and a touchdown as the Broncos (4-3) took over sole possession of first place in the AFC West with their third victory in four games.

Drew Brees was 22-of-42 for a season-low 213 yards and two touchdown passes - including the 300th of his career - for the Saints (2-5), who became the first team in NFL history to allowed 400 or more yards in seven straight games. Denver outgained New Orleans 530-252 and held the Saints to their lowest point total since 2010.

Manning's 13-yard touchdown pass to Decker - the fourth straight game they have connected for a score - gave the Broncos the lead for good at 14-7 in the second quarter. His 1-yard TD throw to Demaryius Thomas came on the opening drive of the third quarter and gave Denver a 24-7 advantage, which preceded a 2-yard TD pass to Decker on the first play of the fourth.

Brees' milestone touchdown pass - a 29-yarder to running back Darren Sproles on the first play of the second quarter to even the score 7-7 - tied him for sixth all-time with John Elway. The Saints, who entered with the NFL's worst rushing offense at 76.2 yards per game, finished with 51 on Sunday.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Brees, who extended his own NFL record for consecutive games with a TD pass to 50, reached 300 touchdown passes in his 161st game, tying him with New England's Tom Brady for third-fastest in history. Manning and Dan Marino (157) share the record. ... Manning registered his 37th game with at least three touchdowns and no interceptions, most in NFL history. He was tied with Brett Favre. ... Manning set a franchise record with his fifth straight 300-yard passing performance.