Peyton Manning (7 TD passes), Broncos thrash Ravens in opener--
DENVER -- Both the NFL opener and
Peyton Manning were a little tardy.
It was well worth the wait.
Manning and the
Denver Broncos waited eight long months, then another 33 minutes, to get the season started because of a lightning storm.
After three punts to start things off, Manning threw a record-tying seven touchdown passes, something no one had done in 44 years, in directing Denver to a 49-27 victory over Super Bowl champion Baltimore on Thursday night in a much-anticipated rematch against the team that ended the Broncos' playoff run in January.
Manning connected with his most prized addition,
Wes Welker, and former college basketball player
Julius Thomas and
Demaryius Thomas for two touchdowns each in piling up the most points scored on the Ravens in their 18-year history.
Manning is the sixth quarterback in NFL history to throw seven TD passes in a game and the first since Joe Kapp for Minnesota against Baltimore on Sept. 28, 1969.
The others read like a who's who of passers who defied the 3-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust days long before the NFL became so pass-happy: Sid Luckman, Adrian Burk, George Blanda and Y.A. Tittle.
Ravens 27
(0-1, 0-1 away)
Broncos 49
(1-0, 1-0 home)
Full Game Stats:
http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=330905007