Peyton Manning benched after breaking NFL career passing yards record

DENVER – After four interceptions and with his team trailing the Kansas City Chiefs 22-0, Peyton Manning was benched by the Denver Broncos.

Backup quarterback Brock Osweiler entered the game with 6:34 remaining in the third quarter.

Manning’s performance was his worst of the season in what had already been a very ugly year for the 39-year-old quarterback. He was 5-of-20 passing for 25 yards at the time of his removal.

Osweiler finished with 146 yards on 14-of-24 passing with one touchdown and one interception in the Broncos’ 29-13 loss.

Earlier in the game, Manning broke the NFL’s all-time passing record with a 4-yard screen pass and briefly left the huddle to wave to fans at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

The game was paused to acknowledge Manning’s record, but the timing of the record-breaking moment was awkward. It came a snap after Manning had been sacked and fumbled, and before a third-and-long. Manning threw an interception on his first pass attempt on the Broncos’ opening series.

The Broncos also showed a brief video tribute to Manning, featuring teammate DeMarcus Ware, during the next television timeout.

It was far less fanfare than when Manning last broke a record here, in October 2014 when he threw his 509th touchdown pass to break another one of Brett Favre’s previously held records.

But like in that game, the ball Manning threw to break the record is bound for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Joe Horrigan, the executive vice president of the Hall of Fame, was on the sideline to take custody  of the ball and escort it back to Canton, Ohio, where it will join a litany of other Manning mementos.

via USA Today