Peyton Manning doesn’t so much break records as smash to them bits. Witness his performance on Sunday night, when he became the NFL’s all-time leader in touchdown passes.

Needing two to tie Brett Favre’s career mark of 506, Manning threw three … in the first half. He didn’t even play in the fourth quarter of the Denver Broncos’ 42-17 steam-cleaning of the San Francisco 49ers. Manning, five times NFL MVP and a Super Bowl winner with the Indianapolis Colts, stayed in character after the game. Do not expect juicy quotes from him … ever.

He called the record “quite an honor” while paying tribute to “the quarterbacks who have played this game through the years.” Yes, setting the record was “humbling.”

Next stop: 600. He’s 38, he shows few signs of slowing down, and he just might do it.

In other NFL action, the Dallas Cowboys won their sixth consecutive game, beating the New York Giants 31-21. DeMarco Murray became the only running back to start a season with seven consecutive 100-yard games. … The Jacksonville Jaguars got their first win, beating the Cleveland Browns 24-6. There are no unbeaten teams and only the Oakland Raiders (0-6) are winless.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

The Southeastern Conference set a record by placing four teams in the AP Top 25. No conference ever crowded the first five slots in this fashion. The fab four: No. 1 Mississippi State, No. 3 Ole Miss., No. 4 Alabama (up three spots), No. 5 Auburn (which did not play). The only interloper is defending national champ Florida State, which held the No. 2 spot after nipping Notre Dame.

BASEBALL

The World Series begins Tuesday night, matching the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals. The best of seven series opens in Kansas City. The Royals are 8-0 in postseason play and haven’t won the Series since 1985. The Giants are pursuing their third title in five years.

Today’s question

Is Peyton Manning the greatest quarterback to ever play in the NFL?

Answers in the comment box, please.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .