ENGLEWOOD, Colo. --Peyton Manning's record-setting effort against the Raiders on Monday night has garnered another honor.
Manning was named FedEx Air Player of the Week after completing 32 of 37 passes for 374 yards and three touchdowns against the Raiders – becoming the first player in NFL history to throw for 12 touchdowns in the first three games of a season in the process.
The quarterback also earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for an NFL-record 25th time earlier this week, and he was named both FedEx Air Player of the Week and AFC Offensive Player of the Week after his seven-touchdown performance against the Ravens on Sept. 5 in the season opener.
"To think about what he's been able to do week-in and week-out – we just shake our heads," tight end Julius Thomas said. "He's playing at such a high level right now. He continues to get better and make everybody around him better."
Manning completed 86.5 percent of his passes in the game and finished with a quarterback rating of 135.8 – etching his place into the NFL annals with both achievements.
Manning became just the sixth player in NFL history to throw for 350 yards and complete more than 85 percent of his passes in a single game. And his aerial showcasing also marked the 15th consecutive regular season game that Manning has finished with a QB rating higher than 90.0 – extending his own league record.
Manning has posted a quarterback rating of over 100.0 in all three games this season, helping guide a Broncos offense that is averaging a league-high 42.3 points per game.
"Guys are making good plays in the passing game and we are doing a good job getting yards after the catch," Manning said. "That makes a big difference."
Manning leads the NFL in passing yardage (1,143 yards), completions (89), completion percentage (73.0 percent), touchdowns (12) and quarterback rating (134.7) after three games. He is also one of only two quarterbacks with over 100 passing attempts who have not thrown an interception this season.
"He's obviously a great player and doing a great job," wide receiver Wes Welker said. "That's what we need and we expect that out of him all the time."
"You can't (put it into words)," wide receiver Demaryius Thomas added. "That's unbelievable."
