NFL: Peyton Manning breaks Brett Favre's record for touchdown passes

Denver quarterback Peyton Manning broke Brett Favre's National Football League record for career touchdown passes when he threw his 509th scoring pass in the 42-17 win over San Francisco 49ers.

Manning's eight-yard pass in the second quarter was caught in the end zone by Demaryius Thomas to eclipse the record of 508 touchdowns Brett Favre set in 2010 while playing for the Minnesota Vikings.

Manning went into the game with 506 and needed just four drives to break the record.

He threw a three-yard TD pass to Emmanuel Sanders on Denver's first drive and tied the record when Wes Welker took a pass over the middle for 39 yards.

Manning reached the milestone in just his 246th regular-season game - Favre needed 302.

Broncos fans erupted when Manning connected with Thomas for a touchdown that with the extra point put the Broncos up 21-3 with 3:09 remaining in the second quarter.

"Broncos fans, you have just witnessed history," the public address announcer at Denver's Mile High stadium said as Manning was congratulated by team-mates on the sideline.

It was a special night I think certainly more special because of the way the team played and because we got the win with such a team effort.

Favre, now retired, was quick to congratulate Manning, tweeting: "Well deserved Peyton. Congratulations on breaking my record. #onto600"

Manning missed the entire 2011 season with a serious,  potentially career-ending neck injury that required multiple surgeries.

Manning said: "It was a great win tonight first and foremost. I thought our whole team played really well and I was really excited about offensively the way we executed the game plan.

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"The guys up front did a good job and I thought we ran the ball well. It opened up a lot of things in the passing game, a couple of the touchdowns were all play-action and defensively getting us the ball back with great field position.

"It was a special night I think certainly more special because of the way the team played and because we got the win with such a team effort. It's definitely one I'll always remember.

“I have great appreciation for all the players in the NFL playing now and who have played before us but especially at the quarterback position.

"I am very humbled and very honoured. I certainly think about how grateful I am for all the team-mates and coaches that I have played with or played for throughout my career, not only in Denver, in Indianapolis, and all the people who have helped me along the way.

"I've always been a fan of quarterbacks, whether it's Brett Favre, or Dan Marino, or John Elway, so I'm very honoured and humbled to join a pretty unique club and when you throw in guys like Johnny Unitas and Fran Tarkenton – guys that were my dad's heroes growing up as well - I can put it in some perspective and have a great appreciation for it."

Denver coach John Fox paid tribute to the lynchpin of his team.

"It was pretty special to witness such an accomplishment," Fox said. "This was probably our most complete game to date, both offensively, defensively, as well as the kicking game."

The 49ers had a three-game winning streak halted and got more bad news with center Daniel Kilgore reportedly having suffered a suspected broken leg.

"The Broncos were on their game, especially Peyton," said San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh.

"Congratulations to him for breaking the record. The Broncos played a great game. They were better in every phase."