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NFL Week 5 Winners and Losers: Patriots and Browns shine, Jets and Flacco bomb

By Andrew Garda

Oct 5, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) walks to the lockerroom after the Jets were shutout 31-0 against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 5, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) walks to the lockerroom after the Jets were shutout 31-0 against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 5, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) reacts to his 500th touchdown pass in the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 5, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) reacts to his 500th touchdown pass in the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

WINNER: Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos

It wasn’t perfect by any stretch, given that Manning threw a pair of interceptions, but he threw his 500th touchdown pass, is just five shy of Brett Favre’s record of 508 and threw for 479 yards and four touchdowns.

That’s a pretty darn good day by any standard, especially when your team ends up routing a top NFC team in the Arizona Cardinals.

Like Tom Brady, Manning is looked at as a guy on the down side of a career but he’s found ways to deflect that criticism with games like this. He’s using all the talent he has around him, spreading the ball out to everyone from Demaryius Thomas to Julius Thomas to Emmanuel Sanders.

As a quarterback ages he has to rely less on his physical gifts and more on his wiles.

Manning is doing that every week right now.

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