Veteran quarterback Peyton Manning was bested by old nemesis Tom Brady in the Denver Broncos' 43-21 loss to the New England Patriots and the signal caller shouldered the blame after the defeat Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium.
Manning was 34-for-57 for 438 yards and threw for two touchdowns while adding two interceptions in the loss. After the game, he looked no further than himself when asked what went wrong.
"On offense we just didn't do the things we talked about doing, and that starts with me. I've got to play better," Manning said, according to ESPN. "That's pretty plain and simple. When the quarterback stinks, usually not going to win many games."
He added: "I stunk today. I don't make excuses, I don't say it happens every now and then."
Manning set an NFL record for the most 400-yard passing games in the defeat, but ultimately he fell to 5-11 against the Patriots with Brady under center and 2-8 in games played in Foxboro.
"I need to play better and usually can overcome some things," Manning said. "I didn't do that today."
Manning is now 208-for-309 (67.3 percent) on the season for 2,572 yards with a league-best 24 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Brady was 33-of-53 (62.26 percent) in the victory for 333 yards with four scores and one pick. Brady is now 214-for-334 (64.1 percent) this season for 2,392 yards with 22 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Manning lamented on an interception he threw in the second quarter when the Broncos faced a first-and-10 from their own 35-yard line. During the play, Manning attempted a pass to Demaryius Thomas that was intercepted by outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich and began the slow decent for Denver.
"I don't think I can say it much plainer than I've been saying," Manning said. "Bad football ... bad decision, certainly a throw I'd like to have back."
The Broncos (6-2) visit the winless Oakland Raiders (0-8) next Sunday while the Patriots (league-best 7-2) face the Colts (5-3) in Indianapolis.
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