Peyton Manning tosses 3 touchdown passes as Denver Broncos top New York Jets 31-17

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) throws against the New York Jets in the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) (The Associated Press)

Denver Broncos tight end Julius Thomas (80) comes down with a touchdown pass against the New York Jets during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) (The Associated Press)

Peyton Manning threw three touchdown passes, leaving him two shy of Brett Favre's career mark, and the Denver Broncos beat the New York Jets 31-17 on Sunday.

Julius Thomas caught two of Manning's scoring passes, and Ronnie Hillman ran for 100 yards on 24 carries for the Broncos (4-1). Demaryius Thomas finished with 10 catches for 134 yards and a TD.

Manning has 506 career touchdown passes, and could tie or break Favre's record next Sunday at home against San Francisco.

The Jets (1-5) had a chance to tie with less than a minute left. But with the ball at the 1, Geno Smith was intercepted by Aqib Talib, who returned it 22 yards for a sealing touchdown that sent New York to its fifth straight loss.

Eric Decker caught a touchdown pass for the Jets in his first game against his former team.

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