DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — 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 124 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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