Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will remain as the league’s single-season record holder for passing yards.
The Elias Sports Bureau was taking a closer look at a 7-yard completion from Manning to Eric Decker late in the first quarter of the Broncos victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. Replays showed the pass very likely could have been a backward pass and therefore a lateral.
However, the play will remain a completion and Manning will continue to hold the record after further review.
NFL Spokesman Michael Signora confirmed the determination Tuesday in a statement to PFT.
“The stats crew at the game scored this play as a forward pass. During the course of a season, there are many similar plays which could be reviewed by the Elias Sports Bureau, the league’s official statistician. In this case, the determination of Elias is that the fairest resolution is for the ruling of the on-site stats crew to stand.”
Taking away the completion would have left Manning six yards shy of the record. He played just long enough into the game to pick up the record before finding a seat on the bench for the remainder of the game. Manning finished the season with 5,477 yards, breaking the previous record of 5,476 by Drew Brees in 2011.