By Morris Phillips

Peyton Manning’s date with NFL history ran smack into the 49ers’ game date at Sports Authority Field in Denver and the resulting collision wasn’t pretty or memorable for San Francisco.

Manning not only broke Brett Favre’s NFL record for touchdown passes, but was nearly flawless throughout in the Broncos’ 42-17 dismantling of the 49ers.

Manning finished 22 of 26 for 318 yards and four touchdowns, resulting in a ridiculously lofty 157.2 quarterback rating for the certain first-ballot Hall of Famer, and the 49ers were put on their heels from the start.  San Francisco trailed by two touchdowns after a quarter, 11 points at halftime, and the Broncos poured it on with three unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter.

Favre’s record of 508 touchdown passes was built over 302 game appearances, but Manning needed 56 fewer starts to break it, as he shredded the 49ers’ injury-decimated defense with his usual, great timing and ability to decipher defenses.

“When he’s out there on the field, he recognize the defense and make audibles,” 49ers’ safety Eric Reid said.  “He does it all.  You’re playing against a (offensive) coordinator when he’s out there.”

Already without the injured NaVorro Bowman and the suspended Aldon Smith, Patrick Willis missed the game with an injured toe as well, making the 49ers’ defense as unrecognizable as it has been at any point in Coach Jim Harbaugh’s three plus seasons with the 49ers.  Also, the 49ers were without starting corner Chris Culliver and rookie nickle back Jimmie Ward.  The lack of continuity in the 49ers’ back seven showed as they were powerless to negate the Broncos ability to run or pass.

“They had some injuries that, I think, put some pressure on their defense.  And we were able to take advantage of that,” Manning said.

The Broncos amassed 419 yards in offense on the evening, but needed just 56 plays to reach that total.  Meanwhile, the 49ers were made one dimensional from the start, rushing for just 62 yards on the evening, and were hurt by their one turnover, a Colin Kaepernick interception in the third quarter.

With the Broncos leading 21-10, the 49ers had an opportunity to move within a score of Denver, but Kaepernick overthrew Stevie Johnson and was picked off by Aqib Talib.  On the next play, Manning found Demaryius Thomas on a 40-yard touchdown pass to put the Broncos up 28-10.

Thomas’ size and strength gave the 49ers’ secondary fits as he caught eight passes for 171 yards and two scores.

The 49ers fell to 4-3 on the season, 1 ½ games behind the NFC West leading Cardinals.  The Seahawks lost for the second straight week and trail the 49ers at 3-3.  Amazingly, if the playoffs started today, the 49ers would earn a wild card spot as all NFC teams with the exception of 6-1 Dallas and 5-1 Arizona have struggled.

The 49ers apparently lost starting center Daniel Kilgore for the remainder of the season when his leg was rolled up on a third quarter run play.  Sources are reporting that the injury was a broken ankle for Kilgore.

With so many new faces on the field for the 49ers, a few positives were realized.  Rush backer Aaron Lynch recorded the first sack of his NFL career and wide receiver Bruce Ellington caught his first NFL touchdown pass in the fourth quarter from Blaine Gabbert, who finished up for Kaepernick.

The 49ers bye week arrives perfectly for a team desperate to regain its health, and they will next take the field on November 2 when the Rams visit Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

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