Peyton, fully loaded: Manning has never had it this good

Only Peyton Manning can make seven touchdown passes in one game look so routine.
A 49-27 Denver Broncos win on opening night against the Baltimore Ravens was the biggest regular-season night in his Hall of Fame career, as Manning (27-of-42, 462 yards) became the sixth quarterback in NFL history to accomplish the feat.
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You might remember the last time he threw for six TDs. It was Thanksgiving Day 2004, when he feasted on the Detroit Lions. It came in the same season when Manning ended up with a then-NFL record 49 TDs.
That was a long nine years ago—almost a whole career ago with the Indianapolis Colts. In the first game of his second year with the Broncos, we were reminded of two things: First, his old Indianapolis targets, Brandon Stokley and Dallas Clark, have little left as Ravens; second, with all due respect to Stokley, Clark, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, Manning has never had it this good around him.
We thought he was living the Mile High life in his terrific comeback last season, armed with talented breakout third-year receivers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, and well-protected post-neck surgery by a top line. The embarrassment of riches he has this season is about to embarrass a lot more defenses that are as good as the Ravens'.
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Peyton Manning tied an NFL single-game record with seven touchdown passes against the Ravens Thursday. (AP Photo)

Sure, we expected Wes Welker to be a great fit in the slot between Thomas and Decker, but the instant chemistry makes it seem as though he had been playing with Manning, and not Tom Brady, for years. The Ravens had to make Thomas and Decker the priority, so in typical Manning fashion, he kept working them inside-out to turn them upside down.
As if Manning needed another emerging, athletic, mismatch-creator for the arsenal, tight end Julius Thomas came out as just that on Thursday. Pick a Thomas, either Thomas, on the Broncos, and they can undress defenders with quick open-field moves.
What’s scary is Manning’s best TD pass of the night was his only completion to No. 4 wideout Andre Caldwell—a 28-yard beauty down the sideline put in the perfect spot. Even scarier is the fact that his favorite TD target, Decker (13 in ’12), struggled with routes and couldn’t get in on the fun. Manning makes average receivers look good and good ones look elite.
In Manning’s best seasons in Indianapolis, he benefited from a true workhorse back in Edgerrin James. Because their collective stats don't look good at the start, the Broncos’ committee of Knowshon Moreno, Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman may seem like a work in progress. But in their limited roles, Moreno and Hillman are ideal for Manning in the passing game—as good receivers with burst—and Ball’s strong red zone running is bound to set up a lot more easy passing scores.
It’s not just the supporting cast that puts Manning in a better place and in position to peak at age 37. It’s also the many years of wisdom in operating an offense that now has such pieces, and knowing how to put them together like clockwork.
He’s seen Demaryius Thomas resemble Wayne, Julius Thomas as a younger Clark, Welker as a younger Stokley. Knowledge is Peyton’s power, and he’s been reloaded where he can manipulate the matrix at his best. His distribution of the ball in the up-tempo no-huddle, now all the rage in the NFL, has become more science than art.
Although the arm isn’t as strong and the feet aren’t as nimble, his head has gotten only sharper as he’s absorbed and processed. His mind is the tie that binds his physical talents, and what can put together such an offense machine with wholesale new receivers in such a short time.
Manning is at a point in his legend where he’s seen and done just about everything on the field. That’s exactly why he just did something he’s never done before.

FC Barcelona continue to dominate the Spanish Super Cup

FC Barcelona are the team with the most Spanish Super Cup titles

Tata Martino claimed his first title as FC Barcelona's manager since he was appointed to the Barça bench earlier this summer

FC Barcelona claimed the Spanish Super Cup this Wednesday after the 0-0 draw against Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the competition at the Camp Nou. Neymar’s goal in the first leg at the Calderón (1-1) was enough for Barça to win the first official title of the season. This is Gerardo Tata Martino’s first title as FC Barcelona’s head manager.

Two titles ahead of the rest

Barça increased its Super Cup trophy haul advantage over the rest of the teams in Spain on Wednesday night. The Blaugrana have won a total of 11 Super Cup titles, two more than the team with the second most Super Cup crowns, Real Madrid. Deportivo are third with three trophies, while Valencia, Mallorca, Atletico Madrid, Athletic Club Bilbao, Real Sociedad, Zaragoza and Sevilla have won one.

Six titles in nine years

Barça won its first Super Cup title in 1983 against Athletic Club Bilbao, and in the last nine years the Blaugrana have claimed six more. Two were secured by Frank Rijkaard and his men in 2005 and 2006 against Betis and Espanyol, respectively, and Pep Guardiola won three titles consecutively (2009, 2010 and 2011). The title won this Wednesday by Tata Martino perpetuates Barça’s dominance in the competition.

The fourth title against Atletico Madrid

Blaugrana and Colchoneros have battled it out for the Super Cup on five occasions. The record currently stands at four victories for FC Barcelona (1991, 1992, 1996 and 2013) and one victory for Atletico Madrid (1985). In 1985, the away leg ended in a 3-1 victory for the Madrid-based team and 1-0 for Barça at the Camp Nou a week later; it was Atletico’s first Spanish Super Cup title ever, the first and last ever won over FC Barcelona.

The rest of the Super Cup matches between Barça and Atletico were dominated by the Blaugrana. In 1991, Guillermo Amore scored the match-winning goal at the Calderón in the first leg (0-1). The following week the two team tied 1-1, which meant Barça conquered the Cup, its second in Club history and Johan Cruyff’s first as Barça’s manager. In 1992, the two teams faced off again, on that occasion Barça defeated Atletico twice (3-1 in the first leg, 1-2 in the second leg).

Not counting the title won this Wednesday, the last Super Cup won by Barça over Atletico was in 1996. The away match was won by Bobby Robson’s men by 5 to 2 and the return leg was won by Atletico by 3-1.

Milan, Ajax and Celtic, FC Barcelona's rivals in the Group Stage

FC Barcelona will face off against AC Milan, Ajax and FC Celtic in the Group Stage of the UEFA Champions League. Tata Martino and his men watched as Barça’s name was pulled out of Pot 1 at 18.09. Minutes later, AC Milan (Pot 2), Ajax (Pot 3), and Celtic (Pot 4) joined the Blaugrana in Group H.

Barça to start and end at home

FC Barcelona will begin and end the group stage at the Camp Nou. The Blaugrana will first take on Ajax on Wednesday on September 18 and close out the group stage against Celtic Glasgow on December 11. Sandwiched in between these two matches, Barça will travel to Glasgow (October 1), Milan (October 22) and Amsterdam (November 26), meaning that the only remaining home game – Round 4 of the group stage – will be against AC Milan on November 6.

Of all of Barça’s group stage matches the one that stands out the most is the away match in Milan, which is scheduled on the same week Barça will take on Real Madrid at the Camp Nou (October 26 or 27).

It’s worth noting that the same group the senior side have to play against is the same group that Barça’s U18 team must face in the UEFA Youth League.