Will foot issue hamper Peyton Manning down stretch?

Peyton Manning is on the cusp of two major statistical accomplishments, but there's another significant story line to keep in mind with the future Hall of Famer.

First, the numbers: The Broncos quarterback needs a win over the Chiefs and three passing yards to surpass Packers legend Brett Favre for the NFL leader in both categories. Manning and Favre are tied with 186 wins, and Manning will no doubt eclipse Favre's 71,838 passing yards as the most ever.

But it's a foot issue that also bears watching.

Manning missed a day of practice because of the problem, and while he'll be ready to play, you can't help but wonder if this is the start of another late-season injury-related problem. Last year, Manning suffered a quad injury in early December, and he wasn't the same down the stretch, leading to questions about whether he might retire.

Hopefully for his sake, the foot problem won't put him in a similar spot this year. The Broncos are 7-1 atop the AFC West, and are the favorites to win the division a fourth time under Manning. But this season is all about what happens at the end, and if Manning is struggling with another injury in the playoffs, then Denver will be hard-pressed to get back to the Super Bowl. And Manning would know for sure it's time to retire.

Seattle can make it a race

Now that defending NFC champion Seattle's early-season problems have subsided, the Seahawks have a chance to pull to within a game of the first-place Cardinals in the NFC West. And if form holds true, that's what will happen when the teams meet on Sunday in Seattle.

Key stat: Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has won four of his last five starts against the Cardinals and is 28-3 overall at home, including the playoffs. "We're getting there," Wilson said. "The confidence is there in the locker room. The belief, the energy and the passion are all there."

If the Cardinals have a chance, it rests with quarterback Carson Palmer, who leads the NFC with 20 touchdowns and a 110.2 passer rating. He has won 19 of his last 23 starts.

Parcells' influence continues

Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells has long since retired as a coach (2006), but his influence continues. Several coaches he worked with during his career are enjoying terrific seasons in their own right his year. That includes the two coaches who will face each other in Sunday's Giants-Patriots game -- Tom Coughlin and Bill Belichick, both of whom are in first place in their respective divisions. Jets coach Todd Bowles, who coached under Parcells in Dallas and also worked for him when Parcells was the director of football operations in Miami, has the Jets at 5-4 and in contention for a playoff spot in the AFC.

Parcells disciple Mike Zimmer, who worked under the former Giants, Jets, Patriots and Cowboys coach in Dallas, is tied for first place in the NFC North with a 6-2 record. Sean Payton, another Dallas assistant under Parcells, has the Saints fighting for a playoff spot in the NFC.

The combined record so far for the Parcells coaching tree: 28-15.

Red-hot Patriots on a roll

The 8-0 Patriots, who visit the Giants on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, can set yet another remarkable record. If the Patriots score in the first quarter, they will break a tie with the 1999-2000 Rams and 2005 Indianapolis Colts for scoring in the most consecutive quarters. The Patriots are tied with the Rams and Colts with 31 straight quarters in which they've scored.

Watt lights up the charts

J.J. Watt isn't having the dominant statistical season he produced in 2014, but he's still compiling some remarkable numbers. Since coming into the league in 2011, the Texans' defensive end leads the NFL with 651/2 sacks. And if he gets a sack against the Bengals tomorrow night, he'll surpass Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas (66) for the second most sacks in his first five seasons since sacks became an official stat in 1982.

Former Eagles defensive end Reggie White had 81 sacks from 1985-89, followed by Thomas, Watt, DeMarcus Ware (64.5 with the Cowboys from 2005-09) and Richard Dent (61.5 with the Bears from 1983-87).

By Bob Glauber

Special to NewsdayBobGlauber

Bob Glauber retired in 2022 after covering the NFL for nearly 40 years. He was selected in 2021 for the Bill Nunn Career Achievement Award by the Pro Football Writers of America, and is a three-time winner of the New York State Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. President of the PFWA for the 2018-20 seasons, he is the author of “The Forgotten First” and “Guts and Genius.”