AP

Peyton Manning became one of the most prolific passers in NFL history with the Colts, but he may make NFL history against the Colts.

Manning has 69,691 passing yards in his career, putting him 2,147 yards short of Brett Favre’s all-time record of 71,838. As noted by Kevin Seifert of ESPN, if Manning gains passing yardage at his career average level this season, he’d surpass Favre in Week Nine. That’s when Manning’s Broncos are in Indianapolis to play the Colts.

Or if Manning gains yardage at a somewhat faster pace and breaks the record in Week Eight, he’d do it on Sunday Night Football against Favre’s old team, the Packers. Storylines galore.

That’s not a lucky coincidence for the NFL, it’s a part of the NFL’s strategy in putting the schedule together. The league likes to see significant achievements take place in big games, which is why records that can be forecast in advance — including Drew Brees breaking Johnny Unitas’s record for consecutive games with a touchdown pass, and Manning breaking Favre’s record for career touchdown passes — have frequently ended up in nationally televised games.

The NFL schedule-makers did their jobs again this time around. Now the league office will hope Manning does his part.