Manning Finishes With Another Record

Peyton Manning set yet another NFL passing record Sunday, finishing the season with a rating of 121.1, more than eight points better than Steve Young’s previous mark.

Curtis Martin worked overtime to win the league’s rushing title by a yard over Shaun Alexander.

Manning, who last week set a record with 49 touchdown passes for the season, threw only two passes Sunday in Denver before leaving for Jim Sorgi. Manning was one for two for six yards. He would have needed to go 0 for 20 with five interceptions to lose out on the record, which was 112.8, set by San Francisco’s Young in 1994.

In the rushing race, Martin gained 153 yards in 28 carries as the New York Jets lost to St. Louis in overtime. That gave him 1,697 yards, one more than Alexander, who had 80 yards in 19 carries as Seattle defeated Atlanta.

The overtime gave Martin the title -- he had 24 yards in three carries in the extra period. It was his first rushing title, although he has run for more than 1,000 yards in each of his 10 pro seasons.

Alexander scored more points than any non-kicker, getting 120 on 20 touchdowns, 16 rushing and four receiving. New England kicker Adam Vinatieri won the overall title with 141 points.

Kansas City tight end Tony Gonzalez had 14 receptions to give him the title with 102, a record for a tight end. He was the only receiver with more than 100 this season; Tennessee’s Derrick Mason was the leading wide receiver with 96 catches.

Carolina’s Muhsin Muhammad led in yards receiving with 1,405, followed by New Orleans’ Joe Horn with 1,399.

The Colts’ Dwight Freeney led the league with 16 sacks, and Baltimore’s Ed Reed got his ninth interception Sunday against Miami, tops in the NFL. His 41-yard return set a record for interception return yardage with 358. Tiki Barber of the Giants won the yards-from-scrimmage title with 2,096: 1,518 rushing and 578 receiving.

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Emmitt Smith waved and bowed to the crowd as he walked off the field at Tempe, Ariz., for what might be the final time as an NFL player.

“I tell you, if this is my last year here, it’s been a heck of a ride,” he said. “If it’s been my last year of playing football, period, it’s been a heck of a ride.”

Smith is a longshot to return to the Arizona Cardinals for a 16th NFL season, and he acknowledged that his career might finally be over.

“I’ve done everything I could possibly do in the National Football League as far as individual performances can go,” he said. “I’ve had so many tremendous experiences with players and coaches over 15 years. So if this is it, it’s been a blessing.”

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Sunday’s key injuries:

* Dallas receiver Keyshawn Johnson broke his left ankle in the second quarter of the Cowboys’ game against the New York Giants.

* Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick left the Falcons’ regular-season finale against Seattle after three series, saying that he had numbness in his throwing hand.

* Minnesota strong safety Corey Chavous said he would miss the Vikings’ playoff game against Green Bay after breaking his left elbow against Washington.

* In playoff-bound Philadelphia’s loss to Cincinnati, Eagle linebacker Mark Simoneau strained his ankle and tight end L.J. Smith left with lower back pain.