ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is three touchdown passes from NFL history, but it isn’t something to which he or his teammates have given much thought.

“You might not believe this, but I really don’t know what you’re talking about when it comes to the record,” said tight end Jacob Tamme, tongue firmly planted in cheek.

“I don’t know what ‘record watch’ is. I’m not on it. I’m going to be real excited for him. Hope I get to catch it.”

Whenever the 509th touchdown pass comes, it will mark another milestone for a quarterback who is at the cusp of adding all-time standards to the season records he established last year. But the Broncos’ demanding schedule to this point — which doesn’t include a team with a losing record last year until Week 9 — has kept the focus on the matter at hand.

Five hundred nine means little when the 49ers lurk, fresh off a three-game winning streak that has helped them round into form in spite of injuries and suspension.

“Probably the only time I talk about it is when you guys (the media) ask,” tight end Julius Thomas said.” It’s not something we talk about as an offense. Peyton doesn’t talk about it, so we just keep playing football.”

If Manning breaks the record in a win, it will be a nice confluence of circumstances for the Broncos, given that they are at home, on Sunday Night Football. But with the 49ers on the docket, the possibility of breaking Favre’s record in a loss is legitimate.

“It’ll be an awesome moment when it happens,” Tamme said, “but we’re kind of focused on winning the game.”

“I think we’ve concentrated on the important things,” said Manning, who joined Favre in the 500-touchdown club on Oct. 5 against Arizona. “We’ve responded well coming off that bye week and have had two good wins playing excellent teams. So that’s what I’ve concentrated on, trying to do whatever it takes to win.

“I don’t feel like (the touchdown record) has been a distraction because we’ve handled it and focused on what’s important.”

And that is the first game of a three-week stretch that could define the Broncos’ playoff aspirations: home against the 49ers and Chargers and at the Patriots. After the Nov. 2 trip to New England, the Broncos do not face another team with a winning record until Dec. 14 at San Diego. In between, they meet five teams with a combined 9-19 record.

“This stretch right here is the gauntlet,” cornerback Chris Harris Jr. said.

NOTES: Among those who did not practice Wednesday were RB Juwan Thompson (knee). … DT Terrance Knighton told the Denver Post he was fined $11,025 for a racial slur during game against New York Jets. … LB Danny Trevathan was placed on recallable injured reserve after suffering a crack in the bone just above his left knee. … RB Montee Ball is expected to miss the next few weeks after suffering a groin strain against the Cardinals on Oct. 5.