DENVER – Quarterback Peyton Manning threw for four touchdowns, including the 500th of his career and passed for 479 yards as the Denver Broncos knocked the Arizona Cardinals from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 41-20 victory on Sunday.

The loss by the Cardinals, who finished the game with third string quarterback Logan Thomas playing in place of injured Drew Stanton, left Cincinnati as the NFL’s only undefeated team.

Manning had touchdown passes of 31 and 86 yards to wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and joined Brett Favre as the only players in NFL history to reach the 500 touchdown mark with a 7-yard strike in the first quarter to tight end Julius Thomas.

Demaryius Thomas finished with eight catches for a franchise record 226 yards receiving, eclipsing the previous high by Shannon Sharpe, who had 214 yards against Kansas City on Oct. 20, 2002.

Julius Thomas, who also caught a 12-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, jogged back to Manning after the initial score and returned the ball to his quarterback as a keepsake. But Manning’s day was not always characterized by the quick, clean, accurate release that he demonstrated in his milestone scoring pass.

He had to shake off two interceptions, including one in the second quarter by defensive end Calais Campbell that set up running back Andre Ellington’s 5-yard touchdown.

Manning nevertheless responded with three fourth-quarter scoring drives after Arizona had pulled to 24-20 on Logan Thomas’ 81-yard scoring pass to Ellington late in the third quarter. He threw a 12-yard TD pass to Julius Thomas and running back Juwan Thompson added an 8-yard scoring run.

Brandon McManus added field goals of 41 and 44 yards for the Broncos in his first game since Denver decided to stick with him over longtime kicker Matt Prater, who was released Friday as he neared the end of a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

Stanton, starting his third game in place of Carson Palmer (shoulder nerve), completed 11-of-26 passes for 118 yards before leaving in the third quarter, shaken up after a third-down incompletion on a hit by linebacker Von Miller. The team said Stanton was being evaluated for a concussion.

Denver also lost a key player when running back Montee Ball went down with a groin injury in the third quarter.

The Broncos went up 21-13 at halftime when Manning and Demaryius Thomas teamed up on an 86-yard touchdown strike in the last two minutes of the second quarter.

Thomas, beating cornerback Antonio Cromartie for a score for the second time on the day, got a step on the defender running a quick out and up and Manning hit him in stride. Thomas did the rest, zipping down the left sideline ahead of the Cardinals’ pursuit.

After Arizona closed to within 7-6 on field goals of 33 and 48 yards by Chandler Catanzaro, Manning and Demaryius Thomas combined on their first score as the wide receiver beat Cromartie off the line on a slant. Manning quickly got the ball and Demaryius Thomas weaved his way through the Cardinals’ secondary en route to the end zone.

NOTES: The Broncos’ pass-rushing linebacker Von Miller has a sack in three consecutive games, his longest streak since 2012. … Arizona’s kicker Chandler Catanzaro has made all 11 of his field goal tries this season. … QB Peyton Manning has thrown for a touchdown in 43 consecutive games, fourth longest streak in NFL history. Drew Brees tops the chart with a TD toss in 54 consecutive games.