Julius Thomas isn't resting on breakout season

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) Pro Bowler Julius Thomas' resume now reads like this: one year of youth football, one year of high school ball, one season in college and, essentially, one full season in the NFL.

Yet the 6-foot-5, 255-pound late-bloomer became a bulls-eye for some of Peyton Manning's biggest moments last year, like when he caught Manning's 51st TD throw that broke Tom Brady's single-season record, one of a dozen touchdown passes he caught.

He was Manning's main target in the AFC Championship, too, with eight receptions for 85 yards a week after his two clutch third-down catches helped ice Denver's win over San Diego.

All of this from a guy who entered the season with just one career catch in his first two injury-filled seasons.