DALLAS – Ever so loudly, it’s become the year of Peyton Manning in the NFL. Ever so quietly, it’s also become the year of the tight end.

Manning, of course, is on his way to an NFL-record 60-touchdown season with his right arm. But tight ends are soaring to new heights as well, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Coach after coach, player after player this summer said the position that would be affected most by the officiating crackdown on illegal contact would be tight end.

They are generally covered on passing downs by linebackers and safeties, and the feeling was if defenders couldn’t hold these big, athletic tight ends, those two positions couldn’t cover those big, athletic tight ends.

“I don’t care if it’s the best safety or best linebacker in the league, whether it’s a Roy Williams or a Ray Lewis, the top tight ends who can run and catch should have a mismatch against them,” said Manning this summer. “You feel you should win the battle, no matter what, if they’re going to enforce those rules down the field.”

The officials have been enforcing those rules and tight ends have been winning those weekly battles. Through the first 11 weeks of the season, tight ends have posted a dozen 100-yard receiving games. The high in the salary-cap era was 14 in 1995.

Last season, one tight end led his team in receiving. That was Todd Heap of Baltimore. Heading into December, seven tight ends lead their teams in receiving. Kansas City’s Tony Gonzalez already has four 100-yard receiving games. That’s the most by a tight end since Gonzalez had five 100s in 2000. San Diego’s Antonio Gates has 11 touchdown receptions. The NFL record for touchdowns by a tight end in a season is 12.

But it’s more than just the rules that have triggered this offensive explosion at the position.

“Look at the last several drafts,” Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said. “Look at all the tight ends that have been taken high.”

In the last three years, there have been 18 tight ends drafted in the first three rounds, including six in the first round: Kellen Winslow, Ben Watson, Dallas Clark, Jeremy Shockey, Daniel Graham and Jeremy Stevens. Shockey leads the Giants in receiving, and Clark has had a 100-yard game this season.

“We have better players at the position now,” said Newsome, himself a Hall of Fame tight end.