Manning's four TDs keep Colts perfect - 10/22/2006
Source: NFL.com Peyton Manning got up, cleaned his dirty face and responded like a prizefighter.
Colts QB Peyton Manning hooked up with three different receivers on four touchdown passes in the win over Washington.
After being bent over awkwardly twice in the first half, losing his helmet and once appearing hurt, the two-time MVP knocked out the Washington Redskins with three third-quarter touchdown passes Sunday as the Indianapolis Colts rolled to a 36-22 victory.
"I've seen him take some tough shots, and he's a little tougher than people think," coach Tony Dungy said.
Aside from the early battering, a face full of rubber chips from the turf and the neck rub he needed to return, Perfect Peyton nearly lived up to his nickname. He finished with a passer rating of 140.4 and helped the Colts keep their title as the AFC's only unbeaten team.
Indy, which matched the Chicago Bears at 6-0, became the ninth team in league history to start two consecutive seasons with six straight wins.
But this didn't go exactly by the script.
Manning declined to elaborate on what he hurt on the first big hit, when one defender grabbed his legs and Phillip Daniels hit him high. The nine-year veteran grabbed his throwing shoulder before calling timeout, then spent the next series on the sideline getting a rubdown and checking his grip on the ball.
"I attended the Bill Belichick school of not discussing injuries the past few summers ... so I don't really discuss that," he said.
Though he was battered, Manning let his performance show the Redskins (2-5) he was not shaken. Manning finished 25-of-35 with four touchdowns and continued ascending the NFL's career charts. His last TD pass, No. 256, sent him past Dan Fouts (254) and Sonny Jurgensen (255) into 10th in NFL history.
"It was Peyton being Peyton: Quick throws," defensive end Andre Carter said. "They made certain adjustments. But it was us. We didn't tackle well in the second half."
The Redskins' third straight loss also dealt a blow to their playoff hopes, and they had nobody to blame but themselves and Manning, who exposed their banged-up secondary in the second half. |
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Play-fakes need run to succeed - 09/14/2006
Source: Indy Star Watching Peyton Manning carry out his deft play-fake with a running back is a little like watching a street hustler run his shell game -- where the heck is the pea? But if no one worries about the pea, the deception is moot. Fantasy Impact: Manning and the Colts offense relies on the play-action pass, so it is important that Rhodes and Addai muster up some sort of rushing game. |
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Plenty of questions about the Colts' running game - 08/30/2006
Source: RealFootball365 When Indianapolis Colts running back Marshall Faulk was traded to the St. Louis Rams after the 1998 season, everyone wondered how team president Bill Polian could possibly fill the void left by the Pro Bowler. He responded by drafting Edgerrin James, who helped lead the Colts to a 13-3 record in his first season in the NFL. Fantasy Impact: The jury appears to still be out on who is a better fit for the Colts at the RB position, but as expected, Rhoades has looked to be the more comfortable of the two in the offense. |
