ST. LOUIS (AP)—The Indianapolis Colts were too good Sunday for Peyton Manning(notes) to tie the NFL record with his sixth straight 300-yard game.
It wouldn’t have been appropriate for Manning to try for the mark the way his unbeaten team was beating up on the woeful St. Louis Rams. Manning still threw for three touchdowns in a 42-6 victory.
“He functions pretty well within the system,” coach Jim Caldwell said. “He does a great job leading our team and being a field general. I don’t think he reached 300 yards, but nevertheless he was very effective.”
Manning was 23 for 34 for 235 yards, and the defense got its first score of the year on rookie Jacob Lacey’s(notes) 35-yard interception return. Looking fresh coming off their bye, the Colts won their 15th straight regular-season game and set a franchise record with their eighth straight road victory.
“My hat’s off to them,” Rams defensive tackle Clifton Ryan(notes) said. “Don’t be surprised if they compete for a Super Bowl.”
There were plenty of cheers from a sellout crowd that included a healthy contingent of Indianapolis fans, many of whom lingered to salute players after the game.
“We had a great following today. It was outstanding,” said tight end Dallas Clark(notes), who had a 27-yard TD catch. “When we were introduced it felt like a home game.”
The Colts are 6-0 for the fourth time in five seasons.
The Rams (0-7) lost their 17th straight regular-season game, wasting a season-best 134 yards on 23 carries by Steven Jackson. St. Louis’ highlight came on its opening possession, a 50-yard flea-flicker from Marc Bulger(notes) to Donnie Avery(notes) to the Colts 14, but the drive fizzled and the Colts forced a short field goal.
Jackson has three 100-yard games but no touchdowns. The Rams have been drilled by the Packers, Vikings and Colts in three home games by a combined 116-33.
“We have to learn to put four good quarters together,” Jackson said. “We don’t know how to win a game right now.”
The Colts intercepted Bulger twice, and Dwight Freeney(notes) ran his sack streak to seven straight games—three off the NFL record—by beating rookie Jason Smith(notes). Safety Bob Sanders(notes) (knee surgery) got out of his season debut unscathed, getting 25 snaps and making his lone stop on Jackson one play after whiffing on Avery.
“Everything looks good,” Sanders said. “It’s been a long time since I played a game and not had any trouble.”
Indianapolis’ offense had plenty despite losing Reggie Wayne(notes) (groin) for a quarter and Donald Brown(notes) (shoulder) for most of the last three quarters. The Colts led 21-3 at halftime and never looked back, even without huge numbers from Manning, who missed a chance to tie Steve Young, Kurt Warner(notes) and Rich Gannon for the longest string of 300-yard games in NFL history.
Manning wasn’t sacked and rarely touched. He did hit one milestone, passing Warren Moon for fourth on the career completion list.
“I really appreciate the protection I’ve been getting,” Manning said. “It’s something I don’t take for granted.”
Wayne had seven catches for 83 yards with a 6-yard scoring reception on the opening drive, but seemed to lack burst after returning and had one catch for 7 yards the rest of the way.
“He was feeling it a little bit toward the end of the second half, so we took him out,” Caldwell said. “Hopefully he can recover from it quickly.”
There’s been no suspense to the Colts’ last four games, won by a total of 138-42. That no doubt hurt Manning, who had 24 yards passing in the fourth quarter, although that total included an 8-yard scoring pass to Austin Collie(notes).
NOTES: Rams long snapper Chris Massey(notes) will miss the rest of the season after tearing a left knee ligament in the second quarter. Massey was carted off the field. … Rams OG Richie Incognito(notes) (left foot) limped off in the fourth quarter and will undergo an MRI exam Monday. CB Bradley Fletcher(notes) (hyperextended right knee) and Avery (ribs, shoulder) also were injured. … The Colts’ Kelvin Hayden(notes), who intercepted Bulger in the fourth quarter, missed the previous three games with a hamstring injury. … The Colts are 5-0 coming off the bye week since 2005.
Head to Head - Week 7
| Team | Total Yds | Pass Yds | Rush Yds | First Downs | 3rdD% | Pen./Yds | Turnovers | Time of Poss. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | 391 | 235 | 156 | 24 | 66.7% | 6/51 | 0 | 30:39 |
| St. Louis | 272 | 117 | 155 | 14 | 30.8% | 5/73 | 2 | 29:21 |
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114 Comments
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Are you mad because the patriots are better then your colts 3 super bowl wins to one and you only got that one because they played a crappy team Get a Life loser
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watch out for michael he reports abuse on you look out!!!!
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Watch out St Louis; you're on the verge of losing your team! And the team is so bad and mismanaged and you won't have any say so..and they'll just leave; and you won't care. The only saving grace was that Madame Ram had a slow, painful death. The greatest show on turf; so long ago ..huh?
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St. Louis is a baseball town. The football Cardinals figured that out finally, in 1987. Then again, the Rams and Colts have a major connection to one another. In 1972, Baltimore Colt owner Carroll Rosenbloom traded the Colts to Bob Irsay, owner of the LA Rams. Straight up trade. Of course, the Irsays snuck out of Baltimore under the cover of darkness and moved to Indianapolis in the 80's. And the Rams moved to St. Louis in 1995, but snuck out of LA in broad daylight...........to a baseball town......already vacated by an NFL franchise.
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hey guys
who was the last undefeated team give up??
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The Miami Dolphins - 1972. They didn't have to make excuses like the Pats did. 35 years later.
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St. Louis might be saying goodbye to them. LA Rams Part II?
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It is ok to let him chase BRADYS records...but if brady plays one series in the second half it is wrong
BRADY is the better than the ugly looking manning brothers put together.If it wasnt for the lobbyist father
they would be average qbs at best.
Besides BRADY has a better looking wife...let the mannings do all the licking on tv.
AND even if the colts win it this year manning will still be short trying to catch BRADY
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who was the last undefeated team give up?? The patriots if it weren't for a manning getting lucky and the calls going his way it would of been the greatest season in history. But manning brothers get EVERYTHING Babies!!!!
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your rams need alot more help then a qb they need an o line new coach and maybe some discipline Your rams suck They will be good in 5 years. Thanks #86 Good call if that's an english teacher as #54 says were in trouble ha ha ha ha ha
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Never said Pats fans didnt have class, actually have a good friend I talk smack with who is a BIGTIME Pats fan and but do think its funny that your calling out Colts fans when RedSox nation and Pat nation had nothing to say until you finally win a world series and a super bowl now you can't jump on a board without a Pats fan going ESPN on us pasting Brady stats and jumping on the 3 SB win thing when last time I checked its been about 5 years since last SB win. And for you history buffs out there since the Colts are from Baltimore they have 2, should have had 3 however they choked against a New York team too. Ohh... too soon? :) However, if it makes you feel better I believe the Super Bowl is in Indiana in 2012, which according to Mayan beliefs is the end of the world as we know it, so maybe that means both the Pats and Colts get beat that year by the Raiders who are led by JaMarcus Russell... now that REALLY would be end of the world as I know it. Its all in good trash talk Colt though...
The one thing you can't put out there anymore though is that you put Brady on the Colts and they do as well but put Manning on Pats and they suck. I think #99 hit it on the head when all you have to do is look at Cassell. If people think he is better than Manning look at the comedy of errors which is KC. Both teams are "system" teams so i think you can put both QB's on both squads and they have similar success but thats a big matzah balls of "ifs". But now that Manning has Garcon, Collie, Gonzo, with only Wayne as a proven star (like ya had with Branch and Troy Brown) you can't say anymore that Manning couldnt win with lesser WR's like Brady did before Moss. You switch Peyton/ Brady defenses back during your glory years and it gets interesting. But once again.. matzah balls of "ifs".
Man this is going to be exciting on 11/15.
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Matt Cassel
Also Brady got off to a great start with a playoff win because of the TUCK RULE! Manning got screwed in his first playoff because of Vander@#$%k. Actually Manning got screwed when he beat the 14-2 Titans that first year when the refs stole the game. You know when Fisher didn't throw a flag and then did and the Colt kickoff return got nullified. Otherwise people would have been saying Brady could not win a playoff game and fates could have been changed.
Luck does play a part and Brady has had the luck on his side. Well the dice have been rerolled and lady luck has left Tom Brady.
Colts are winning it all. AGAIN!
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Another thing is Peyton vs Brady, all I can see is hate that Brady is under the radar so far this season, and Peyton is being talked about having his best season ever. That makes you hate Peyton even more, especially with two rooks catching touchdowns this year, so quit whining and go watch re-runs of your 3 superbowls with *'s and your undefeated season, followed by your 11-5 Bradyless season. What if's don't make it here, cause what if you were a Colts fan, and I was a Pats fan?
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