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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, December 14, 2009

Colts remain unbeaten


By MICHAEL MAROT
Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — Peyton Manning watched disbelievingly as one pass after another hit the ground yesterday.

Then he demonstrated how an undefeated team survives the perfect storm.

After throwing three early TDs, then three inexplicable interceptions, Manning led the Colts on a late TD drive to beat Denver, 28-16, breaking NFL records for most consecutive regular-season wins (22) and most wins in a decade (114), plus wrapping up home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

"I thought Denver made some plays, and we had some bad luck with bouncing balls there," Manning said. "We kind of weathered the storm, and the defense did a great job."

The Colts broke a consecutive win streak tie with New England, which set the mark last year, and became the seventh team in league history to start 13-0, including this year's New Orleans Saints.

Indy's 114th victory of the decade broke a tie with the 1990s San Francisco 49ers and set a franchise record with its 13th consecutive home win.

Denver (8-5) also had a record day. Receiver Brandon Marshall broke the league's single-game record with 21 receptions. He finished with 200 yards and two touchdowns, tying Terrell Owens' reception record on a 5-yard TD catch with 9:44 left in the game to make it 21-16 and breaking the record on the Broncos' final play.

"I went to my receiving coach (Adam Gase) before the game and I told him, 'I think this is going to be the best game I've ever played.' Just because of the environment, the situation of playing the Colts," Marshall said.

But Manning, who was 20 of 42 for 220 yards, answered Marshall's fourth-quarter score by hooking up with Dallas Clark on a 1-yard game-sealing TD catch — his third TD of the game — with 2:25 to go.

Manning led Indianapolis to touchdowns on three of its first four drives, then somehow lost his touch. After completing 10 of 16 throws in the first quarter, Manning went just 6 of 22 over the next two-plus quarters, once missing nine of 10 passes while throwing all three interceptions.

DENVER 0 7 0 9—16

INDIANAPOLIS 14 7 0 7—28

First Quarter

Ind—Collie 5 pass from Manning (Stover kick), 9:06.

Ind—Clark 10 pass from Manning (Stover kick), 5:04.

Second Quarter

Ind—Clark 1 pass from Manning (Stover kick), 7:58.

Den—Marshall 5 pass from Orton (Prater kick), 2:23.

Fourth Quarter

Den—FG Prater 28, 14:50.

Den—Marshall 5 pass from Orton (run failed), 9:44.

Ind—Clark 1 pass from Manning (Stover kick), 2:25.

A—67,248.

Den Ind

First downs 20 21

Total Net Yards 357 312

Rushes-yards 30-95 28-92

Passing 262 220

Punt Returns 3-3 2-19

Kickoff Returns 2-42 2-37

Interceptions Ret. 3-25 1-13

Comp-Att-Int 29-41-1 20-42-3

Sacked-Yards Lost 3-15 0-0

Punts 4-46.3 5-42.2

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0

Penalties-Yards 7-65 4-20

Time of Possession 31:27 28:33

RUSHING—Denver, Moreno 23-63, Buckhalter 4-19, Orton 2-11, Hillis 1-2. Indianapolis, Addai 16-67, Hart 9-28, Manning 3-(minus 3).

PASSING—Denver, Orton 29-41-1-277. Indianapolis, Manning 20-42-3-220.

RECEIVING—Denver, Marshall 21-200, Gaffney 3-48, Moreno 3-13, Graham 1-6, Royal 1-3, Kuper 0-7. Indianapolis, Addai 5-49, Clark 5-43, Wayne 4-43, Collie 3-39, Garcon 2-39, Robinson 1-7.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—Denver, Prater 42 (WR).