Manning Continues Record Run in Victory

Peyton Manning passed for 210 yards and three touchdowns as the Indianapolis Colts handed the Cincinnati Bengals their ninth consecutive loss, 39-26, on Sunday.

In the process, Manning set three more rookie records, including one for touchdown passes that had stood for a half-century.

Manning’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Torrance Small with 6:32 left in the third quarter gave him 23 for the season, breaking the rookie mark set by Charlie Conerly in 1948 for the New York Giants.

“I’ve never been big on individual records, but the fact that record was held so long by Charlie Conerly, that’s a special thing,” Manning said. “I’d still trade it all for some more wins this season, but it’s a nice honor.”

The victory ended a losing streak at three games for Indianapolis (3-11), which blew double-digit leads in its previous two games. This time, with Manning and Marshall Faulk providing the offense, the Colts never let up.

Faulk, the NFL leader in yards from scrimmage, had two first-half touchdown runs, and his 115 yards rushing and 39 yards receiving pushed his total this season to a Colt-record 2,090.

Faulk could become only the second NFL player with 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season. He has 1,228 yards rushing and 862 receiving. In 1985, Roger Craig of the San Francisco 49ers had 1,050 yards rushing and 1,016 receiving.

Manning, meanwhile, was 17 for 26, upping his totals to 286 for 502, both rookie records.

He also extended his own rookie records to 3,179 yards passing and 11 consecutive games with at least one touchdown pass.

“Marshall’s presence back there opens up a lot of holes for the passing game,” Manning said. “They have to account for Marshall on every play. So, he was a big factor today.”

Bengal Coach Bruce Coslet said, “We made it easy on him. He threw a lot of slants and we missed tackles.”

Manning, who got his 24th touchdown pass on another 16-yard play to Small early in the fourth quarter, became the first Colt quarterback with more than 3,000 yards passing in a season since Bert Jones in 1981.

“Peyton’s had a heck of a year. He’s been very productive,” Colt Coach Jim Mora said. “That’s pretty incredible, and he has two games to go.”