Colts’ Start Is Best Since 1977

The Indianapolis Colts reached the midway point of the season as one of the surprise teams in the NFL, even to their coach.

Peyton Manning passed for 290 yards, extended his streak of touchdown passes to 21 games and scored on a seven-yard scramble early in the fourth quarter as the Colts defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 25-17, Sunday.

It was the fourth consecutive victory for the Colts (6-2), off to their best start since the then-Baltimore Colts opened 9-1 in 1977. They already have as many victories as the last two years combined.

“If you had asked me if this team could be 6-2, I’d have said it would be really tough,” Coach Jim Mora said. “I think 6-2 realistically would be beyond anybody’s expectations. But I’ll take it.”

Kansas City (5-3) set up the go-ahead Indianapolis touchdown when Larry Parker, a rookie from USC, fumbled a punt return and Tito Wooten recovered at the Colts’ 46-yard line early in the fourth quarter.

Rookie Edgerrin James, who rushed for 109 yards, carried 27 yards on the next play and caught a 21-yard pass three plays later to the Chiefs’ 10.

Manning ran three yards and then put the Colts up 22-17 with his seven-yard touchdown run, becoming the first Colt quarterback with two rushing touchdowns in a season since Jim Harbaugh in 1995.

“It was a dropback passing play,” Manning said. “Marvin [Harrison] was my first look and the corner kind of pressed him. I was looking that way and saw there was nobody to account for me. I kept my arm in a throwing position, which froze the defense, and got a good block.

“I think I have decent speed,” he said. “I’m not going to outrun any defensive backs, but it is something I work on because it’s nice to escape the pocket when you have to.”

Mike Vanderjagt kicked his fourth field goal, a 37-yarder with 1:10 to play, and the Chiefs reached the Indianapolis 39 before Tony Blevins batted down a desperation pass to the end zone by backup Warren Moon as the game ended.

Parker blamed himself for the crucial fumble.

“I had my chance to bring one to the house. I messed up,” he said. “I didn’t take care of it. I was kind of stumbling, and the next thing I knew the ball was coming out.”