INDIANAPOLIS 27, SAN DIEGO 19 : Manning Passes Unitas With a 404-Yard Effort

As Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf prepared to enter the NFL as the top two picks in the 1998 draft, the cocky Leaf would often refer to the more mature Manning as “the Golden Boy” or “Perfect Peyton.”

For once, Leaf was accurate.

Manning had the most spectacular performance of his 19-game career, throwing for a franchise-record 404 yards to supplant Johnny Unitas in the Colt record book and embarrassing one of the NFL’s best defenses as Indianapolis stunned the San Diego Chargers, 27-19, Sunday.

Leaf didn’t even see Manning’s performance in person. Coach Mike Riley said Leaf, inactive because of shoulder surgery, was home with a case of flu that kept him from being at practice all week.

The Colts (2-1) blew a 10-0 lead, but rallied behind Manning, who passed for two touchdowns and had his first career rushing touchdown. He played a marvelous game of pass-and-catch with Marvin Harrison, who tied the franchise record with 13 receptions for a career-high 196 yards and one touchdown.

San Diego’s defense, ranked No. 3 overall in the NFL, kept Edgerrin James from becoming the first rookie to rush for 100 yards in each of his first three games, but the Chargers (1-1) ended up paying dearly through the air.

“Once we shut down the run, it looked like a run-and-shoot team out there,” linebacker Junior Seau said. “Peyton Manning just threw for over 400 yards, and you just don’t do that in this league.”

The previous franchise record of 401 yards passing was set by Unitas in 1967. Manning was 29 for 54.