James Waits for Perfect Opportunity

Edgerrin James of the Indianapolis Colts is starting to show that his rookie season was no fluke.

The second-year running back had not had a 100-yard rushing performance since the season opener against Kansas City, and he had been held without a touchdown in his previous two games.

James broke out in a big way Sunday, rushing for three touchdowns and a franchise-record 219 yards, leading the Colts over the Seattle Seahawks, 37-24.

“The last couple of weeks, I’ve been trying to make stuff happen, instead of waiting for things to open up,” James said. “I always hope to have a big game. But this won’t be the last time I have a game like this.

“This is the beginning of my career.”

James carried 38 times and scored on runs of 26, three and two yards, the second time he’s had three touchdowns in a game. He easily topped the 198-yard performance by Norm Bulaich against the Jets on Sept. 17, 1971.

Seattle (2-5) had not allowed a back to gain 200 yards against them since Denver’s Terrell Davis had 208 on Oct. 1, 1998.

James ran for 82 yards in the first quarter as Indianapolis (4-2) played the last of three consecutive road games.

Colt quarterback Peyton Manning bounced back from his poor performance a week earlier, when he had three passes intercepted in the fourth quarter of a 24-16 loss to New England. He threw one touchdown pass against the Seahawks and completed 20 of 30 passes for 281 yards.

Wide receiver Marvin Harrison had 134 yards on seven receptions. It was his fifth 100-yard performance in six games this season, and ninth out of 11 dating to 1999.

The loss spoiled Brock Huard’s solid home debut as the Seahawk quarterback. Huard, who supplanted Jon Kitna as the starter a week ago, threw three scoring passes in his first NFL start at Husky Stadium, where he played in college for Washington.

Huard left the game twice because of an injured right knee in the fourth quarter. Seahawk Coach Mike Holmgren said an MRI was planned Monday.

Huard’s third touchdown pass, a six-yard strike to Karsten Bailey, cut the Colts’ lead to 37-24 with 5:12 left. Seattle recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, but Chad Cota intercepted a pass by Huard two plays later.