Colts First Into Playoffs

The Indianapolis Colts are making perfection look easier every week.

Now they’ll have a chance to keep their quest for history going in the playoffs too.

With the Triplets in sync and the defense producing another dominant performance Sunday, the Tennessee Titans never had a chance as the Colts rolled to a 35-3 victory to clinch a playoff spot and remain the NFL’s only unbeaten team.

“Anything that comes along with winning, you accept it,” Colt quarterback Peyton Manning said.

The Colts are the fifth team in league history to go 12-0 but must wait until next week at Jacksonville for a chance to wrap up their third straight AFC South title and a first-round bye in the playoffs.

If the last few games are any indication, that’s only a matter of time.

Indianapolis has won seven of its last nine by at least 17 points, averaging more than 35 points. The Colts even routed Tennessee on a day that Manning threw only 17 passes, the second-fewest of his NFL career. He threw two passes in last year’s season finale at Denver.

But the latest victory epitomized how Indianapolis continues to win by overcoming anything opponents try.

On Sunday, the Titans (3-9) wanted to play keep-away. It didn’t work.

Manning completed 13 of 17 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns, giving him a near-perfect passer rating of 151.2 and extending his NFL record to eight consecutive seasons with at least 25 touchdown passes.

Edgerrin James rushed for 107 yards, reaching 9,000 yards faster than all but two players in league history. In 93 games, James has rushed for 9,067 yards. Eric Dickerson did it in 82 games; Jim Brown did it in 88.

Marvin Harrison caught four passes for 61 yards, and his first reception, a 36-yarder on the Colts’ opening drive, made Harrison the 12th player in league history to top 12,000 yards receiving. His 10-yard touchdown catch on the Colts’ opening possession was the 92nd between Manning and Harrison, also extending that duo’s NFL record.

If anyone thought Indianapolis would have a letdown after an emotional victory Monday night against Pittsburgh, the Colts’ answer was resounding: Not a chance.

They limited the Titans to 40 yards rushing, sacked Steve McNair twice and Billy Volek twice and even knocked McNair out for four plays in the third quarter because of a bruised right shin.

“I’m very proud of this team, coming back after Monday night and playing like that, a complete game,” Coach Tony Dungy said. “We had that focus, we wanted to get in the playoffs.”

Tennessee’s only score came on Rob Bironas’ 24-yard field goal with 29 seconds left in the first half.