James, Defense Spark Colts

Cato June had two interceptions that set up two touchdowns, Nick Harper had an interception and a fumble recovery to set up scores, and the Indianapolis Colts defeated the St. Louis Rams, 45-28, Monday night to remain the NFL’s only unbeaten team.

Edgerrin James had 143 yards and three touchdowns in 23 carries, and Peyton Manning had two touchdown passes, including a record-setter to Marvin Harrison.

“They weren’t letting us pass downfield,” Manning said. “It used to be teams wouldn’t let us run the ball and we had to throw. Now it’s the opposite. They won’t let us pass.”

The Rams, playing without ailing Coach Mike Martz, lost quarterback Marc Bulger in the second quarter because of a sprained shoulder.

But it was almost all defense for the Colts (6-0).

Dwight Freeney chipped in with a forced fumble for the Colts, and Robert Mathis took over the NFL lead in sacks with seven. That provided the field position that allowed the Colts to run 36 consecutive plays in St. Louis territory in the last 27 minutes.

Bulger, who was six for eight for 121 yards and a touchdown, was injured when he was blocked by David Thornton on the first of the interceptions by June, a third-year linebacker who leads the NFL with five. It came less than three minutes into the second quarter and led to James’ eight-yard touchdown run.

Jamie Martin replaced Bulger and could do little but throw underneath until late in the game. He threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Cam Cleeland for a touchdown that cut the Colt lead to 45-28.

And Steven Jackson, who had 46 yards in a 162-yard first quarter for the Rams (2-4), could do little after that, finishing with 88 yards in 17 carries. St. Louis had a little more than 100 yards in the second and third quarters.

Manning was 22 for 32 for 191 yards. His six-yard touchdown pass to Harrison with 9 minutes 25 seconds left set a record of 86 touchdowns for a passer-receiver combination. Manning and Harrison had been tied with San Francisco’s Steve Young and Jerry Rice.

Martz, who is out indefinitely because of a bacterial infection of the heart valve, was replaced by assistant head coach Joe Vitt.