Numbers Cruncher

Where does Peyton Manning go from 49?

To a gaudy 5,085? A precise 71.0? Or perhaps an otherworldly eight?

We’re talking NFL passing records here. Manning, the quintessential quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts, would prefer the Super Bowl, but his single-season record of 49 touchdown passes didn’t do it last season.

Now, he and the Colts are back in pursuit of an ostentatious, diamond-studded championship ring, and if a couple of NFL records happen to fall out of the passing tree along the way, so be it.

Manning had one of last season’s story lines by chasing -- and ultimately bettering -- Dan Marino’s record of 48 touchdown passes in 1984.

Can he topple another record? And if so, which one?

Marino’s single-season record of 5,084 yards passing, set in 1984?

Ken Anderson’s single-season record of 70.55 completion percentage, set in 1982?

The single-game record of seven touchdown passes, accomplished by four players, the last of whom was Joe Kapp against the Baltimore Colts in 1969?

Whatever it might be, it will fall under the broad heading of playing to win.

“It wasn’t like last year our goal was to break the touchdown record,” Colt tight end Dallas Clark said. “That was just a byproduct of everyone working hard and doing some good things and making big plays.

“This year, we’re just going to go about our business and it’s going to be a whole new season. We don’t know what’s in store.”

First up in the surprise bin is the Baltimore Ravens’ blitzing 46 defense. When Manning opens the season tonight in Baltimore, he will be operating under a new bar he raised himself.

Whether he throws for two touchdowns, one or none tonight, you should expect this to be a special year for the 29-year-old wunderkind. He is, after all, just coming into the best years of a quarterback’s career. He has some of the best big-play weapons in football in his offense. And he has a work ethic designed to make special things happen.

He also hones a sharp competitive edge.

“I’m the first one to say it: What we did last year means nothing,” Manning said. “Our division teams don’t care. New teams on our schedule don’t care. It’s what we’re going to do this year that matters.

“I feel I’ve been a better player each year I’ve been in the league.”

He has increased his touchdown passes the last three years (27, 29, 49). He has thrown a career-low 10 interceptions each of the last two years. He has improved his completion percentage every season since the first, culminating with a 67.6 effort in 2004.

His passer rating of 121.1 a year ago shattered the league record of 112.8 established by Steve Young in 1994. Last year, he had eight consecutive games with at least three touchdown passes. He had five consecutive games with four.

This is a quarterback at the top of his game, but he doesn’t act like it.

“Experience is the best teacher,” Manning said. “I’ve heard a lot of older quarterbacks, a lot of commentators ask, ‘Are you still doing the things that you did when you first got here? Are you still carrying out your fakes, are you still taking your five-step drop properly?’

“I try to wear out the basics. I have an excellent quarterback coach, Jim Caldwell, who I think is going to be a head coach at some level very soon.”

Manning meets with Caldwell and offensive coordinator Tom Moore at 7:15 a.m. during the off-season and then devotes a workout to one specific area.

“Jim counts my throws,” Manning said. “Fifty throws a day in April. Seventy-five today; we might push it to 100 tomorrow. Then we’ll focus on throwing left, focus on throwing right, focus on moving in the pocket.

“You do that work in April, May and June, then you get to third and five in November with a defensive lineman in your face, it’s like a reset drill. You have to trust that mechanics and fundamentals will be there, and count on experience.”

Manning is famous for his study of tape and his game preparation. The no-huddle offense the Colts will use tonight gives him an advantage he has earned that few other quarterbacks could even touch. It’s the ability to call plays at the line of scrimmage, while he motions receivers to and fro in the formation.

It’s a tactic that infuriates opposing defensive coordinators and leaves defensive players scrambling.

“Ultimately, what he wants to learn is what you’re playing, and he will put his offense in the best play he can,” said Rex Ryan, the Ravens’ first-time coordinator.

“I think they’re pretty effective getting people’s signals. If he knows you’re in a certain coverage, he will carve you up.”

Asked about Manning’s attributes, Ryan mentions the confidence level that accompanies him, and his command of the passing game. But what really grabs Ryan’s attention is Manning’s toughness.

Manning has made 112 consecutive starts for the Colts, the longest streak of its kind to start a career. He has missed only one play to injury in seven years, and that was to a broken jaw in 2001 on a hit by Miami Dolphin Lorenzo Bromell. Manning returned after sitting out that one play.

“This guy is a tough guy,” Ryan said. “Durability is probably more important in today’s game than athletic ability. If you get a guy like Peyton or Brett Favre, guys you can count on week in, week out, their 80% is better than most people’s 100%.”

One of the keys to tonight’s game is how well the Colts protect their quarterback against the multitude of blitzes Ryan will unleash. When the teams played last December, Manning showed nervous feet against the Ravens’ pressure defense. Still, he threw for 249 yards and the Colts won, 20-10.

He also threw his 47th touchdown pass that night. Presented with an opportunity to tie Marino late in the game when the Colts already had secured the victory, Manning handed the ball off.

He would break the record the next week against the San Diego Chargers, doing it his way.

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Peyton’s place

A statistical glance at Peyton Manning’s career:

*--* CAREER PASSING STATS Year G Cmp. Att. Pct. Yards Yds/Att TD Int Sck Rtg 1998 16 326 575 56.7 3,739 6.5 26 28 22 71.2 1999 16 331 533 62.1 4,135 7.8 26 15 14 90.7 2000 16 357 571 62.5 4,413 7.7 33 15 20 94.7 2001 16 343 547 62.7 4,131 7.6 26 23 29 84.1 2002 16 392 591 66.3 4,200 7.1 27 19 23 88.8 2003 16 379 566 67.0 4,267 7.5 29 10 18 99.0 2004 16 336 497 67.6 4,557 9.2 49 10 13 121.1 Totals: 112 2,464 3,880 63.5 29,442 7.6 216 120 139 92.3

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* Of note: Manning is the only player in NFL history to pass for 4,000-plus yards in six consecutive seasons. He is also the only player to throw for 3,000-plus yards in each of his first seven seasons. Manning has started 112 straight games, the most by any quarterback to start a career. He is also the only quarterback with 25 or more touchdown passes in seven consecutive years. He has led the Colts to 10 or more wins in five seasons and divisional titles in 1999, 2003 and 2004.

Source: NFL