-
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning - Source: Reuters
Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning fired four touchdown
passes to maintain the Colts' unbeaten record with a dramatic 35-31
victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Friday.
The win moved the Colts to 14-0 this season and extended their NFL
record for consecutive regular-season victories to 23.
With Indianapolis trailing by three going into the final quarter,
Manning delivered a 65-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne with
less than six minutes left in the game.
The Jaguars then drove to the Indianapolis 33-yard-line but
quarterback David Garrard's pass was intercepted by Jacob Lacey to
seal the Colts' win.
Indianapolis have already clinched home field advantage in the AFC,
but opted to play their regular starters rather than resting their
players for the postseason.
"I know it's a hot topic of debate," Manning told reporters after
finishing with 308 yards and one interception.
"Whatever decision our coach makes will be the right decision. This
was a great comeback. There (was) no panic."
In a game that saw the lead change nine times, Indianapolis led
21-17 at halftime despite having just two possessions. In addition
to two touchdown passes from Manning, Chad Simpson returned a
kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown.
Garrard had three touchdown passes for the Jags, including a
13-yard connection with Mike Thomas that gave the home side a 31-28
edge late in the third.
Tight end Dallas Clark caught two scores for the Colts while Wayne
recorded 132 receiving yards and the long touchdown pass late in
the fourth.
Manning took the NFL lead with 33 touchdown passes and moved into
second place with 21 career four-touchdown passing games, one
behind Brett Favre's record of 22.
"He's one of the finest players any of us have ever seen," said
Indianapolis coach Jim Caldwell. "He's a heck of a competitor, he
finds a way to make things happen."
The win was the Colts' seventh this year after trailing in the
fourth quarter and their second over Jacksonville, who fell to
7-7.
The New Orleans Saints, the NFL's other undefeated team at 13-0,
play Dallas on Sunday (NZT).
