Record on hold, but Manning, Colts win

INDIANAPOLIS — Peyton Manning couldn’t get a record-setting touchdown pass against Baltimore’s rugged defense. But he got the Indianapolis Colts a victory.

Manning led two second-half touchdown drives, pulling within one of Dan Marino’s record for touchdown passes in a season, and the Colts defeated Baltimore 20-10 on Sunday night for their seventh straight victory.

Manning has 47 TD passes; Marino had 48 in 1984.

The fans even booed when Manning knelt down twice in the final minute at the Baltimore 4, running out the clock with a chance to tie the record.

“That’s the right way to play,” Manning said. “If they were to call timeout right there, maybe it’d be a little bit different. They were kind of conceding that the game was over.”

Manning fell short of Marino’s record for the second straight week, but extended his own NFL record of consecutive 4,000-yard seasons to six. He finished 20 of 33 for 249 yards and one touchdown.

Baltimore’s playoff hopes took a hit. The Ravens (8-6) are now tied with Buffalo, Jacksonville and Denver for the final wild-card spot in the AFC race.

Mike Vanderjagt kicked two first-half field goals to give Indianapolis a 6-3 lead in its second-lowest scoring opening half of the season, and Larry Tripplett blocked a field goal that set up the Colts’ second touchdown drive – a 10-point swing that changed the game.

Reggie Wayne caught eight passes for 88 yards to top the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his four-year career.

Jamal Lewis carried 20 times for 130 yards for Baltimore and Kyle Boller threw for 210 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.