Manning sets touchdown record in Colts win
Last Updated: Monday, December 27, 2004 | 3:03 PM ET
CBC Sports
Manning's 21-yard strike to Brandon Stokley with 56 seconds left in regulation at the RCA Dome gave the quarterback 49 touchdown passes on the year, and drew the Colts to within two of San Diego.
"I'm glad it happened on that drive," said Manning. "I think Johnny Unitas would have been proud of that drive and the way it happened."
Indianapolis needed a two-point convert to tie the game, and running back Edgerrin James went up the middle to make the score 31-31.
Peyton Manning reacts after throwing an NFL record 49th touchdown on Sunday in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
"Obviously, at the time that I threw it, there wasn't a lot of emotion for me because of the two-point conversion," said Manning of the record-setting toss. "If we don't get that two-point conversion, it is kind of a downer."
San Diego quarterback Drew Brees, having his own storybook season, threatened to upstage Manning with three touchdown passes, staking the Chargers to leads of 24-9 and 31-16.
But with San Diego nearing field goal position in the final seconds, Brees was intercepted by Indy linebacker Rob Morris.
The Chargers never got another chance. The Colts won the overtime coin flip, and set up by Manning passes to Stokley and Reggie Wayne, Mike Vanderjagt kicked a 30-yard field goal, his fourth of the game, for the win.
Manning threw a three-yard shovel pass to Indianapolis running James Mungro midway through the third quarter to equal Dan Marino's mark of 48, set in 1984.
But troubles in the red zone threatened to foil Manning and the Colts for much of the game.
On Indianapolis' first possession of the game, a Manning pass intended for Wayne was intercepted by San Diego's Donnie Edwards at the Chargers four-yard line.
In the second quarter, the Colts had three drives stall inside the 20, and had to settle for field goals by Oakville, Ont. native Vanderjagt.
Marino's record, set in just his second pro season, is the most glamorous of several passing records Manning has broken this season, and one thought to have been safe for several more years.
Earlier in December, Manning became the first quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards in six consecutive seasons, as well as setting a new mark with 13 consecutive games with two or more touchdown tosses.
The quest for Marino's record threatened to overshadow the game, a battle of 11-3 teams to determine the third and fourth seeds in the AFC playoffs.
It appeared the Chargers had a victory in hand, with the Colt defence seemingly unable to stop them until a crucial late fourth quarter stand.
Brees threw scoring passes to Eric Parker, Antonio Gates, and LaDainian Tomlinson, who also rushed for a score in an NFL record 12th consecutive game.
Gates' 13th TD reception also set a new NFL mark for tight ends .
The game also had the added subtext of Eli Manning, Peyton's younger brother, spurning the Chargers after being selected first by them in June's draft. San Diego then dealt the younger Manning to the New York Giants.
with files from Associated Press
