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Manning throws for four TDs, Colts paste Redskins

Oct 22, 2006 - 11:35 PM INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Peyton Manning shook off a huge hit to light up the Washington Redskins.

Manning threw three of his four touchdown passes in the third quarter as the unbeaten Indianapolis Colts took control in the second half en route to a 36-22 victory over the Redskins.

Marvin Harrison had two of the TD receptions and Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark also found the end zone for the Colts (6-0), who erased a 14-13 deficit behind their potent passing attack.

The ringleader of the Colts' offense is Manning, who enjoyed his 14th career four-touchdown game and reached another milestone. Manning's 256 career TD passes moved him past Sonny Jurgensen (255) into 10th place on the all-time list.

It looked like Manning might not have a chance to add to his impressive career numbers after he was clotheslined and had his helmet knocked off on a hit between defensive ends Andre Carter and Phillip Daniels in the second quarter.

Manning was bloodied on the play, and backup Jim Sorgi began warming up. But after a timeout, the six-time Pro Bowl quarterback remained in the game without missing a play.

"I attended the Bill Belichick school of not discussing injuries the past few summers ... so I don't really discuss that," Manning said.

"I've seen him take some tough shots, and he's a little tougher than people think," Colts coach Tony Dungy said.

The Redskins (2-5) probably wish that Manning never returned since he threw touchdown passes of four yards and one yard to Harrison around a 51-yard connection to Wayne in a 20-point third quarter that gave the Colts a 33-14 lead.

"It was Peyton being Peyton - quick throws," Carter said. "They made certain adjustments. But it was us. We didn't tackle well in the second half."

"In the first half, we went after it hard, got the lead. It was a good first half," Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said. "In the second half, we couldn't get anything done. Give a lot of credit to them, they overwhelmed us in the third quarter."

Manning completed 25-of-35 passes for 342 yards without a turnover. He was 10-of-12 for 135 yards after halftime.

Harrison also reached a milestone, moving past Irving Fryar into eighth place on the all-time list in receiving yards. He had seven catches for 73 yards, giving him 12,846 yards.

Wayne finished with seven receptions for 122 yards and rookie Joseph Addai rushed for 85 yards on 11 carries.

Behind their offense and their much-maligned defense that also played well, the Colts have won their first six games for the second straight season. They went 13-0 last season before their first loss.

The Redskins lost their third straight game. To make matters worse, Pro Bowl wide receiver Santana Moss left in the second half with a hamstring injury.

"We have to find a way to play and coach better and work our way out of this," Gibbs said. "I'm going to come out swinging and do my absolute best to fix it."

Clinton Portis also was unable to take advantage of a Colts defense that ranked last in the league against the run. Portis rushed for just 43 yards on 12 carries.

Indianapolis also was without starting defensive tackle Montae Reagor, who was injured in a car accident hours before kickoff. Reagor is hospitalized in good condition with facial lacerations.

Mark Brunell completed 27-of-37 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns for the Redskins.

The Colts received an immediate boost to start the second half when Terrence Wilkins returned the kickoff 37 yards to his own 45.

Manning found backup tight end Ben Utecht for 21 yards and Addai ripped off a 21-yard return. Two plays later, Manning found Harrison cutting across the middle for a four-yard TD and a 20-14 lead.

After the Redskins' ensuing drive stalled near midfield, Manning needed just four plays to loft a beautiful pass down the middle that Wayne took in stride for a 51-yard TD and 27-14 advantage.

The Colts' defense forced a three-and-out, again setting up Manning and the offense.

On first down from his own 48, Manning connected with Harrison for 38 yards. Addai had three runs that totaled 13 yards before Manning found Harrison on 3rd-and-goal from the 1 with 2:46 left in the third quarter for a 33-14 cushion.

"I asked him at halftime if he was OK and he said he was fine," Dungy said. "And he was on fire in the third quarter."

Indianapolis held a 452-325 advantage in total yards.

Manning also started in impressive fashion, engineering an 11-play, 92-yard drive on the Colts' opening possession that he capped with a one-yard TD pass over the middle to Clark.

The Redskins tied the game less than two minutes into the second quarter on Brunell's 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Chris Cooley.

After Adam Vinatieri kicked a 30-yard field goal to give the Colts the lead, Antwaan Randle El returned a punt 87 yards for a TD, giving the Redskins a 14-10 advantage with 2:24 left in the half.

Vinatieri kicked a 19-yard field goal with eight seconds left before the break.