Indianapolis Colts beat Seattle Seahawks 34-17; QB Peyton Manning calls 4-0 "a good start"

Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning (Darron Cummings/AP Photo)

Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning has been here before. An unbeaten team. A hot start. Record-setting offense. And impressive results.

He was there again Sunday, which was why in the wake of an impressive, dominant 34-17 victory over the struggling Seattle Seahawks in front of 66,112 at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday afternoon, the Colts' nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback talked less about making history yet again, and a lot more about maintaining perspective.

“I feel it's a good start,” Manning said after not only leading the Colts to their franchise-record tying 13th consecutive regular-season victory, but also setting a franchise-record for consecutive 300-yard passing performances. “It is an excellent first 'quarter.'"

Manning emphasized 'quarter.'

"That's the proper word," he said. "To be 4-0 after the first quarter – I think that's what all teams want. It's certainly what we want. There has been change this offseason, but it's still a long season.”

The Colts (4-0), in Head Coach Jim Caldwell's first season since succeeding Tony Dungy in January, are unbeaten after four games for a fifth time in seven seasons. They started 5-0 in 2003, 13-0 in 2005, 9-0 in 2006 and 7-0 in 2007. They won the AFC South in each of those seasons, leading the division wire-to-wire each season.

“We've got to just try to keep it going,” said Colts Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Mathis, who recorded three sacks and forced two fumbles.

Through four games, the Colts now lead the AFC South by two games over Jacksonville (2-2) and Houston (2-2), and they hold a four-game lead over Tennessee (0-4). The Jaguars beat Tennessee, 37-17, in Jacksonville Sunday.

“All it does is guarantee we won't go 3-13,” Caldwell said with a smile. “Other than that, there aren't a whole lot of guarantees in this league. Every game is tough and it's a long season.”

Added Caldwell, "All across the board, I thought we played well."

Manning, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and the Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player three of the last six seasons, completed 31 of 41 passes for 353 yards and two touchdowns with an interceptions for a passer rating of 107.1.

Manning's fourth consecutive 300-yard game broke the record he had shared with himself (2006) and Hall of Fame quarterback John Unitas (1963). It was the 51st 300-yard game of his career. He also tied Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton for third in the NFL's all-time list with 342 touchdown passes.

"He certainly doesn't surprise us with the things he does, but I'll also say that we don't take it for granted either," Caldwell said. "He certainly has performed extremely well throughout the years.”

The Colts' defense held Seattle to 279 total yards, 109 of which came in the fourth quarter after the Colts led, 28-3. In addition to Mathis' three sacks, defensive end Dwight Freeney – who did not practice this past week because of a quadriceps injury – had a sack while playing mostly in passing situations and middle linebacker Freddy Keiaho also had a sack.

“I thought our offense and defense fed off each other,” Manning said.

The Colts will visit Tennessee Sunday, a game Manning on Sunday called the most important of the season.

“I'm really hesitant to get into a summary of the year after just four games,” Manning said. “It is a good start, and there are some good things, but I do feel like the teeth of our schedule is approaching us starting this week with one of our biggest rivals.

“We have a lot of football left to play and have a lot of tough teams left to play.”

*** INDY FOOTBALL REPORT EDITOR JOHN OEHSER PREVIEWS COLTS-SEATTLE SEAHAWKS HERE

*** ON WHAT FORMER COLTS AND CURRENT SEAHAWKS RB EDGERRIN JAMES MEANT TO JOSEPH ADDAI HERE

*** COLTS QB PEYTON MANNING NAMED AFC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE MONTH HERE

*** COLTS QB PEYTON MANNING ON THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF FORMER COLTS RB EDGERRIN JAMES HERE

*** WR PIERRE GARCON AMONG FIVE KEY EARLY-SEASON DEVELOPMENTS FOR 3-0 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS HERE ***

*** REVIEWING COLTS PRESIDENT BILL POLIAN'S WEEKLY RADIO SHOW HERE. PART ONE

*** REVIEWING COLTS PRESIDENT BILL POLIAN'S WEEKLY RADIO SHOW HERE. PART TWO

*** IFR EDITOR JOHN OEHSER'S COLTS-CARDINALS GAME STORY HERE

*** COFFEE WITH THE COLTS: IFR EDITOR JOHN OEHSER'S NEXT MORNING LOOK AT COLTS-CARDINALS HERE

*** PEYTON MANNING'S TOP 10 COMEBACK VICTORIES HERE.

*** HIS TOP 10 UNDERRATED MOMENTS HERE