Manning Ties Tarkenton on TD List, Beats Seahawks

NFL News - October 4th, 2009 - Written by John

Peyton Manning tied Fran Tarkenton for third on the career touchdown pass list and the Indianapolis Colts easily handled the Seahawks, 34-17, on Sunday. He threw two scores in the first half that gave his team a quick lead, all the while becoming only the second quarterback to throw 55 touchdowns to two different receivers. He already did it with Marvin Harrison (the pair actually hold the record for most tandem touchdowns by a receiver-quarterback) and his five-yarder in the first quarter added Reggie Wayne.

His second pass came on one of Manning's patented check-down line audibles in the second quarter. With three seconds to go before the break, he adjusted the play and nailed rookie Austin Collie that made it 21-3.

He didn't have another score for the remainder of the game, yet finished with over 300 yards for the fourth consecutive game. He wasn't pressured at all. Lofa Tatupu and Justin Babineaux each had double-digit tackles, but nobody laid a finger on Manning all day.

The Seahawks, however, have throroughly struggled without quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Since leading the team to the Super Bowl in 2006, the three-time Pro Bowler has missed almost a dozen games with a back injury. He broke his rib in Week Two and hasn't seen the field since, turning the ball over to Seneca Wallace. But the offense, unlike in Week One when Hasselbeck was under center, has sputtered, and didn't score a touchdown until three minutes remained in the fourth quarter.

Wallace had to do it himself, scampering for a seven-yard touchdown run that capped off a 10-play, 70-yard drive. After an ensuing field goal by the Colts, Wallace led the Seahawks to another somewhat irrelevant score, hitting Owen Schmitt from one yard out on a bootleg.

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