Peyton Tries To Fulfill Unitas' Wish

Rookie Peyton Manning is doing his best to oblige the most prolific quarterback in franchise history.

A footnote to the Colts' 27-23 loss to Seattle on Sunday at the Kingdome was Manning continuing his record-breaking play. The most notable: breaking Unitas' 35-year single-season record for passing yards (3,481). Manning's 335 yards upped his season total to 3,514.

Manning, who has set every significant league and team rookie record, also broke Jeff George's single-season mark for completions with 309, and he broke Earl Morrall's record for throwing a touchdown pass in his 14th different game. Morrall threw TDs in 13 games in 1968. Manning's fourth 300-yard passing game tied the franchise record set by Unitas (1960, '63).

Those individual accomplishments, though, were the furthest thing from Manning's mind after the Colts' latest loss.

"This was an important game for us," he said. "Everybody might say it doesn't mean anything, that we were 3-11 and just get to next season. But we had a chance to beat a good Seattle team. To have a chance to win three in a row would have been really good for us going into next season."

The Colts, who beat Cincinnati last week, close the regular season Sunday at home against Carolina.

Other records fall

Two other Colts' records fell Sunday.

Running back Marshall Faulk, who was held out of the first quarter after being late to a Saturday night meeting, had 13 rushes and four receptions. That pushed his career "touch" total to 1,664 plays from scrimmage, surpassing Lydell Mitchell's record (1,659).

Faulk's 35 yards from scrimmage upped his career total to 8,022, third on the team's all-time list.

Kick returner Aaron Bailey also set a franchise record by pushing his career yardage total to 3,501, surpassing Clarence Verdin's total (3,420).

Nowhere to run

The Colts were reduced to a one-dimensional offense Sunday. Despite going against Seattle's 21st-ranked rush defense, they were limited to 32 yards on 18 carries. That matched a season-low output.

After the game, a reporter asked coach Jim Mora if Manning's play was hindered by the fact that he had almost no rushing attack.

"Almost no rushing attack? No. We had no rushing attack," Mora snapped.

Faulk, who had averaged 104 yards in his past six games, was limited to 19 yards on 13 carries. That's tied for the third-lowest output of his 76-game career.

Watters runs wild

Seattle running back Ricky Watters blistered the Colts' run defense with a career-high 178 yards and a touchdown.

"We came out and really took it to them," he said. "I have to give credit to my offensive line. They did a great job.

"It was fun out there playing today."

Mora believes his defense played a major role in Watters' big afternoon.

"Every week you face good running backs. If you don't tackle them, what do you expect?" he said.

Watters became the 10th back to rush for at least 100 yards against the Colts this year.

Protection holds up

Seattle entered the game with 49 sacks, tied for the most in the NFL. The Colts had given up 15, the second-lowest total in the league.

Give Sunday's edge to the Colts.

Despite throwing 39 passes, Manning was sacked twice. End Michael Sinclair recorded one, his AFC-high 16th of the season, while tackle Sam Adams was credited with the other for chasing Manning out of bounds for no gain.

The Colts, meanwhile, got to Seattle quarterback Jon Kitna four times. Posting the sacks were tackles Tony McCoy and Ellis Johnson and ends Bernard Whittington and Bertrand Berry.

Notes

Sunday's loss left the Colts winless on the road (0-8). It marks the first time the team has gone winless away from home in a nonstrike season since 1950 (0-6). The Colts have lost 21 of their past 23 road games. . . . Wide receiver Torrance Small had three receptions for 120 yards. It marked his second 100-yard game of the season and the third of his career.