Peyton Manning completed 23 of 30 passes for 308 yards, throwing four touchdown strikes for the Colts, who improved to 14-0 on the season. The 2009 Indianapolis Colts are now just the third NFL team to ever start an NFL season 14-0 (the 1972 Miami Dolphins and 2007 New England Patriots both achieved perfect seasons). However, neither the ’72 Dolphins nor the ’07 Patriots won 23 regular season games in a row, which the ’09 Colts have done so far.
Dallas Clark hauled in two touchdown passes from Peyton Manning while Austin Collie and Reggie Wayne each caught one from Manning, who became the first quarterback to pass for 4,000 yards in ten seasons (to give an idea of how dominant that statistic alone is, Dan Marino is second on the list with 6 4,000-yard passing seasons).
Prior to the start of the game, there was a moment of silence to honor Chris Henry. 714 yards, 43 first downs, 10 lead changes, six punts, and two interceptions later, the Colts find themselves just two games away from perfection.
Jacksonville had a chance to win at the end of the game, but David Garrard’s pass to Mike Thomas fell into the hands of Indianapolis’ Jacob Lacey. Garrard finished the day 23-of-40 passing for 223 yards and three touchdowns: one to Maurice Jones-Drew, one to Mike Sims-Walker, and one to Mike Thomas. The Jaguars fell to 7-7 on the season.
It was Peyton Manning’s 21st career 4-TD game, which ties him with Dan Marino for second all-time in NFL history. Manning’s 4th touchdown of the game was a 65-yard bomb to Reggie Wayne that gave Indianapolis a 35-31 lead with 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter.
