Manning to Harrison keys Colts past Cincy

The duo combined for three touchdowns in the 34-16 win in Indianapolis.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Manning to Harrison is the surest way to get the Indianapolis Colts out of a funk.
The most prolific passing duo in NFL history tore apart the Cincinnati Bengals, combining for three touchdowns in a 34-16 victory Monday night. Even the Colts' maligned defense woke up after Indy dropped three of its last four games and yielded an incomprehensible 375 yards rushing a week ago to Jacksonville.
But it was vintage Peyton Manning throwing to his favorite target, Marvin Harrison, that dominated what was expected to be a shootout. The AFC South champion Colts (11-3) did their part, while the Bengals (8-6) slipped back in the wild-card race with their first loss in five weeks. They'd allowed 33 points in those four wins, one less than Indy scored Monday night.
Sharp outing
Manning, 5-0 against Cincinnati, had one of the sharpest outings of his brilliant career, although he never looked deep because the Bengals couldn't cover anyone on quick-hitting routes. He was 29-for-36 for 282 yards, a 136.3 rating, and his 15th career four-touchdown outing. In addition to bringing his total TD throws to Harrison to 103, he found Reggie Wayne on an 18-yarder and passed Vinny Testaverde for eighth place with 270 career touchdown passes.
He was helped greatly by Cincinnati's inability to rush him or handle receivers coming off the line. More than half his completions came on short patterns where a Colt was wide open.
And the Colts came alive defensively, never letting the Bengals' fourth-ranked passing attack to hit stride. Dwight Freeney led the defense with three sacks and Carson Palmer was a pedestrian 14-for-28 for 176 yards.
The victory kept Indianapolis even with Baltimore and one game behind San Diego in the race for top record in the AFC. Cincinnati is tied with the Jaguars, Jets and Broncos for the two AFC wild-card berths.
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