NFL

• Colts' Manning's poor performance has sacred feel

  
  

  By Shawn Clarke, NFL Contributing Editor

  (Sports Network) - In the book of Genesis in the Old Testament, God rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done to create the world.

  Much could be said for what Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has done for the franchise, and he also seemed to have taken an off day this past Sunday in San Diego.

  The Colts were built around Manning, who entered the NFL world as the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. Some fans like to think he is the second coming of God, especially after bringing the team home a Super Bowl title last year. Manning has been through the good and bad as the Colts' quarterback, and it was all bad after Sunday's 23-21 setback to the Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium.

  Manning was picked off a team-record six times, breaking the previous mark of five picks. Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas threw five picks in one game four times throughout his career. Manning, who entered Sunday's game with a total of four INT's on the season, did complete 34 of his career-high 56 attempts for 328 yards and almost led the Colts back to victory until kicker Adam Vinatieri missed a 29-yard field goal attempt with 1:34 remaining in the game.

  Indianapolis had another shot for a win, but Manning was picked off by Chargers safety Clinton Hart in the game's final moments.

  Manning threw three of his interceptions in the first quarter and understands he put his team in bad position to win.

  "(It was a) combination of (San Diego) made a couple of good plays and certainly some poor throws and poor decisions on my part," Manning said. "Any time you come on the road and turn the ball over like that, as a quarterback you're certainly putting your team in a tough position."

  It's wasn't all bad news for Manning, who again played without star wide receiver and favorite target Marvin Harrison, who has missed four of the last five games with a knee injury. Manning was also without tight end Dallas Clark (concussion), so he continued his rapport with wideout Reggie Wayne. Wayne ended with 140 yards and a touchdown on 10 receptions.

  The Chargers forced the Colts to be one-dimensional by bottling up running back Joseph Addai for 56 yards on 22 carries. Addai was coming off a 100-yard rushing performance against New England the week before.

  Manning had a passer rating of 49.4 and will definitely bounce back for the 7-2 Colts, who have dropped two straight after opening the season on a hot streak. Even though Indianapolis lost, it is still ahead of both Jacksonville and Tennessee in the AFC South standings.

  Now in his 10th NFL season, Manning did move into a fifth-place tie with Hall of Famer Warren Moon on the all-time list by tossing his 291st career touchdown pass during the loss.

  A seven-time Pro Bowl quarterback, Manning was still able to lead his team from a 23-0 deficit to a potential game-winning field goal by All Pro kicker Vinatieri. However, the four-time Super Bowl champion pushed his 29-yard attempt wide right with less than two minutes remaining in the game. Vinatieri had won two Super Bowls for New England with last-second field goals.

  Vinatieri also went wide left on a 42-yard field goal attempt before the conclusion of the first half.

  Beside Vinatieri's struggles on Sunday, the rest of the Colts special teams had a night to forget. Chargers return man Darren Sproles became just the ninth man in NFL history to return a kickoff and a punt for touchdown in the same game.

  On a brighter note from Sunday's loss, Indianapolis held reigning NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson to 76 yards on 21 carries, although the running back did score on a four-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers completed just 13-of-24 passes for 104 yards with a pair of interceptions, both by Colts rookie linebacker Clint Session.

  "You have two picks in a game, you're supposed to be happy," Session said after the game. "You're supposed to leave off the field like you accomplished something. I really don't have that feeling."

  The defense suffered a blow when Pro Bowl end Dwight Freeney left the game with a foot injury. Offensive tackles Ryan Diem and Charlie Johnson also departed the San Diego game with injuries.

  UP NEXT: KC COMES TO TOWN

  Indianapolis is feeling the pressure from Jacksonville and Tennessee in the AFC South division, and needs a win this weekend versus the Kansas City Chiefs. Fortunately the Colts will return to the RCA Dome, where they are 3-1 this season.

  The Colts sent Kansas City packing in the first round of last year's playoffs with a 23-8 win at the RCA Dome. Chiefs running back Larry Johnson had nowhere to run that day, and it may be the same since he missed the team's win over Denver last Sunday with a foot injury.

  Indy is 8-7 in the overall regular season series with Kansas City, which is 0-2 in Indianapolis all-time. KC hasn't won a road game of any kind in this series since posting a victory in Baltimore during the 1980 season.

  Manning will bounce back in this matchup against the 19th-ranked pass defense in the NFL. Even if Harrison misses another game, Wayne will be at Manning's disposal once again. Kansas City is also 17th against the run, so expect Addai to have a strong outing.

  Addai hasn't reached the end zone since a two-TD showing in a win over the Carolina Panthers on October 28.

  11/13 16:55:17 ET