Peyton Wins Manning Bowl, Again: Colts Make Short Work Of Giants, 38-14

It was the second head-to-head meeting between the Manning brothers, with Peyton’s Colts also getting the better of Eli’s Giants via a 26-21 verdict at the Meadowlands in 2006.

Peyton Manning, a four-time MVP, completed 20-of-26 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns, while his younger brother connected on 13-of-24 passes for 161 yards, two touchdowns, and a pick.

The Giants were thoroughly dominated in the first half, but finally starting showing signs of life early in the third quarter. Eli Manning hit Mario Manningham on a 54-yard to touchdown pass to give the Giants their first score of the game, and for a while made it seem as though New York might be able to make a game of it.

But a few possessions later, Eli was the victim of a strip sack by Dwight Freeney. Fili Moala scooped the ball up and tumbled into the end zone to return the Colts advantage to 24 points. And thus was the slight breeze taken out of the Giants tattered sails.

On the Giants first play on offense after Peyton Manning hit Dallas Clark for a 50-yard touchdown pass to extend the Colts advantage to 14-0 midway through the second quarter, Eli Manning forced a pass deep into double coverage trying to hit Steve Smith, except the ball caromed off Smith into the hands of Jerraud Powers.

NBC took pains to note prior to kick off that there have been 13,225 NFL games, but only two in which the Manning brothers have competed directly against one another. A bit of a grandiose intro, to be sure, though hardly unexpected.

Peyton and the Colts wasted little time putting points on the board by opening the game with a 12-play, 80-yard drive capped by a seven-yard touchdown run by Donald Brown. Peyton did all right, I guess, completing all five of his pass attempts for 52 yards in the drive.

This marquee interconference matchup marks the second head-to-head meeting between the Mannings, with Peyton’s Colts getting the better of Eli’s Giants via a 26-21 verdict at the Meadowlands in 2006. And while the sibling rivalry is sure to draw its share of intrigue and television viewers, the game also carries plenty of importance to the home team after a subpar showing in its season opener.

Subpar defensive play had led to New York’s demise a year ago, with the 2009 G-Men surrendering 40 or more points five times during a 3-8 finish that negated a five-game winning streak to begin the season.