Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning (18) runs for 27 yards against the Oakland Raiders in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010. The Colts won 31-26. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)OAKLAND, Calif. – Peyton Manning made sure the Indianapolis Colts came out ahead in a game it turned out they didn’t need to win to stay in control of the AFC South race.
Manning threw three touchdown passes and iced the game with a 27-yard keeper to help the Indianapolis Colts beat the Oakland Raiders 31-26 Sunday in a game that turned out to have little playoff meaning.
The Colts (9-6) allowed Jacoby Ford to return the opening kick for a touchdown, overcame a pair of interceptions by Manning in the second half and survived four field goals from Sebastian Janikowski, including two from more than 50 yards, to move within a win of clinching the AFC South title for their ninth straight playoff berth.
But when Jacksonville lost 20-17 in overtime to Washington in the early game Sunday, the Colts knew that no matter what happened in this game they could clinch the division with a win at home next week against the Titans or a Jaguars loss at Houston.
The results in the early games also robbed this game of any real meaning for the Raiders (7-8), who were eliminated from playoff contention when Kansas City wrapped up a 34-14 win against Tennessee early in the first quarter of this game.