Manning had two touchdown passes in the first half, then threw a key block to set up another score as the Indianapolis Colts beat the Broncos 28-23 Monday night.
Meanwhile, Denver quarterback Jake Plummer didn't get off to the start he was hoping for in his first home game with the Broncos. He even got booed.
Plummer fumbled his first snap, threw a pass that Colts linebacker Gary Brackett should have intercepted and missed an open Ed McCaffrey on what would have been an 18-yard touchdown. And that was just on the first drive.
Manning threw touchdowns to Dallas Clark and Brian Allen in the first half, then was the lead blocker on a 16-yard double reverse by Marvin Harrison on the Colts' first drive of the third quarter.
Manning got in several good shots on Denver cornerback Kelly Herndon on the reverse before walking back to the huddle with a big smile on his face.
Allen scored on a 4-yard run six plays later, stiff-arming Sam Brandon at the line to put the Colts (2-1) up 21-13 with 4:49 left in the third quarter.
