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For the first month of the NFL season, the Indianapolis Colts looked nothing like the Super Bowl-winning team from two seasons ago; in Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens it was like night-and-day different. Quarterback Peyton Manning reverted to his old self, throwing 3 touchdown passes while their run defense held the Ravens to 51 yards on the ground; all of this pushed Indianapolis past Baltimore 31-3 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

To illustrate how dominant the Colts’ defense was, they held the Ravens to 49 total yards through 2 1/2 quarters of football; but certainly the Colts’ 17 first-quarter points wound up sealing the deal, allowing the team to cruise-comtrol their way to a record of 3-2. While Ravens QB Joe Flacco had relatively good numbers, he was harrassed early by the Colts’ defensive line; 4 sacks – 3 by defensive end Robert Mathis – and 3 interceptions were the result. And you certainly cannot let the defensive presence overshadow Indianapolis’ offense as in addition to Manning’s 3 TD passes, wide receiver Marvin Harrison was a younger version of himself as he caught a pair of TD’s.

The aforementioned Manning went 19-for-28 for 271 yards with 3 TD’s while Flacco went 28-of-38 for 241 yards, but with 3 interceptions. Oddly enough, Joseph Addai wasn’t the Colts’ leading rusher this Sunday; the honors went to Dominic Rhodes, rushing for 73 yards on 25 carries and a score. The Ravens’ rushing attack – or lack thereof – was led by rookie Ray Rice with 23 yards.

The duo of Reggie Wayne and the aforementioned Harrison led the Colts receivers, with Wayne catching 8 passes for 118 yards and a TD while Harrison caught 3 for 83 yards and 2 scores. Derrick Mason led all Ravens receivers with 6 receptions for 70 yards while Rice caught 7 balls for 64 yards. The victory put the Colts (3-2) to within 2 games of the Tennessee Titans, while the Ravens drop to 2-3. Indianapolis plays again on Sunday, October 19, as they travel to Green Bay to take on the Packers while Baltimore flies to Miami to take on the Dolphins – also on Sunday.