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Peyton Manning calls out a play at the line of scrimmage against the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

But this was one of those games where the team that has the ball last was going to win.

Wayne’s third touchdown gave Indy a 31-28 lead with 3:35 left. But when Bell answered immediately with a 48-yard run, it was obvious he might have done it too quickly. Indeed, the Broncos stalled at the Colts 30 with 1:49 to go and had to settle for a tying field goal. And then, it was Indy’s game to win.

Manning won it cruelly and efficiently, working the sidelines and finding every soft spot in the zone the Broncos used, and surprisingly stuck with, even as Indy’s yardage piled up.

The two big plays were Manning to Wayne for 14 yards and Manning to Wayne for 9 more — both catches made in front of Williams, who all week acknowledged this game was something of a referendum on his presence in Denver.

Williams didn’t make himself available for interviews after the game. Wayne did.

“I am not going to apologize to him,” Wayne said. “I’m going to work just like he’s going to work. When I’m out there, I just refuse to lose no matter who is on the other side of me. Like I said, my number was called today and he was on me.”

Vinatieri, brought to Indy to make kicks exactly like this, nailed his 19th game-winner in the final minute of regulation or in overtime to cap a 4-for-4 day. Denver’s desperation kickoff return went nowhere and the Broncos saw their 13-game, regular-season home winning streak ended.

Indy, meanwhile, re-established itself as the team to beat in the AFC, taking a two-game lead in the win column over Denver and all the closest contenders with the season nearing the halfway point.

Manning — well, he proved again that if it’s the Broncos standing between him and that elusive trip to the Super Bowl, he’ll be well-prepared.

“Remember when (Michael) Jordan was playing and he came into town and people stood outside the arena just to see him? That’s him,” Broncos defensive lineman Ebenezer Ekuban said. “He’s a phenomenal quarterback. The best quarterback I’ve faced in my eight years in the league.”

Notes: Joseph Addai ran for 93 yards for Indy, and Dallas Clark, the tight end who has long been tough for Denver to cover, finished with six catches for 68 yards. ... Rod Smith moved past Hall of Famer Steve Largent into 12th place on the all-time receptions list with 821.

NFL game stories Quick look at Week 4 games STEELERS 23, RAVENS 20, OT: Baltimore loses first game of season REDSKINS 26, COWBOYS 24: Dallas can't contain Portis in 1st loss BEARS 24, EAGLES 20: Goal-line stand boosts Chicago JETS 56, CARDINALS 35: Favre throws career-high 6 TDs BUCS 30, PACKERS 21: Ryan's 3 FGs lift Tampa CHARGERS 28, RAIDERS 18: San Diego tops rival 10th straight time BILLS 31, RAMS 14: Buffalo 4-0 for first time since 1992 CHIEFS 33, BRONCOS 19: Johnson rushes for 198 yards for K.C. BROWNS 20, BENGALS 12: Anderson throws TD TITANS 30, VIKINGS 17: Tennessee 4-0 for first time ever PANTHERS 24, FALCONS 9: Smith honors Lucas after TD JAGUARS 30, TEXANS 27, OT: Scobey kicks game winner SAINTS 31, 49ERS 17: McAlister scores first TD of year

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