updated 6:22 p.m. ET Sept. 14, 2008

MINNEAPOLIS - The Indianapolis Colts were overwhelmed at the line of scrimmage again, and the swarming Minnesota defense frequently pounded Peyton Manning into the Metrodome turf.

But the Colts put the Manning touch on another impressive rally, thanks to a handful of clutch completions near the end by their stalwart quarterback, and reminded the Vikings it’s just not possible to win without throwing the ball.

Manning passed for 311 yards and moved Adam Vinatieri in position for the winning field goal with 3 seconds left, leading Indianapolis to an 18-15 victory on Sunday after Minnesota led 15-0 late in the third quarter.

“We played a lot of man, got in their face, got a lot of pressure, but it wasn’t enough,” said Antoine Winfield, who had one of Manning’s two interceptions. “He’s been around. He’s seen it all. You can never rattle him, I don’t think.”

Not since his rookie season in 1998 had Manning and the Colts started a season 0-2.

“That’s one of the most satisfying wins I’ve had, definitely, since I’ve been in Indianapolis,” coach Tony Dungy said. “It wasn’t the most artistic, and I told the team we’ve got a lot of glass-half-empty-glass-half-full stuff, but I was very, very proud of our effort.”

The Vikings (0-2) wasted more dominant defense, done in by a handful of critical lapses and repeated failure to figure out that pesky old forward pass. Adrian Peterson rushed for 118 of his 160 yards in the first half, and Minnesota was across midfield on its first eight possessions.

The prize for that? Five field goals by Ryan Longwell and three punts.

Special feature NFL's top shots A look at the best photos from Week 2, including a scuffle in Cincinnati. NBCSports.com

“It’s real frustrating,” said wide receiver Bernard Berrian, who had no catches. “It’s kind of embarrassing, actually, to go out there and just have field goals all day. We’re moving the ball up and down the field, really, at will. ... The defense played their hearts out today. They did everything they could. I mean, they really handed us the game and we blew it.”

Outgained on the ground 183 to 53 yards in last week’s 29-13 loss to Chicago, the Colts were outrushed this time 180-25. Three-time Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday (knee) sat out again, tight end Dallas Clark (knee) didn’t play, and left tackle Tony Ugoh (groin) was also lost to injury. The defense lost star safety Bob Sanders (ankle), too.

Manning hasn’t looked all that sharp since coming back from summer knee surgery, but he’s clearly still one of the NFL’s best. He finished 26-for-42 and was sacked by Jared Allen and E.J. Henderson.

“Our running game is — it’s hard to call it a running game right now,” Manning said. “We don’t have much of that. We have a pretty one-dimensional team.”

That didn’t matter.

The last of Longwell’s field goals — he later missed from 48 yards, his leg perhaps tired from scoring all the points himself — sliced through with 4:13 left in the third quarter.

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