Indy wasted no time in taking charge.

Manning opened with a 5-yard TD pass to Austin Collie, ending a time consuming 80-yard drive. After a Denver three-and-out, Manning connected with Clark for a 10-yard score to make it 14-0.

Manning followed that with a 71-yard drive that ended with Clark catching a 1-yard TD pass to make it 21-0.

Easy, right? Wrong.

Denver ditched the running game and put the ball in Kyle Orton’s hands. And Marshall’s.

Orton went to Marshall on six of the next 12 plays, finally hooking up for a 4-yard score to make it 21-7 at the half.

But with Manning struggling, Denver challenged. The Broncos got a 28-yard field goal from Matt Prater early in the fourth quarter to make it 21-10, and Marshall tied the receptions record to make it 21-16.

When Indy stopped the Broncos’ 2-point conversion, Manning finally righted things and preserved The Streak.

“When you think about how many we have won these two years, you do take a minute to think about it, and it does kind of hit you — that’s a bunch,” he said. “This was a tough team. This was a great mental challenge.”

NOTES: Denver running back Correll Buckhalter and safety Renaldo Hill both injured ankles. Buckhalter did not return ... Joseph Addai ran 16 times for 67 yards. ... Orton was 29 or 41 for 277 yards with two TDs and one interception. ... Brian Dawkins picked off Manning twice, both on tipped balls. ... Clark broke his own single-season team tight end records for receptions (82) and yards (902). ... Manning passed Warren Moon for fourth on the NFL’s yards passing list. Moon had 49,325. Manning now has 49,513.

NFL game stories Quick look at Week 3 games JETS 31, DOLPHINS 23: Edwards returns to makes key TD catch  |    Highlights COWBOYS 27, TEXANS 13: Dallas avoids rare 0-3 start  |    Romo excited FALCONS 27, SAINTS 24, OT: Champs miss short FG in OT  |    Saints explain loss TITANS 29, GIANTS 10: Johnson scores 2 TDs  |    Coughlin takes blame EAGLES 28, JAGUARS 3: Vick makes Reid's decision look great  |    QB thrilled COLTS 27, BRONCOS 13: Manning throws 3 TD passes VIKINGS 24, LIONS 10: Peterson's career-long 80-yard TD keys win PATRIOTS 38, BILLS 30: 14th straight win in series for New England SEAHAWKS 27, CHARGERS 20: Washington has two kickoff returns for TDs CHIEFS 31, 49ERS 10: K.C. 3-0 for first time since '03  |    Chiefs confident STEELERS 38, BUCCANEERS 13: Batch shines in first start in 3 years RAMS 30, REDSKINS 16: Only second win in last 29 games for St. Louis RAVENS 24, BROWNS 17: Flacco fires 3 TD passes BENGALS 20, PANTHERS 7: Clausen struggles in first NFL start CARDINALS 24, RAIDERS 23: Janikowski misses 32-yard FG on final play

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