INDIANAPOLIS — Suddenly, Peyton Manning is getting it all wrong.
Miscommunications. Errant throws. Poor decisions.
The Cowboys returned two of Manning’s four interceptions for scores and used the last one to set up David Buehler’s 38-yard field goal for a 38-35 overtime win yesterday.
Just another bad day for the Colts and their franchise quarterback.
“It isn’t good when you’re having to ask which one is it,” Manning joked in the postgame news conference. “I don’t make any excuses. I’m continuing to throw, I’ll keep throwing. I hope I throw it to our guys.”
Manning has never been through anything like this in his NFL career.
For the first time, he’s thrown 11 interceptions in a three-week span. Four of those have been returned for scores, and he’s thrown four picks in back-to-back weeks for the first time ever. He threw three in each of his first two NFL games.
And though Manning’s other numbers, 36 of 48 for 365 yards and two TDs, seemed more in line with his reputation, the interceptions are causing alarm.
With three straight losses, Indy (6-6) has fallen one game behind AFC South-leading Jacksonville, and the Jags already have beaten Indy once this season. Plus, the Colts visit struggling Tennessee Thursday.
“We certainly have put ourselves in a hole,” Manning said. “Unfortunately, we have to scoreboard-watch a little bit and that’s not a situation you want to be in.”