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Peyton Manning sparked record-setting performances the past two weeks, lifting the undefeated Indianapolis Colts to the verge of their best start to an American football season.
But the Carolina Panthers , with the National Football League's top scoring defense, visit here Sunday to test Manning's magic in a showdown of unbeatens.
"Carolina. They are good," Manning said. "But I do feel like I've been in the arena enough and I've faced a lot of different situations. I've sort of been around the block a little bit."
A victory Sunday by the Colts would match the best start in team history from 1958 when the team, then based in Baltimore, won the NFL championship. Panthers owner Jerry Richardson was a rookie receiver on that 1958 Colts team.
Manning, whose father Archie was a gifted NFL passer, threw six touchdown passes in a 55-21 rout of New Orleans two weeks ago and led one of the greatest comeback in NFL history last Monday, rallying the Colts past Tampa Bay 38-35. NFL Tickets
Against the reigning Super Bowl champions, Manning completed 34-of-47 passes for 386 yards and two touchdowns and the Colts, who trailed 35-14 with 5:09 to play in regulation time, rose to 5-0 by stunning the Buccaneers.
"They never gave up," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "That's what I like about us. We have a great team chemistry."
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The Colts became the first club in NFL history to rally from 21 points down
in the final four minutes, winning on a field goal in over-time.
Manning was 5-of-9 for 48 yards in over-time, converting three times on third downs in the 14th late-game comeback of his career.
The never-say-die lesson was not lost upon the Carolina defense, which has played a major role in the Panthers' first 4-0 start in their nine-year history. Manning's maneuvers will put Carolina's defenders to a difficult test. NFL Tickets
"He's smart. You can't just stand up there and show him some base defense and let him tee off on you," Panthers cornerback Terry Cousin said. "We will do some moving around."
Manning's skill at audibles, changing plays as he calls the signals based upon what he sees from opponents, allowed him to pick apart a Tampa Bay defense regarded as among the NFL's elite. That skill makes him a crafty foe.
"You just have to play your game," Cousin said. "You can't worry about what kind of play he's going to check to. We're going to have to do some things defensively not to let him know what we're doing."
Manning's favorite target is Marvin Harrison, who has 33 catches for 468 yards and six touchdowns so far this season. He shredded Tampa Bay's formidable defense for 176 yards and two touchdowns on 11 receptions. NFL Tickets
"The guy was electric," Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden said. "He made some exceptional releases and Peyton made some brilliant throws."
Carolina's offense counters with running back Stephen Davis, who ran for 159 yards on 30 carries in a 19-13 triumph over New Orleans last week. Davis ranks second in the NFL with 565 rushing yards on 106 carries.
"I'm having a lot of fun," Davis said. "Guys up front are doing a great job making holes, and we are getting a lot of rushing yards." NFL Tickets
The Colts' star rusher, Edgerrin James, has missed the past two games with a sore back and might not play against Carolina. The Colts have a bye next week and James could enjoy extra time to recover if he stays on the sidelines.
The Panthers beat the Colts in 1995 and 1998 in their only prior meetings.
The only other undefeated team in action Sunday is Kansas City. The Chiefs, 5-0 after dumping division rival Denver last week, visit Green Bay.
Sunday's other games include Tampa Bay at Washington, Baltimore at Arizona, Houston at Tennessee, Philadelphia at Dallas, Miami at Jacksonville, Chicago at New Orleans, Oakland at Cleveland, Pittsburgh at Denver, San Francisco at Seattle, the New York Giants at New England and Buffalo at the winless New York Jets while Monday night finds Atlanta at St. Louis.
Unbeaten Minnesota, winless San Diego, Detroit and Cincinnati are idle.