Another big season for Colts, Manning ends with thud

INDIANAPOLIS -- Peyton Manning's best season still came up short.

While he was breaking records, winning awards and putting together arguably the best season by an NFL quarterback, Manning's sole focus was leading the Indianapolis Colts to the Super Bowl.

His mission failed Sunday with another loss at New England.

"We really thought we were a better team this year, and it just didn't finish the way we wanted it to," Manning said.

It was about all he didn't achieve in a season that was as much for the story books as it was for the record books.

But the most frustrating aspect was that the Colts (13-5) devoted so much time to overcoming their nemesis and still lost playing against a defense that was missing three key starters.

The numbers suggested that the Colts improved in almost every phase over the team that lost the 2003 AFC Championship game.

Manning broke NFL records for touchdown passes (49) and passer rating (121.1) while setting a career-high in yards (4,557) and tying a career-low with 10 interceptions. He was a nearly unanimous choice for his second straight MVP award.

Edgerrin James returned to pre-injury form, rushing for 1,548 yards and averaging 4.6 yards per carry.

Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokley became the first receiving trio in NFL history to each top 1,000 yards and catch 10 TDs.

The Colts scored 522 points, the fifth-highest total in league history, and outscored four straight opponents during the second half of the season by a combined 182-57.

The offensive line allowed a league-low 14 sacks, while Dwight Freeney led the NFL with a franchise-record 16 sacks. Indianapolis led the NFL with a plus-19 turnover margin.

In the end, though, the gaudy stats didn't matter. The season ended the way it began - with a loss at New England.