The Broncos’ Brandon Marshall caught just about everything Sunday.
Except the Colts.
On a day when Marshall set the NFL’s single-game receptions record with 21, his performance wasn’t enough to upend the undefeated Colts, whose 28-16 victory inched them to within three wins of a perfect regular season.
Indianapolis also clinched home-field advantage and set an NFL record by collecting its 22nd consecutive regular-season victory.
The Saints also made it to the teens by matching the Colts’ 13-0 record with a victory at Atlanta.
The stage is set for a spectacular — and perhaps history-making — stretch run, with the Saints and Colts each finishing their schedule against three very beatable opponents.
New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, who has said the Saints will “absolutely” go for 16-0 rather than resting players if home-field advantage is secured, doesn’t seem like a man breathing easy. His team plays host to the Cowboys on Saturday.
“It’s only going to get harder from here on out,” said Brees, whose Saints are coming off their two narrowest victories of the season, winning by three over the Redskins and Falcons.
But, he added, “no matter what the situation, we always feel like we have an opportunity to win. Whether it’s our offense, defense or special teams, somehow we’re going to find a way to win.”
It will be interesting to see if the Colts take their foot off the accelerator now that they have locked up home-field advantage.
Talking to NBC on Sunday night, Colts President Bill Polian made it clear 16-0 is not the focus.
“Our No. 1 priority … is to get players who are playing hurt as healthy as they can be for the playoffs,” he said. “So that will be our first consideration.”
Former Colts coach Tony Dungy, now an NBC analyst, was asked how much Peyton Manning is likely to play Thursday at Jacksonville.
“Not very much, I don’t think,” he said. “I think you’re going to see a ton of (rookie backup) Curtis Painter.”
Like that of the Saints, the Colts’ march to “perfection” is anything but perfect. The Broncos outgained them 357 yards to 312, and three Manning passes were picked off. Problem was, the Broncos converted just 35 percent of their third downs (6 of 17) and failed on all three of their fourth-down tries.
What was working for Denver were the hands of Marshall, who broke the 20-catch record of Terrell Owens by turning in a mind-boggling blackjack: 21 for 200 yards and two touchdowns.
On-a-mission valley: The Colts and Saints have the unblemished records, but the scariest team in the league is San Diego.
The Chargers, who picked up their eighth consecutive victory with a win at Dallas, have won 16 December games in a row and came into Week 14 with the fewest giveaways and fewest penalty yards … and the Colts’ number.
They have recently, at least, knocking Indianapolis out of the playoffs the last two seasons.
Winning at Dallas was huge for the Chargers, who extended their AFC West lead over Denver to two games with three to play.
This and that: The Ravens’ Ray Rice crossed into 1,000-yard territory, but all those yards didn’t come against Detroit. It only looked that way. Rice had 219 all-purpose yards in a 48-3 thrashing of the Lions, a blowout in which the Ravens set team records with 548 yards and five rushing TDs.
*Texans receiver Andre Johnson caught 11 passes for 193 yards and two TDs in a 34-7 victory over the Seahawks. Ten of those catches, and both TDs, came in the first half.
*The Titans’ Chris Johnson rushed for 117 yards in a 47-7 rout of the Rams. That brings Johnson’s league-leading rushing total to 1,626 yards. He needs to average 124.7 over the final three games to finish with 2,000, something only five players have done.
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sfarmer@tribune.com
