Manning's performance against Denver one for ages

	Peyton Manning completed 32 of 39 passes for 345 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday. Robert Beck/SI

The more I pore over the numbers churned out in the Colts' epic 34-31 win at Denver in Week 8, the more certain I am that it was the masterpiece performance of Peyton Manning's brilliant NFL career. He'll play in more meaningful games and have bigger wins, but I don't know how he can ever top the command he showed Sunday at Invesco Field. Here are some leftover tidbits, statistical nuggets and observations from a game that will stand the test of time.

• The Colts scored 28 points in the second half against the Broncos, notching three touchdowns, a two-point conversion and two field goals on their five possessions. Before Sunday, Denver had allowed its last five opponents to score a combined 26 points, holding them to single digits in every game. That's 26 points surrendered in 20 quarters, and then 28 more in the span of 30 minutes.

• Manning has helped produce 124 points in his past three full games against Denver, discounting the cameo role he played in a meaningless Week 17 game at Denver in 2004. That's 41.3 per game, in case you're scoring at home.

The Colts eliminated the Broncos in the first round of the 2003 and '04 playoffs, beating them 41-10 and 49-24, both times at the RCA Dome in Indy.

• Think about this one: Jake Plummer led Denver's bedraggled offense on scoring drives of 80, 80, 91 and 80 yards against Indianapolis, compiling a passer rating of 104.1, and he still wasn't even close to being the best quarterback on the field Sunday.

• After the game, people were falling all over themselves trying to put Manning's day into some kind of historical perspective. And that was just in the Broncos locker room.

Denver defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban on Manning: "You remember when Michael Jordan was playing basketball, and when he came in town everybody wanted tickets? And people used to stand outside the arena just to see him? That's Peyton Manning. Give him credit. He's phenomenal. He's the best quarterback I've ever faced during my eight years in the NFL.''

Denver head coach Mike Shanahan on Manning: "I guarantee you one thing: he amazes me. He amazes me, just his leadership qualities, and his sense of urgency, the way he reads defenses. He's quite a competitor.''