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INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- After a Monday night embarrassment, Peyton Manning and rookie Dominic Rhodes found the perfect tonic in the Atlanta Falcons.

Manning threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns in the first half alone and Rhodes rushed for a season-high 177 yards and two scores as the Indianapolis Colts snapped a five-game losing streak with a 41-27 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

The loss was the third in a row for the Falcons (6-7), who trail New Orleans (7-5) for the third and final NFC wild card spot.

The Colts (5-8) totaled 512 yards in offense -- 187 on the ground and 325 in the air.

"We played a lot better offensively," Manning said. "I made a lot of plays throwing the ball well. Dom had a great game. He made some big runs, he broke some tackles where they had a hold of him. We blocked well, and the receivers blocked well and just executed better overall."

A Pro Bowler each of the previous two seasons, Manning threw three interceptions in last Monday's 41-6 loss at Miami to increase his NFL-high total to 20.

Seeking to atone for that performance and facing a team that ranks second-to-last in the league against the pass, Manning came out firing, completing 17-of-21 and hitting tight ends Marcus Pollard and Ken Dilger and NFL Europe receiver Trevor Insley with touchdowns in the first half.

Manning finished 23-of-35 for 325 yards with one interception and Pollard had five receptions for 101 yards.

"We threw it so well in the first half that in the second half thy obviously made adjustments to try and stop the pass," Manning said.

Rhodes, an undrafted rookie from Midwest Texas State, rushed for 90 yards on 15 carries in the first half and 87 yards on 14 carries in the second half.

"It wasn't just me," said Rhodes, who recorded his third 100-yard game since replacing injured starter Edgerrin James as the feature back in November. "From the receivers blocking downfield, the 'O' line, everybody was blocking great. Many times, I found myself one-on-one with a defensive back or linbacker. That makes it easier on me."

After being scorched by St. Louis' Kurt Warner for 342 passing yards two weeks ago, the Falcons had to deal with an angry Manning and were probably guilty of underestimating Rhodes.

"I really don't have much to say," Falcons coach Dan Reeves said. "The Colts did a great job running and throwing the football today."

Atlanta's Chris Chandler, who started his career with the Colts and played in Indianapolis for two seasons (1988-89), passed for 249 yards and two touchdowns. He was sacked six times.

"We've had problems protecting me," Chandler said. "They blitzed sometimes and we tried to pick it up."

The Colts improved to 11-1 all-time against the Falcons.

Indianapolis marched 84 yards in five plays on its first scoring drive as Manning hit rookie Reggie Wayne three times for 51 yards. Rhodes capped it with an 11-yard touchdown run around right end 5:25 into the game.

The Colts put together a 13-play, 96-yard drive bridging the first and second quarters. Pollard highlighted it with a 27-yard catch and capped it with a one-yard touchdown reception 4:10 into the second quarter, increasing the lead to 14-0.

But Darrick Vaughn returned the ensuing kickoff 42 yards to the Indianapolis 38. On a 3rd-and-11 play, Chandler hit Tony Martin with a 16-yard pass and the Falcons were aided by a 19-yard pass interference penalty against Colts cornerback David Macklin. Two plays after the penalty, fullback Bob Christian scored on a three-yard run with 7:53 left in the half.

The Colts needed just five plays to go 77 yards on their next possession. Manning started it with a 36-yard pass to Pollard and capped it with a 12-yard touchdown to his other tight end Dilger with 5:06 remaining.

Atlanta responded with a 10-play, 73-yard drive which resulted in an 18-yard touchdown pass from Chandler to Brian Finneran with 1:05 left in the half.

That was enough time for Manning, who directed a five-play, 71 yards in 46 seconds. Insley caught a 12-yard pass in the drive and capped it with a diving 19-yard touchdown with 19 seconds left in the half, giving the Colts a 28-14 lead.

"It has been a lot of hard work, a lot of patience waiting to get an opportunity," Insley said. "Today, I got the chance to make a few plays."

Jay Feely kicked a 35-yard field goal midway through the third quarter and a 32-yarder with 13:32 left in the fourth quarter, pulling the Falcons within 28-20.

But Rhodes came to the rescue on Indianapolis' next drive, breaking off a 35-yard run before scoring on an 11-yard touchdown with 11:06 remaining.

However, Chandler needed just four plays to take his team 66 yards. He hit Terance Mathis with a 21-yard pass and connected with Martin on a 15-yard pass before firing an 11-yard touchdown to Martin, pulling the Colts within 35-27 with 9:32 left.

Mike Vanderjagt kicked a 39-yard field goal with 7 1/2 minutes remaining and a 21-yarder with 1:51 left for Indianapolis.