Manning directs 96-yard drive to tie Super Bowl record; Colts take 10-0 lead over Saints

Colts lead Saints 10-0 in Super Bowl

MIAMI — The Indianapolis Colts drove 96 yards for a touchdown to tie a Super Bowl record and take a 10-0 lead after one quarter Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

Peyton Manning capped the march with a 19-yard scoring pass to Pierre Garcon in the final minute of the period.

The Colts, bidding for their second Super Bowl title in four years, drove 53 yards for a field goal on their opening possession, while the Saints totaled only one first down in their first two series.

The touchdown drive began after a punt pinned the Colts back at their 4. Manning threw from his end zone on the first play for a gain of 11. Joseph Addai ran for gains of 16, 11 and 26 yards during the sequence. On third-and-6 at the 19, Manning hit Garcon in stride in the end zone on a simple go route.

In the 11-play drive, 61 yards came on the ground. The TD march matched the longest in Super Bowl history, by the Chicago Bears against New England in 1986.

New Orleans native Manning faced some pressure from the Saints’ rush, but still went 9 for 14 for 88 yards in the quarter. Addai carried five times for 58 yards, and the Colts were 4 for 5 converting third-down situations.

All-Pro defensive end Dwight Freeney started for the Colts despite a sprained right ankle that left his status in question all week. His presence gave the defense a boost, and Indy dug in early against the NFL’s highest-scoring offense.

New Orleans, playing in the Super Bowl for the first time, was outgained 154-36 in the quarter while running only 10 plays.

The Saints took the opening kickoff, but went three and out. The Colts’ first play was an 18-yard completion from Manning to Dallas Clark.

Manning hit Austin Collie for 14 yards on third-and-7. But three plays later Manning overthrew Garcon on third down, and Indy settled for Matt Stover’s 38-yard field goal.

The 42-year-old Stover became the oldest player ever in a Super Bowl.

Courtney Roby fumbled on the ensuing kickoff, but the Saints’ Chris Reis recovered. New Orleans picked up one first down before punting again.

The Saints came into the game 15-3, while the Colts were 16-2, with Indy a five-point favorite.