Peyton’s long TD drive gives Colts 7-0 lead over Giants in Manning Bowl II

Peyton gives Colts early 7-0 lead over Giants

INDIANAPOLIS — Peyton Manning got the upper hand on his younger brother Sunday night, leading the Colts to an opening-drive score that gave Indy a 7-0 first-quarter lead over the New York Giants.

In Manning Bowl II, the older Manning brother completed all five of his passes on Indy’s first possession before handing off to Donald Brown for an easy 7-yard TD run.

Eli Manning thought it might be a bit more even in the second meeting between the brothers.

“It’s my seventh year in this offense now so, it’s been a great week,” he told NBC before kickoff. “It’s been less stressful than the first time when you had five months of press dealing before this game instead of one week. It’s been a little bit more enjoyable for Peyton and I.”

It was anything but an enjoyable start for Eli and the Giants.

The younger brother failed to connect on his first three passes and New York managed only two first downs — the first coming on a pass interference penalty — in three series.

This is the second time the Super Bowl-winning brothers have faced one another during their NFL careers. Peyton won the first matchup 26-21 in 2006, the same season he went on to win the Super Bowl. They shook hands twice at midfield, before and after the coin toss, and exchanged greetings as they arrived on time for the game — unlike the NBC commercial in which Peyton wound up locked in a closet.

Their parents, Archie and Olivia, were expected to watch from a box at Lucas Oil Stadium. The oldest Manning brother, Cooper, did not attend.

Indy played without receiver Anthony Gonzalez (sprained ankle), safety Bob Sanders (torn biceps muscle) and starting linebacker Clint Session (hamstring).

New York also was short-handed. Starting tackle Will Beatty (broken foot), tight end Kevin Boss (concussion) and special teams Chase Blackburn (right knee) were all deactivated for the game.

Indy is 6-1 in its past seven home openers and is trying to avoid its first 0-2 start since 1998 — Peyton’s rookie season.

Dallas Clark, Reggie Wayne and Peyton Manning were all looking for milestone achievements, too. Manning and Wayne needed to hook up for one TD pass to tie John Unitas and Raymond Berry (63) for the second-highest scoring combination in franchise history. The four-time league MVP and Marvin Harrison hold the NFL record with 112 TD passes.

Manning and Clark needed one TD pass to match Sonny Jurgensen and Jerry Smith (43) as the second-most productive quarterback-tight end duo in NFL history.