Manning Bowl II could yield a rare historic accomplishment - and not just for the obvious reasons.
If little brother Eli can get the best of his older sibling when the New York Giants visit Indianapolis on Sunday, it will mark the first time the Colts have opened a season 0-2 since 1998 - Peyton Manning's rookie year.
Sunday's game will mark the second time in NFL history that brothers have started at quarterback against each other. Peyton and Indianapolis (0-1) prevailed in Manning Bowl I, holding off the Giants, 26-21, in the 2006 season opener.
Few teams have burst out of the gate as quickly as the Colts in the past decade. Coming into this season, Indy has amassed a spectacular 26-6 mark in the opening month.
While last weekend's 34-24 loss at Houston didn't qualify as a stunner, the manner in which the upstart Texans manhandled the Colts left some jaws agape.
Eschewing its high-powered passing attack, Houston bulldozed Indianapolis into submission, riding a magnificent 231-yard, three-touchdown rushing performance by Arian Foster to just its second win over the Colts in 17 meetings.
Complicating matters for the bruised and battered Indy defense was the loss of former Pro Bowl safety Bob Sanders, who is sidelined indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair of torn biceps muscle.
Forced to play catch-up, Peyton Manning threw a career-high 57 passes, completing a franchise record 40 for three touchdowns and 433 yards – the eighth 400-yard performance of his career.
Austin Collie (163 yards) and tight end Dallas Clark (80 yards) each had 11 receptions with a touchdown while Reggie Wayne had seven catches for 99 yards and a score. Indy’s running game was missing in action, with Joseph Addai accumulating 44 yards on 10 carries.
The Giants (1-0) bottled up Carolina’s 1-2 punch of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, limiting the duo to 74 yards on 21 carries in their 31-18 victory last weekend.
New York erased a two-point halftime deficit and held the Panthers scoreless until a late safely with under two minutes to play.
Eli Manning managed to overcome three interceptions by connected on 20 of 30 passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns – all to second-year wideout Hakeem Nicks.
Mario Manningham had four receptions for 85 yards and Steve Smith, who led the team with 107 catches in 2009, caught five balls for 43 yards.
Ahmad Bradshaw led the running game with 20 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown while Brandon Jacobs contributed 44 yards on 12 rushes.
Given the way that Foster left cleat marks all over Indy’s defense, expect the Giants to feature a heavy dose of Bradshaw and Jacobs on Sunday night.
Eli Manning does share his brother’s early-season pedigree: He has won nine consecutive starts in September.