INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts got the best of Michael Vick.
Manning threw five touchdown passes, including two each to Brandon Stokley and Marvin Harrison, as the Colts routed the Falcons, 38-7, to clinch a playoff spot.
Indianapolis remained one game ahead of Tennessee in the AFC South and needs to win one of its two remaining games to clinch the division title.
"That was the goal coming in here, to make the playoffs," Manning said, "Obviously, the ultimate goal is to win your division, and we were pulling for Buffalo (which lost to Tennessee)."
The game was billed as the first meeting between two franchise quarterbacks but the afternoon belonged to Manning, who turned in a nearly flawless performance, completing 25-of-30 passes for 290 yards with no interceptions. His 83.3 completion percentage was the third-highest in franchise history behind only Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas.
Manning became the first quarterback in NFL history with 25 or more touchdown passes in five straight seasons, breaking a tie with Brett Favre and Dan Marino. In additon, Manning joined Dan Fouts (1982), Marino (1986), Warren Moon (1990) and Jim Kelly (1991) as the only quarterbacks to throw five or more TDS in a game twice in the same season. He had six against New Orleans.
"I'm starting to get numb to those, but 25 out of 30, five touchdowns, just orchestrating the game, you can't say enough about him (Manning)," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "He's been hot the past month or so."
"If you are throwing touchdowns, you are helping your team score points, and you are helping your team win," Manning added. "I've never really been into the numbers."
Vick, the No. 1 pick in the 2001 draft, was just 6-of-19 for 47 yards, spoiling the debut of Falcons interim coach Wade Phillips, who took over after Dan Reeves was fired on Wednesday. Vick also was sacked four times.
"We needed to contain him," Colts defensive end Robert Mathis said. "Don't let him scramble and get out of the pocket. He is a very dangerous player."
The Colts (11-3) outgained the Falcons 304-28 in the first half, building a 24-0 lead at intermission. Atlanta (3-11) got its only score on T.J. Duckett's 17-yard TD run in the third quarter.
Edgerrin James rushed for 126 yards on 20 carries, his fifth 100-yard game of the season. Harrison caught seven passes for 117 yards, his sixth 100-yard contest. Reggie Wayne also caught aTD pass for the Colts.
"Defensively, on Marvin Harrison, we had him double-teammed on about three of the routes he caught for big yardage," Phillips said. "It's very frustrating when you have a great receiver, you double him and he still makes the play and makes big plays."
Mike Vanderjagt converted his 38th straight field goal, leaving him two shy of Gary Anderson's NFL record. He made a 43-yarder in the second quarter.
"We've got other guys who are stepping up and making plays," James said. "We've got Reggie and Stokley making plays. That's one thing we do well, get the ball in different people's hands."
The Colts improved to 12-1 all-time against the Falcons, including 6-0 at home.
