By Mike Lopresti
Gannett News Service

KANSAS CITY - There were times, the Kansas City Chiefs would say after the game, when they felt utterly helpless. When they realized they were at the mercy of a quarterback machine named Peyton Manning.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Brandon Stokley (83) celebrates in the arms of teammate Tarik Glenn during the first quarter. (AP photo)

"Whatever we tried," defensive end Vonnie Holliday said, "today, it seemed like it didn't matter."

There was no stopping the Indianapolis Colts, who stormed past the Chiefs 38-31 Sunday and into next week's AFC Championship Game at New England. No stopping Manning, who has turned this January into a quarterback textbook.

On this day, in one of the loudest and most hostile stadiums in NFL, the Colts did not have a punt or a turnover or an offensive penalty.

On this day, against a team that had won 13 straight home games, Manning threw 30 passes and completed 22, three for touchdowns. He converted eight of 11 third downs.

The Colts have not punted in two playoff games and have scored 79 points. Manning has completed 44 of 56 passes for 681 yards, eight for touchdowns and none for interceptions.

This by a man who just nine days ago carried the baggage of a winless postseason record.

"I don't know how you could be any better," said Colts coach Tony Dungy.

Manning is in a zone where few athletes ever get to go. "Kind of like Michael Jordan," Kansas City linebacker Shawn Barber was saying.

"That's kind of deep for me . . . the whole zone thing," Manning said. "I'm just a football player.

"I'm just hot right now. We're hot . . . It's not trickery. We're not running flea-flickers, we're not running reverses. We're running the same plays we have all season."

They needed to be hot Sunday, against the highest scoring offense in the NFL. The Chiefs put up 31 points, got 176 yards rushing from Priest Holmes, and a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from Dante Hall.

And that wasn't enough.

"They had to play a perfect game to beat us," said Kansas City receiver Johnnie Morton. "That's what they did."

Manning led three touchdown drives of more than 70 yards in the first half, for a 21-10 lead.

Kansas City, meanwhile, had to settle for a field goal when it had driven to the Indianapolis 3 in the first period. Plus, Morten Andersen missed a 31-yard kick in the second quarter, after a Chiefs touchdown had been wiped out by an offensive interference penalty on tight end Tony Gonzalez.

Not many shortcomings. But enough to fall 11 points behind.

"We felt like we had to score every time we touched the ball," Kansas City's Hall said. "Because that's what they were doing."

"You knew you couldn't give away a possession," said Indianapolis center Jeff Saturday. "Because that's when the momentum goes."

When Holmes scored his first touchdown to cut the Indianapolis lead to 24-17 in the third period, Manning came back with a 64-yard drive, and a 19-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne.

When Hall quickly made it 31-24 with his touchdown return - Arrowhead Stadium was more thunderous than it was all day - Manning coolly led a 10-play, 81-yard march to Edgerrin James' touchdown dive, one of his 125 rushing yards.

When Holmes scored again with 4:22 left to make it 38-31, Dick Vermeil decided against the onside kick and hoped his defense could stop Manning once. Just once.

The Chiefs couldn't. The Colts did not give the ball back until eight seconds were left, at the Kansas City 27.

"Percentages aren't good," Vermeil said of the onside kick. "I did what I thought was right."

"We were just trying to figure out a way to get off the field," Barber said. "(Manning) kept finding the answers."

"We had to answer all game," Manning said.

The Chiefs were left frustrated . .  tormented . . . impressed.

"Obviously he's looked at a lot of film," said end Eric Hicks. "I think he must live at their facility.

"The guy's amazing. He really is."

Added Barber: "You'd kind of look out of the corner of your eye at him and think, 'You know what's coming, don't you?'

"In a way, he wills his offense to work."

And next Sunday, the work is in New England.

Playoff Peyton

Peyton Manning played near-perfect football in playoff victories over Denver and Kansas City. His statistics:

	Denver	K.C.	Total
Completions	22	22	44
Attempts	26	30	56
Yards	377	304	681
Touchdowns	5	3	8
Interceptions	0	0	0

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