By Kevin Kelly
Enquirer staff writer

The performance was efficient, productive and injury free.

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning took five snaps against the Bengals Friday at Paul Brown Stadium and spent the rest of the evening wandering the sideline and sipping Gatorade.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Friday's game

Looking every bit the reigning NFL co-MVP, Manning breezed the Colts to the end zone on the game's first drive.

He completed three of four passes for 56 yards and one touchdown, a 38-yard pass to wide receiver Reggie Wayne over Bengals cornerback Tory James with 12:48 remaining in the first quarter, for a 156.2 passer rating.

"It was one of those things where you didn't want to get out of your game and force something," Manning said. "We were really determined to go in there and have one good drive."

Friday served as Manning's final tuneup before Indianapolis opens its regular season. The Colts play at New England on Thursday.

Manning is coming off another splendid season that garnered co-MVP honors, with Titans quarterback Steve McNair, and earned him a new seven-year, $98 million contract during the offseason.

In his sixth NFL season, Manning threw for more than 4,200 yards for the third time in the past four seasons. His 10 interceptions were a career low.

All indications are Manning and the Colts have everything needed offensively - namely a healthy Edgerrin James at running back and Marvin Harrison at wide receiver - to warrant Super Bowl consideration.

James rushed for 1,259 yards and 11 touchdowns last season; Harrison caught 94 passes for 1,272 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The Colts finished third in the NFL in total offense (367.1 yards per game).

Indianapolis won the AFC South and advanced to the AFC championship game last season, losing to the Patriots 24-14.

"I feel good about where we are offensively," Manning said. "That's really all I concern myself with is our offense and just trying to be better than we were last year. ... We want to ... be even better in the red zone."

Both James and Harrison are potential free agents at the end of this season, and there is some sense of urgency to pull everything together this time around.

The short performance against the Bengals Friday capped a solid but quiet preseason for Manning.

In four games, he completed 23 of 38 passes for 307 yards with two touchdowns and three INTs.

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