Manning throws four more picks, loses to Cowboys in overtime

Manning throws four more picks, loses to Cowboys in overtime

Why is this a big deal? Because he has thrown 11 interceptions in his past three games. From 2003 through 2006, he never threw as many as 11 interceptions in a YEAR.

Manning is not really slumping, at least not that much. He's forcing the passing game to provide all the team's firepower. His team essentially has the worst rushing game in the league, so defenses are able to key on Manning. To make matters worse, they also have essentially the worst rushing defense in the league (the Cowboys outrushed them 217-40), meaning that the once-mighty Colts are now 6-6, although they might still sneak into the playoffs because no team in their division is better than 7-5.

That division is still more impressive than the NFC West, which might not produce a team with a winning record. Unless the Rams or Seahawks can pull off some big upsets in the next month, they might face each other with 7-8 records on the last game of the season. That would normally be a "who cares" game, except that if it happens in this case, the winner would go to the playoffs!