By Tom Weir, USA TODAY  NASHVILLE  The smile was back on Peyton Manning's face last night after he put his Indianapolis Colts back in the thick of the playoff hunt.  Manning was able to joke about the ordeal the Colts have been through after their depleted roster got ahead early and hung on for a 30-28 victory against the Tennessee Titans.  Manning tied Dan Marino's NFL record with his 63rd 300-yard game, but what concerned him most was letting the world know he hasn't been on suicide watch after throwing 11 interceptions while the Colts were losing three in a row.  In response to all those who have been asking whether he's in a slump, Manning said, "I guess maybe I was, but I've been on an 8½-year hitting streak."  Indeed, and last night's game showed him at his statistical best, with zero interceptions and 319 yards amassed from 25-for-35 accuracy.  Said Manning of his ups and downs: "I really don't feel like this has been a humbling experience. I feel like I was pretty humble going in. I don't get too high and I don't get too low. I think it is a test of faith and working through adversity."  He added that: "People say, 'Hang in there.' I've never been out there, wherever 'there' is. I've always hung in there. I've never left."  The Colts improved to 7-6 by handing the 5-8 Titans their sixth consecutive defeat. Indianapolis' next opponent is AFC South leader Jacksonville (7-5).  Tennessee made it close with a last-second touchdown, but the outcome never really appeared to be in doubt once Indianapolis grabbed a 21-0 lead in the first half.  Even so, the injury-plagued Colts still had problems. They finished the game with five offensive linemen available, and if another one had gone down the Colts were going to play tight end Brody Eldridge at guard.  "That's not the most comforting thing to hear, that your tight end is going to guard," said Manning.  He threw two touchdown passes to Pierre Garcon and would have had a third to Reggie Wayne if only rookie Blair White hadn't stepped in the way.  Referring to all the backups who have had to step in for the Colts, Manning said: "If you had told me these guys were going to play at the start of the season I would have said that's probably not good for us. .. but I appreciate the way they've learned."  Manning did connect with Wayne for gains of 50 and 46 yards, and also had a 43-yard throw to Garcon. That pushed him past the 4,000-yard mark for a fifth consecutive season, and an 11th one overall.  "Peyton is Peyton," Colts coach Jim Caldwell said. "I'm sure he felt good about his performance, and certainly we did as well."  Tennessee (5-8) cost itself with two key mistakes in the first half. In his first game back from injury, Kenny Britt's lost fumble set up Garcon's first touchdown catch. And an errant hike by long snapper Ken Amato on a punt gave the Colts the ball at the Titans 19-yard line, where Manning needed only two plays before hitting Garcon for another score.  But, after going 14 consecutive quarters without an offensive touchdown, the Titans did finally break through on a 1-yard scoring run by Chris Johnson just before halftime.  The Titans kept that momentum going when they scored again on the opening drive of the third quarter, on a 7-yard Kerry Collins pass to Craig Stevens, cutting Indianapolis' lead to 21-14.  Johnson had a solid game with 111 rushing yards on 22 carries, but the Titans again failed to target Randy Moss. Moss wasn't on the field most of the game, and didn't have a single ball thrown in his direction when he did play. Moss was, in effect, replaced by Kenny Britt — who had been sidelined for more than a month with a leg injury. Britt caught four passes for 39 yards.  You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference.
In a game between two teams that have known nothing but misery lately, Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts ended their slump Thursday night with a 30-28 victory that stretched the Tennessee Titans' nosedive to six consecutive defeats.