Colts crush Saints in season opener

By Steve Keating

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - The Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts kicked off the new NFL season with a ruthless 41-10 win over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday.

After an off-season fraught with turmoil and controversy surrounding the Michael Vick dog fighting scandal, Peyton Manning and the Colts put the spotlight back on football with a devastating display of offensive power at the RCA Dome.

Manning, trying to become the first player in NFL history to toss 25 touchdown passes in 10 consecutive seasons, launched his record bid in style completing 18-of-30 attempts for 288 yards yards and three touchdowns, including a pair of second half strikes to Reggie Wayne.

"This is just one game, it takes 16 games," Manning told reporters. "It sure was a good start but that's all it is."

Colts coach Tony Dungy was pleased with his team's start but keen to play down the implications of the victory.

"Coming over to the season you could feel it and the game was just a good way to cap that off," Dungy said.

"But we've got a long way to go."

After unfurling their championship banner in front of a capacity crowd, the Colts got off the mark with Manning throwing a 27-yard touchdown pass to receiver Marvin Harrison.

It marked the 107th time Manning and Harrison, the most lethal quarterback-receiver partnership in NFL history, had combined for a touchdown.

But the Saints, who came within a game of meeting Indianapolis in last season's Super Bowl, looked ready for the challenge.

Cornerback Jason David recovered a fumble by Wayne and returned it for the score and both teams traded field goals to end the half at 10-10.

The Colts offence shifted into top gear in the third quarter with Manning engineering a pair of drives capped off by touchdowns from Joseph Addai and Wayne to surge 24-10 ahead.

After Adam Vinatieri's field goal opened the fourth quarter, Manning found Wayne in the end zone again before Matt Giordano intercepted Saints quarterback Drew Brees and returned the ball 83 yards to complete the rout.