INDIANAPOLIS (KRT) – Peyton Manning’s record-smashing season is so astonishing that there’s nowhere to go but history – and other sports – to put it into context.

The Indianapolis Colts quarterback has thrown 46 touchdown passes in 13 games. He’s three TDs shy of surpassing Dan Marino’s 1984 record with three games remaining, including Sunday night’s nationally televised matchup with the Baltimore Ravens.

After practice Wednesday, Colts coach Tony Dungy compared Manning’s year to Wilt Chamberlain’s 50.4-point scoring average for the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers in 1961-62.

“I never thought you could see a quarterback throw 50 touchdown passes, but that may happen,” said Dungy.

Indianapolis team President Bill Polian, the former Carolina Panthers general manager, referenced Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak in 1941 for baseball’s New York Yankees.

“I’m not sure Marino’s record is quite at the level of DiMaggio’s record, but it’s certainly in the ballpark,” said Polian. “So to see it threatened is an amazing thing.”

It’s not far-fetched to suggest that Manning is having the best season by a quarterback in NFL history.

He’s on pace to demolish the record for best passing rating in a season. His current 126.3 rating is well ahead of the standard of 112.8 set by San Francisco’s Steve Young in 1994.

Manning has become the first quarterback to throw for multiple TDs in 13 consecutive games, and the first with five games of four or more scoring throws in a season.

He has more TD passes than any other team has total touchdowns this year except for Kansas City (50). And his TD passes exceed the 44 combined by Tom Brady of New England and Brett Favre of Green Bay.

Manning has led the Colts to a 10-3 record and the AFC South Division title. With 3,919 yards, he’s on the verge of the sixth 4,000-yard year of his career, which would tie Marino’s all-time record.

“He’s flawless out there,” Colts receiver Brandon Stokely said of Manning. “He gets everybody in the right situations. He’s always checking to the right play.

“When we’re playing on Sunday, it seems like it’s easier than practice sometimes. Ninety percent of it is him.”

Manning seems almost embarrassed by the attention his Pac-man-like pursuit of Marino’s record is drawing.

“For me, it’s just about getting in the end zone-period-whether it’s throwing or running,” he said Wednesday.

“I’m so humbled just to be in the situation because of the respect I have for all quarterbacks, especially Marino, (former New York Giants star) Y.A. Tittle and (others).”

Manning grew up a fan of Marino and realizes the significance of the record.

“I think it’s hard to throw touchdowns; I really do,” said Manning. “I threw 29 last year, and it felt like a ton. I never take it for granted.”

Manning knows throwing three touchdowns Sunday night against the Ravens’ rugged defense won’t be easy, noting that they’ve allowed “a whopping 10” this season, fewest in the league.

Part of the secret to Manning’s big year is the fact that he’s surrounded by such a talented group of offensive playmakers, which has remained healthier than in recent seasons.

Running back Edgerrin James leads the league in rushing (1,395 yards).

Stokely, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne are on the cusp of becoming the first trio of wide receivers on the same team to catch at least 10 TD passes each in a season. Harrison has 13, Wayne 11 and Stokely nine.

Tight ends Marcus Pollard and Dallas Clark have six and five TD receptions, respectively.

The Colts’ offensive line has allowed a league-low nine sacks.

“For the first time since he’s been here, he’s got every weapon really at his disposal,” said Polian. “All of the guys he’s throwing to are on the same page, in sync and healthy.”

Polian said Manning’s precision passing and mastery of opposing defenses comes from a unique blend of talent and tireless preparation.

“I don’t know that anybody works as hard-maybe anybody in the history of the game,” said Polian.

In an age when professional athletes are sometimes perceived as being spoiled by lucrative contracts, Manning is excelling the season after landing the richest deal in NFL history ($98 million over seven years, including a $34.5 million signing bonus).

“He’s unaffected by it,” said Polian. “Although his demeanor is not that of a blue-collar person, he is a blue-collar, lunch-bucket guy in terms of the way he approaches his job. … It doesn’t matter how much he’s paid.”

Manning is close to filling his sixth spiral-bound notebook of the season with insights from film study, practice and games. After playing an opponent, he’ll sometimes journal what he was thinking on certain plays so he can use the information if he plays the team again.

“I always say I’m going to transfer them over to a computer file, but I haven’t gotten that far,” Manning said. “I’m a post-it note guy as opposed to a palm-pilot guy.”

Manning’s businesslike approach is contrasted by the fun Stokely and Wayne are having with their quarterback’s record run. They’ve joked and debated about which TD catch they’d most like to make-and which ball would be most valuable on e-Bay.

Wayne wants the record-setting 49th.

“If it goes down in history, it can always be your face on that picture,” said Wayne. Stokely prefers to catch Manning’s last TD pass this season.

“Ten years from now, when people are chasing his record, nobody’s going to care about 49,” said Stokely.

“They’re going to say, “Hey, who’s going to break Peyton’s 50-whatever touchdowns?’ “

If Manning sets the record and is given the ball as a souvenir, it’ll be a career first.

“I’ve never kept a specific ball – ever,” said Manning. “I’ve never been that scripted, I guess.”

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AP-NY-12-17-04 0621EST