INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts defense wanted to prove it was playoff ready.

Monday night was a good start.

With a stronger defensive effort and Peyton Manning's four touchdown passes, the Colts broke out of a late-season funk with a 34-16 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

"You hear the stats and that stuff and we turned it around," defensive end Dwight Freeney said. "We heard everything, we were called every possible name and tonight we came out and got it done."

With three losses in four weeks and a defense that had been allowing nearly 176 yards rushing per game, many outsiders questioned whether these Colts (11-3) were ready to make a postseason run — or more likely headed toward another early exit.

The four-time AFC South champions provided a few answers Monday night as they kept pace with Baltimore for the AFC's No. 2 seed. San Diego has a one-game lead over the Colts and Ravens for the top spot.

Manning, the two-time MVP, looked like his old self. He carved up the league's worst pass defense, finishing 29-of-36 for 282 yards and passing Vinny Testaverde for eighth on the career touchdown list with his final TD — No. 270 — late in the third quarter. He had a 136.3 quarterback rating.

Harrison, too, reverted to usual form by catching eight passes for 86 yards and three TDs, his most scores in a game since Thanksgiving Day 2004 at Detroit. Manning and Harrison now have 103 TDs, the most productive duo in league history.

Far more impressive, however, were the Colts' defensive accomplishments.

Seeing Indianapolis allow nearly 600 yards rushing in the past two games, including 375 to Jacksonville last week, the usually pass-happy Bengals (8-6) changed their philosophy.

Cincinnati ran 30 times for 133 yards, and threw only 14 times in the first three quarters.

The Colts shut down the Bengals with a unit that was missing its top four safeties and a new starter, Rob Morris, at outside linebacker.

"They played cover-2 the whole game, they gave us the run, but we didn't take advantage," Carson Palmer said.