CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals dared Peyton Manning to beat them. Bad move.

With Bengals defenders crowding the line of scrimmage to slow down tailback Edgerrin James, the Indianapolis Colts dusted off their old offensive approach and let Manning's passing carry them. The quarterback directed them to five first-half touchdowns and the Colts remained undefeated (10-0) by beating the Bengals, 45-37, yesterday at Paul Brown Stadium.

"It had been a while since we had been in a shootout," Manning said. "We really hadn't been in one this year. ... We feel like we can play any kind of game that we have to. Cincinnati came in and said, 'Hey, we don't want to let Edgerrin James get established.' "

The Colts improved to 10-0 and did it without much help from a defense that had been greatly improved this season. The Bengals (7-3) matched the Colts practically touchdown for touchdown for much of the afternoon. The teams combined for 62 first-half points, equaling the second-most in NFL history. But the Bengals ultimately couldn't keep up.

"We got these guys' best shot," Colts coach Tony Dungy said, "and they're a good football team. We just held the fort."

Manning threw for 365 yards and three touchdowns. All three touchdown passes came during a first half in which he threw for 272 yards and the Colts rolled to a 35-27 lead. The Colts had two 100-yard receivers, wideout Reggie Wayne and tight end Dallas Clark, by halftime. James became more prominent in the second half, when Cincinnati changed its defensive tactics, and finished with 89 rushing yards. He ran for two touchdowns.

"It's frustrating because our offense was making plays and doing their job, and we weren't," Bengals cornerback Deltha O'Neal said. "Peyton was just picking us apart. They just have quality guys, with the head honcho as the quarterback."