Indianapolis ? Peyton Manning usually dodges criticism as skillfully as he avoids hits.

But the Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback is having trouble avoiding one nagging issue.

Despite the staggering numbers, his model status on and off the field and a propensity for winning, Manning is wrapping up his sixth season hearing an all-too-familiar question: Can he win a playoff game?

“Usually, the player wants the same things the fans want,” Manning said. “We want to win championships, no question. But it’s not easy.”

It’s a strange predicament for Manning, for whom success has seemingly followed like a shadow.

His name and face have become synonymous with NFL products, and by virtually every measuring stick he has had the most successful start of any quarterback in NFL history.

He is the league’s only player with five consecutive 4,000-yard seasons. Nobody else has more than three.

His 53 career victories rank second among Colts quarterbacks, trailing only Hall of Famer John Unitas (116).

Compared with eight other quarterbacks selected No. 1 since 1970, Manning’s six-year totals are the best. He has more completions, yards and TD passes than John Elway, Troy Aikman or Terry Bradshaw.

Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning watches from the sidelines during the Colts' loss to Denver. The Colts fell, 31-17, Sunday in Indianapolis.

The difference is Elway, Aikman and Bradshaw earned multiple Super Bowl rings. Manning is 0-3 in the playoffs.

Fair or not, that is the label Manning has been branded with since losing 41-0 to the New York Jets in January. Manning and his teammates hope to shed that label next week in a first-round playoff game.

“It’s not just Peyton that hasn’t won one, none of us have won one,” center Jeff Saturday said. “One guy does not win the game for you and one guy does not lose it for you. But when you’re the quarterback, you get too much credit both ways.”

Before Sunday’s stinging 31-17 loss to Denver, the Colts (11-4) were showing signs that this season could be the time for a deep playoff run.

Manning is playing the best football of his career and is one of the leading MVP candidates. Edgerrin James is running more like his old self, and Manning has more options than Marvin Harrison in the passing game.

A win would change Manning’s image.

“I really kind of laugh at it,” coach Tony Dungy said. “I’ve been in the league long enough that I heard for about 13 years that John Elway couldn’t win the Super Bowl. I heard Tom Landry couldn’t win the Super Bowl. When you look back now, it seems kind of funny.”

To Manning, though, it’s more frustrating than laughable. He bristles at the critics, who claim he’s never won a “big” game even though the Colts’ playoff failures are not entirely his fault.

Manning wasn’t even on the field when Tennessee’s Eddie George rumbled 68 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in January 2000 or when Mike Vanderjagt missed a game-winning field goal at Miami the next season.

But until the Colts win a playoff game, Dungy knows Manning cannot escape the criticism.

Manning still finds himself in good company.Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton was 0-4 in Super Bowls. Miami’s Dan Marino, the NFL’s career leader in yards passing, was 0-1 in the NFL’s biggest game, which was one more chance than Hall of Famer Dan Fouts had.

Elway and San Francisco’s Steve Young heard the same things until they won Super Bowls near the end of their careers.

Other former players, like Manning’s father, Archie, would have done anything just to get a chance at the playoffs even if he doesn’t like what he now hears routinely.

“As a parent, you say, ‘Is this really fair to put someone under the gun like this?”‘ Archie Manning said. “Peyton has done more than anyone in the history of pro football in his first six years, but everyone says he can’t win a playoff game.”