Peyton named NFL's MVP

Manning: 95.0 passer rating

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Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning has been named the NFL's Most Valuable Player for a third time.

Manning, 32, joins Brett Favre as the only man to win the award three times.

The Colts passer was an overwhelming winner in the voting, receiving 32 votes - his closest rivals Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington and Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner received four apiece.

Manning had two operations on his left knee in the pre-season and stuttered as the Colts started 3-4.

But since then they have won nine straight games to secure a wildcard berth - they face San Diego on Saturday night.

In that streak, Manning is 209-of-290 passing for 2,248 yards and 17 touchdowns, with only three interceptions. He extended his NFL record with his ninth 4,000-yard season and finished the season with 27 touchdown passes, just 12 interceptions and a 95.0 passer rating.

"I really accept this award on behalf of the team and the organization because there is no way we would be in the playoffs and bounced back without those three people creating a winning environment," Manning told NFL.com.

"It's just been different. It's been an entirely different season. I think the one thing that's been inaccurate is that the seasons we were starting out 13-0, 8-0, 7-0, that it was easy.

"So all of a sudden this year, we are 3-4 and now things are hard. Believe me, it's never easy to win a game. I've never taken for granted winning a football game."