Hank Baskett botched an onside kick recovery to open the second half, Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie couldn't catch third-down passes to keep drives going and Reggie Wayne watched Tracy Porter jump his route and run 74 yards for the game-sealing TD.
The result: New Orleans 31, Indy 17.
Manning did what he could, repeatedly driving the Colts down field and forcing the Saints to gamble. But unlike the previous games this season, his supporting cast didn't come through.
It was the first time all season that the Colts' starters finished a game and lost.