INDIANAPOLIS -- Ahmad Bradshaw's eyes immediately got wide, the kind of wide a 5-year-old gets when he finds out Christmas is in the near future.

The Indianapolis Colts running back was told that the NFL record for most receiving touchdowns by a running back is nine.

"Hmmm, it would be nice,” Bradshaw said when asked about possibly breaking the record.

Bradshaw needs just four receiving touchdowns in the final nine games of the season to surpass Marshall Faulk's mark of nine set in 2001 while with the St. Louis Rams.

You don't have to worry about quarterback Andrew Luck trying to force the ball to Bradshaw to set the record. Bradshaw is already a vital part of the passing game out of the backfield. His 24 receptions put him third on the team only behind T.Y. Hilton's 47 and Reggie Wayne's 38 receptions.

"He's been in the right place at the right time,” offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton said. "I think we talked about it before. Both of our backs, as a matter of fact all three backs, are all versatile players that can play on any down-and-distance in any situation. Ahmad has been really effective out of the backfield and it has been to our advantage.”

Bradshaw's six touchdown receptions could be looked at as surprising when you take into account that he entered the season with a total of three receiving touchdowns in the first seven seasons of his career. But he's had pass-catching skills his whole life. He was a receiver in high school in Virginia before being moved to running back.

"Coming into the NFL, that's just how I see myself, as a scat type of back,” Bradshaw said. "Backing up Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward my early years that's what I was. I came in, we ran screens, tossed the ball to me; it was a red flag when I came in because you just knew. But just being able to be that scat back, it really helps in where I'm at now."