NFL Update: Indianapolis Colts take division once again
The Indianapolis Colts have secured their 7th AFC South title in 8 years. Earlier this season, the Jacksonville Jaguars were touted as being the next in line to the AFC South throne. Pundits couldn’t get enough of suggesting that Peyton Manning
was done and the Colts have passed on the torch. How wrong they all were.
The Indianapolis Colts are still very much in it. Their run for the playoffs ran into a bit of a snag earlier this season and numerous injuries put pressure on the remaining Colts but despite the odds, Indianapolis prevailed. “We know what they were up against
and how difficult it was and to overcome all that and win the division,” owner Jim Irsay said. “It is extra special.”
In the season’s final game, quarterback Manning threw 264 yards without an interception and two touchdowns to take the Colts to victory over the Tennessee Titans and thus secure the division. The Titans weren’t just going to look on. They fought back and
fought back hard. Quarterback Kerry Collins led Tennessee’s offence with his 300 yards and threw just as many touchdowns as Manning.
Manning set two milestones in the game. He completed his 450th pass of the season and barely missed out on scoring his 400th touchdown. Only two other quarterbacks have so far reached the 400 touchdown mark.
The Colts scored first with a field goal in the very first offensive series of the game for Indianapolis. Manning led the Colts to Tennessee’s 30 yard line. When the Colts couldn’t push further ahead, they attempted the field goal and the attempt was good.
The Titans equalized minutes later with a field goal of their own.
Late into the second quarter, Manning threw the first touchdown pass of the game to Reggie Wayne to put the Colts in the lead however Kerry Collins wouldn’t be outdone. In the third quarter, Collins' 38 yards to Nate Washington and later a 21 yards touchdown
pass scored Tennessee’s first touchdown of the game. In the next series, Manning threw his second touchdown and put the Colts in the lead once again. Collins also followed up with his second touchdown, passing 15 yards to running back Chris Johnson.
In less than 10 minutes in the 3rd quarter, 3 touchdowns were scored one after the other. The scores settled down to 20-20. The Colts were only able to edge ahead in the final quarter. Indianapolis attempted a field goal with less than 3 seconds
remaining on the clock, the attempt was good. The Colts won with 23 points against 20. The victory is remarkable also because Indianapolis played with 17 of its players on the injured reserve. Four weeks ago, the Colts were 6-6 and looking to be knocked out
of the playoffs but a four game winning streak put them back on top and in control of their own destiny.
Titans' quarterback Collins too had no choice but to recognize the revamped Indianapolis team. “They've been playing better the last couple of weeks,” Collins said. “They definitely have improved since the last time we played them. You can't just come in
here and say we're going to pound the ball at them for 150 yards. It just doesn't happen like that.”
Securing the AFC South title means the Colts would face the New York Jets at home this Saturday. Manning said that he wouldn’t get into that game just yet. “We just kind of found out what time we're playing and who we're playing and get going on them starting
this week,” the quarterback said.
The Colts now stand two games ahead of division rivals, the Jacksonville Jaguars with a record of 10-6. They would enter the playoffs as the 3rd seeded team and host the Jets in the wildcard round. This could very well have been the toughest year
for the Colts in recent memory. However, underestimating the Colts could be a mistake, one that the Jets at least surely won’t make.
Tags: