No Peyton Manning no glory – Indianapolis Colts and their performance in last NFL season (Part II)
Continued from part I...
At Tampa Bay
After getting three straight defeats, the Manning-less Colts travelled to play against Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Once again, Colts managed a good start and got a field goal in the first quarter without allowing any scoring move from the opponents.
Both teams got a touchdown each in the next quarter and Colts were still leading, 10-7, by halftime.
The Bucs got 10 points in the third quarter against Colts’ three and added another touchdown in the final without giving away any point to win the game, 24-17.
The impact of Manning’s absence can be ascertained with the remarks quarterback, Curtis Painter, made after the game. He said:
"It's always a little easier when you know you're going to get some playing time. We got off to a good start and put some points on the board. But obviously we have to find a way to put more points on the board and move the ball a little bit better."
Against Kansas City Chiefs
Colts got fifth straight defeat when they played against Kansas City Chiefs.
The offence did well in the game and Painter’s performance was really commendable, but this time the defence failed to support him.
Colts got a touchdown in the first quarter and added two more and a field goal in the second quarter in which Chiefs also got two touchdowns.
Colts were still 10 points ahead, but they did not make any scoring move in the second half of the game and Chiefs scored a touchdown in third and fourth quarter respectively to overcome the deficit.
The final score settled at 28-24.
At Cincinnati
Colts were going with every game they played and had become one of the most prominent failing units in the league.
The game against Cincinnati Bengals did not bring any respite to them.
Bengals got a touchdown in the first quarter to get a lead. Colts managed a touchdown in the second quarter, but Bengals managed to secure the lead by scoring a field goal.
Bengals grabbed 10 more points in the third quarter in which Colts did not score.
In the final quarter, Colts got 10 points, but Bengals also added a touchdown and won the game rather easily. The final score was 27-17.
At New Orleans
The game against New Orleans Saints brought Colts seventh straight defeat.
It was not surprising to see the offence struggling as everyone was pretty sure by then that Peyton Manning was the only reason for Colts’ glory during the last few years.
Saints got 21 points in the first quarter and 13 in the second. Colts got their first and only scoring move of the game in the second quarter in the form of a touchdown.
Saints continued with their aggressive outburst in the next half and secured 14 points in the third and fourth quarter respectively.
Colts’ coach, Jim Caldwell, said after the game:
“It's one of those things that once you don't do the little things right, there is a lot of bad things that happen to you. Obviously, I have to take responsibility for our team and the way that they played.”
Peyton Manning was still recovering as he continued to watch from sidelines the pathetic performance his teammates were putting in.
To be continued...
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