No Peyton Manning no glory – Indianapolis Colts and their performance in last NFL season (Part III)
At Tennessee
Curtis Painter could never replace Peyton Manning.
The Colts were still searching for their first win of the season when they travelled to play against Tennessee Titans.
Painter ended up throwing two interceptions in the game, which Colts lost somewhat expectedly.
Titans got a field goal in the first quarter and got 17 points in the next to get a strong lead, 20-0, by halftime.
Colts got their first scoring move in the third quarter in which they scored a field goal. Both teams scored a touchdown each in the final quarter as Titans won the game, 27-10.
Against Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons visited Colts and handed them their ninth straight defeat.
Falcons got two touchdowns in the first quarter one each in the second and third quarter and scored a field goal in the final.
The only scoring move from Colts came in the second quarter in which Jerraud Powers scored a touchdown on an interception return.
Colts’ coach, Jim Caldwell, said of the team’s losing streak:
"I haven't had nightmares like that in a long time. It's not something that you anticipate is going to happen.”
He added:
"We just aren't performing well right now.”
Against Jacksonville Jaguars
The lowly Jacksonville Jaguars were the next to visit Colts, but who could be more feeble and lowly than Colts?
The Jags started with a field goal in the first quarter. Colts neutralised the lead in the second by scoring a field goal, which became their only scoring move of the game.
Jaguars scored a touchdown in the third quarter and added another in the final to win the game, 17-3.
Curtis Painter was seemingly falling short of excuse. He said after the defeat:
"The turnovers were the big factor today. You just can't have those and we've got to secure the ball a little better."
Against Carolina Panthers
Colts had lost 10 games in a row before the bye week after which they hosted Carolina Panthers.
Peyton Manning was yet to come back and it was now anticipated that he would miss the entire season.
Panthers got a field goal in the first quarter and managed a touchdown early in the second. Colts, however, responded by scoring a field goal and a touchdown in the same quarter and the teams entered the halftime with score tied, 10-10.
Panthers got a touchdown in the third quarter while Colts could only get a field goal.
Colts got six points in the final quarter while Panthers scored 10 and won the game. The final score settled at 27-19.
At New England
The aggressive New England Patriots, who would go on to win the American Football Conference (AFC) championship game, were the next ones to crush the slumping Colts.
Although Colts did put on a strong fight especially towards the end when quarterback, Dan Orlovsky, found his rhythm, Patriots’ lead was difficult to overcome.
The Pats got a field goal in the first quarter and got two touchdown in the second quarter in which Colts managed a field goal.
Patriots added two more touchdowns in the third quarter after which the score was 31-3 in favour of the Pats.
Colts managed three touchdowns in the final quarter without giving away any scoring move, but still fell seven points behind and lost the game.
The final score was 31-24.
To be continued...
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