Colts advance to AFC title game with 20-3 win over Ravens

Monday, 18 January 2010 00:00

Peyton Manning,in his first game since winning an unprecedented fourth NFL MVP award,threw for 2 TDs satutday night and the Indianapolis Colts (15-2) won a playoff game after a bye-week,breaking an 0-3 record in the postseason when they opened following a week rest.

“I don’t think it matters if you’ve had a bye or you’re playing home or away,” Manning said “This myth that you can’t win after a bye week,I haven’t believed in it.”

Manning and the other Colts starters got plenty of rest when rookie coach Jim Caldwell sat them early in the last two regular-season games,both losses after a 14-0 start and had clinched the AFC’s No 1 seed and the bye,previously a curse for Indy.

The decision to rest the starters instead of taking a shot at a perfect season wasn’t very popular with the fans,and the players who were never consulted on the matter.The Colts’ management felt it was more important to keep players healthy for a title run than going for a possible 16-0 record.

After Manning led the Colts to Matt stover’s 44-yd field goal on the opening drive,the Ravens (10-8)answered with an 87-yd drive of their own, capped by Billy Cundiff’s 25-yd field goal to tie the game.They kept Manning on the sideline for nearly 8 minutes,and the sour look on the All Pro quarterback told it all.

Manning must have been inspired by that Baltomre’s series,he led the Colts on an 8-minute-75-yd march culminated with a 10-yd TD pass to Austin Collie with 2:00 left in the half.Manning even converted a gutsy fourth-and -4 on a pass to Joseph Addai to keep the drive alive.

After Baltimore’s three-and-out,the ball was back in the hands of the best QB in the league in rush-offense. Manning needed just 1:23 to make it 17-3,covering 64 yds in 8 plays,capped with a 3-yd TD pass to Reggie Wayne with 3 seconds left.

By halftime the scoreboard told it all: Indianapolis 17 , Baltimore 3.

It didn’t get any tighter, even though Ed Reed got his fourth career interception of Manning in the third quarter.Reed was sripped of the ball by a great hustle from Pierre Garçon,the intended receiver,at the end of a 38-yd return.Dallas clark recovered,and Reed was robbed of another pick five plays later because of a pass interference called on Corey Ivy.

The Ravens’s vaunted defense was self-destructing,and Manning led another clock-consuming 7:21 drive that ended with Stover’s 33-yd boot to push the Colts further in the postseason.

Indy’s 18th-ranked defense held Baltimore to 87 yds on the ground, intercepted Joe Flacco twice,and forced three fumbles.Ray Rice ,who rushed for 159 yds of the Ravens 234 total against New England last week,gained only 67 in 13 carries.Flacco was 20 of 35 for 189 yds and no TD.

“Our defense did a tremendous job,” Caldwell said. “Anytime you hold that offense the way they run the ball, and Ray Rice, under 100 yds, our defense indeed played hard and well, tackled well, and they were opportunistic.It was a heck of a performance.”

Tha Colts have won eight straight against Baltimore.The last time they were so stingy in a playoff game was as the Baltimore Colts 39 years ago,a 20-3 win over Cleveland.

“The better team won today,”Rice admitted. “You shouldn’t be afraid to say that.”

Manning was 30 of 44 for 246 yds and 2 TDs,Wayne caught 8 passes for 63 yds , Clark 7 for 59 and Austin 4 for 52.

Following their impressive first possession, the Ravens had the ball for less than 4 minutes in the first half, gaining only 9 yds in the second period.

The last time the Indianapolis Colts hosted the conference game was three years ago, when they won their only Super Bowl. It’s interesting to notice that the championship victory came in Miami, the same site as next month’s Super Bowl.

The Colts will host the New York Jets Sunday,after giving them a chance to make the playoffs on Week 15.They might live to regret it.

Check out the odds for next weekend NFL’s conference championship games at BetPhoenix.com Sportsbook and put a wager on your favorite teams.

< Prev		Next >

Colts advance to AFC title game with 20-3 win over Ravens

Colts advance to AFC title game with 20-3 win over Ravens

Whats Hot Now