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In the first half, The
Broncos walked
or should I say
ran all over The Colts
when they used an
impenetrable ground game with Travis Henry repeatedly gashing the
Colts run defense.
The Broncos had piled up 160
yards rushing before halftime, the NFL's highest single half total
all season.
Travis Henry accounted for
131 yards on 26 carries in the whole game.
Henry and Marcus Thomas left
the game briefly with a sprained right ankle as defensive tackle
Marcus Thomas bruised his right knee.
In the second half, The Colts
cream of the crop exhausted with a series of potentially damaging
injuries. Harrison never returned after leaving in the second quarter
when Denver linebacker D.J. Williams rolled up on his legs from
behind while Harrison was blocking for Addai. Harrison limped off the
field, missed one play, and then caught his first pass of the game.
He remained on the field for the final four plays of Indy's first
touchdown drive. But after coming off the field following the drive,
he consulted with team doctors and went to the locker room.
Linebacker Rob Morris was
hurt late in the half, when Denver tight end Daniel Graham was
blocking him on a running play. Morris crumpled to the ground, took
off his helmet and put his hands on his face before being helped onto
a golf cart and taken off the field.
(Matt Kryger / The Star)
Former Pro Bowl safety Bob
Sanders did not finish the game after hurting his ribs, and Joseph
Addai remained on the sidelines after hurting his shoulder on the
second play of the fourth quarter.
In the second half The Colts
came out with some adjustments and eventually took advantage of the situation.
While The Colts were using a
patchwork cast as Aaron Moorehead entered for Harrison, Matt Giordano
for Sanders, Kenton Keith for Addai, Rocky Boiman for Morris and
Bryan Fletcher for Utecht . . .
Peyton began confusing the
Broncos defense with his air assault and his own running game.
Addai danced and darted
through and around Denver's defense. He finished with 136 yards, his
second highest total in the regular season, and one touchdown on 19
carries before injuring his shoulder.
Kenton Keith took over
and kept it up.
He ran 10 times for a career
high 80 yards.
The Colts turned 5 of 6 six
red zone forays into touchdowns, while the Broncos went 2 for 4.
Manning finished 20 of 27 for
193 yards and threw 3 touchdowns and ran 1 in himself using a rare
quarterback sneak.
The defending Super Bowl
champions haven't lost a game since the playoffs started last year.
They demoralized the New Orleans Saints and beat over the Houston
Texans and Tennessee Titans.
And now a 38 - 20 Broncos
defeat at the RCA Dome on Sunday afternoon adding yet another
anguishing chapter to the Bronco's recent rivalry with The
Indianapolis Colts.
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When was the last time you
saw any NFL football team lose 4 key players in one game and continue
to play suburb football just as if no one was ever injured, let alone
4. We lose Rob Morris an excellent linebacker and a integral part of
our defense. We lose Marvin Harrison, a pro bowler who is perhaps the
finest wide receiver playing the game today and perhaps of all
time. We lose Bob Sanders, regarded by many as the toughest
defensive back in the league when healthy and another vital link to
our defense. Our up and coming, soon to be a pro bowler,
running back Joseph Addai joins the ranks of the injured after he has
already run the ball for over 130 yards in just 19 carries. Now
I doubt that there is any one of us who would have given the Colts a
chance to win this game had we known these players would be sidelined
for a large portion of the game. I know I wouldn't have.
But take a good look at what
happened, with Rob Morris and Bob Sanders out for the entire second
half our defense stopped and held Denver's running backs to fewer
yards than in the first half and only moderate passing yards giving
up only 7 points. When Marvin Harrison was replaced by Fletcher he
immediately makes two critical receptions for a total of 33 yards,
and Keith goes in for Addai and carries the ball 10 times gaining a
total of 80 yards, even Lawton while giving Keith some deserved rest
gains 13 yards. The Colts carry on as if no key players, offensively
or defensively, are out of the game and in fact tally up another 24
points in the second half.
Gordan38
at MyColts.Net
http://www.mycolts.net/gordon38/blog/ARE_THESE_COLTS_GOOD___NO_ |
On With The Show . . .
FIRST QUARTER
The Broncos win the coin toss
and choose to receive.
Adam Vinatieri kicks it off
for 69 yards to The Broncos 1, Domenik Hixon returns it to their 36
for 35 yards.
Denver began the game with a
hefty dose of Henry, as Jay Cutler handed the football to him on the
game's first five snaps and gaining 47 yards on the carries to move
the Broncos from the Denver 36 to the Indianapolis 19.
Rob Morris finally puts a
halt to the Henry charge, slamming into him with a crunching hit at
the Indy 17.
On 2nd and 7, Cutler misfires
on his first pro pass in his home state, overshooting an open Brandon
Marshall in the left flat. On 3rd down Cutler overthrows to Marshall
in the end zone while former Colt, slot receiver, Brandon Stokley was
wide open.
The Bronco's have to settle
for Elam's 35 yard field goal that gave Denver an early 3 - 0 edge.
Colts
0 Broncos 3
Todd Sauerbrun kicks it off
for 67 yards to Colts 3 as T.J. Rushing returns to their 30 for 27 yards.
COLTS BALL
at 11:27
The Colts proceeded to move
the ball down the field getting into Bronco's territory at the 45.
Then a good drive went bad as Manning hit Addai for a loss of 1 yard
on 1st and 10. On 2nd down Addai ran for 5 yards to make it 3rd and
6, however Denver blitzes on third down and Manning is forced to
throw underneath and it's incomplete to Dallas Clark. Despite getting
to Denver's 39, the Colts have to punt.
Hunter Smith punts it 25
yards to Bronco's 14 as Domenik Hixon signals for a Fair Catch.
Broncos Ball
at 7:47
Cutler hit Brandon Marshall
for 12 yards on their first play and went back to the running game on
the next 4 for gains of 33 yards. It's beginning to look like old
Colts Defense where they're trying to make crushing hits instead of
just wrapping up and making sure tackles.
On 2nd and 4 on The Colts 41,
Cutler overthrows Brandon Stokley. Then on 3rd down The Broncos
pulled a reverse play as the backup, Selvin Young, saw nothing but
open space around left end and ran for 32 yards. Henry ran for 3 on
the next play and on 2nd and 6 Henry tried to go up the middle as
Dwight Frenney denied any yardage and proceeded to strip Henry of the
ball, yet Bronco's recover.
Cutler eventually finds
Brandon Marshall in the End Zone for the Touchdown.
Colts
0 Broncos 10
Sauerbrun kicks it off 63
yards to The Colts 7 as T.J. Rushing returns to their own 39 for 32
yards. As Rushing ran out of bounds, Hixon hits him after he's well
out of bounds and gets flagged for Unnecessary Roughness. 15 yards
enforced at Colts 39.
COLTS BALL
at 2:11
The Colts are done toying
with The Denver Bronco's as they replied with back to back touchdown
drives that covered 44 and 61 yards, both of which were set up by
lengthy kickoff returns of 32 and 34 yards from T.J. Rushing.
Joseph Addai ran for 6 yards
on their First Down and as he ran for 3 more on the next play, he
ended up colliding with Marvin Harrison. Denver linebacker D.J.
Williams ended up rolling up on his legs from behind while Harrison
was blocking for Addai. Harrison was crouched over for some time
before he got up and left the field to the sidelines on his own.
(Matt Detrich / The Star)
Broncos with a five-man
front, yet it does not keep Addai from getting the one yard he needed
for the First Down, plus 2 more.
Marvin entered back into the
game to make an 8 yard reception on the next play with a defender
draped over him.
Addai then carried the ball
for 6 yards to the Broncos 22 to close out the First Quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
COLTS BALL
Continued . . .
Manning started the 2nd
Quarter off by connecting with Reggie Wayne for a 7 yard reception.
Colts are sitting on The
Bronco's 14 yard line as Addai takes the handoff up the middle and
just steamrolls through The Denver Defense breaking 3 tackles and
plows his way into the endzone.
Indianapolis Colts running
back Joseph Addai, center, breaks the tackle of Denver Broncos
cornerback Domonique Foxworth, left, and linebacker Ian Gold to score
a touchdown in the second quarter of NFL football action in
Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007.
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Colts running back Joseph
Addai dives across the goal line for a touchdown against Denver's
Domonique Foxworth in the second quarter of the game Sunday,
September 30, 2007. The Colts won 38-20.
(Matt Detrich / The Star)
Colts
7 Broncos 10
Vinatieri kicks it 71 yards
into Denver's End Zone (-1), Yet Domenik Hixon returns for 21 yards
to their 20 before Hughes and Hagler brings him down.
Broncos Ball
at 14:17
Henry runs for 6 and Cutler
connected with Daniel Graham for 14 before
Bronco's
take their 1st Timeout at 13:13
Cutler connects with Nate
Jackson for 24 yards making it into Colts territory at the 36. Not Cool!
Travis Henry ran the ball on
the next 4 plays gaining a First Down and putting The Broncos at The
Colts 24.
On 2nd and 8 Cutler hooks up
with former Colts Brandon Stokley for 12 yards and to my shock, Colts
Fans booed him. C'mon! It's not like he left on his own decision. The
Colts feared his ankle would continue to be a problem in years to
come and let him go. Brandon Stokley loved the Colts and loved Colts
fans as I to this day love Brandon Stokley. I remember the first time
I seen him in action for The Colts, I was saying to myself. "Who
is this guy? He's fucking awesome!" I'll miss ya Stokley.
Henry ran again for a big 1
yard before Freddy Keiaho and Bob Sanders stops him.
On 2nd and 9, Cutler went to
throw to Nate Jackson as Josh Thomas gets a hand on it first and tips
the ball away.
Bronco's could only get
another 7 yards as Bob Sanders stops Selvin Young two yards short of
the First Down. Denver settles for a Jason Elam 22 yard field goal.
Colts
7 Broncos 13
Sauerbrun kicks off for 65
yards to The Colts 5 and T.J. Rushing returns for 34 yards to their 39.
COLTS BALL
at 8:22
Marvin Harrison did not enter
the field with the rest of the Offense as Aaron Moorhead comes in.
Joseph Addai broke off to the
left taking the ball 14 yards into Bronco's territory.
Addai is tearing up the
Broncos like Henry is the Colts as he ran 2 more plays for gains of 7
and 4 attaining another First Down.
Peyton connected with Dallas
Clark for a 7 yard reception putting The Colts on Bronco's 29.
Kenton Keith came in for
Joseph Addai and rushed to the left for 3 yards to the Bronco's 26.
Colts achieve another First
Down as Peyton hit Reggie Wayne for about an 8 yard reception, Reggie
then jukes 2 Bronco's defenders; Dre' Bly and Nate Webster and takes
off up field for an additional 5 more yards to The Bronco's 13.
Colts Tight End, Ben Utecht
was injured on the play. Unsure of what had happened, yet he ended up
with a concussion.
After Manning threw
incomplete to Clark, he connected with Kenton Keith for 4 yards to
put The Colts on Bronco's 9 yard line. Just knockin' on the door.
3rd and 6 and Peyton Manning
is rushed, almost sacked as he just gets off a 9 yard pass that Clark
dives and catches in the End Zone for The Touchdown and the lead.
Photo by Colts Photographer - A.J. Macht
Injury update for the Colts.
Harrison has a bruised knee, according to the public-address
announcer. Harrison's return is questionable.
Colts
14 Broncos 13
Vinatieri kicks off for 70
yards to The Bronco's End Zone for the Touchback.
Broncos Ball
at 3:49
As The Colts Offense was done
toying with the Denver Bronco's, so were The Colts Defense as Henry
ran the ball on the first 3 plays and Josh Thomas stops him for a
gain of 5 on 1st play, Rob Morris stops him for only a gain of 3 and
then Freddy Keiaho Stuffs Henry one yard shy of the first down to
force a punt.
Two Minute Warning
Sauerbrun punts for 47 yards
to Colts 24 while T.J. Rushing was only able to return it for 2 yards
to their 26.
COLTS BALL
at 1:49
Although Peyton threw
incomplete to Wayne on their first play; Manning connected with
Rookie, Anthony Gonzalez, on a short pass at about the Colts 33.
Gonzalez then makes Jeff Shoate miss tackling him and breaks loose
for an additional 8 more yards to accumulate 19 yards and The First Down.
(Matt Detrich / The Star)
It's a real bitch Colts
couldn't capitalize off this huge gain as Manning threw incomplete to
Addai on the next play. A 5 yard Manning reception by Moorehead
on the next play was as far as The Colts got as Manning overthrew to
Gonzalez on 3rd and 5.
There were penalties on both
Teams on the play that I don't understand:
Penalty on Denver - S.Rice,
Defensive Offside, offsetting, enforced at 50 - No Play.
Penalty on Colts - R.Diem,
Offensive Holding, offsetting.
As The Bronco's were called
for offsides, shouldn't that stop the play and The Holding Call on
Diem shouldn't even matter?
Manning ended up throwing
incomplete to Clark and Colts are forced to punt as Smith kicks it 35
yards to The Bronco's 15. There is no return as a Penalty Call brings
it back and a loss of 7 yards when Selvin Young is called for Illegal
Block Above the Waist.
Broncos Ball
at 0:49
As Travis Henry runs for a
gain of 6 yards, Colts Linebacker, Rob Morris goes down while
engaging a Denver blocker. Uncertain as to what happened, but it
appeared as though his left leg/knee had just given out as he buckled
to the ground.
Morris had to be carted off.
Indianapolis Colts linebacker
Rob Morris (94) is greeted by linebacker Freddie Keiaho (54) after
being injured on a play during the second quarter of a NFL football
game against the Denver Broncos in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007.
(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
The preliminary report was a
strained knee.
Marvin Harrison, Ben Utecht
and now Rob Morris are out of the game.
Colts
call their 1st Timeout
at 00:37
Broncos run one more play
with Henry running the ball for 5 yards to end the First Half.
Colts
14 Broncos 13
THIRD QUARTER
There is still no sign of
Marvin Harrison and Rocky Boiman is in at strong side linebacker for
Rob Morris.
Bronco's kickoff to Colts as
Sauerbrun kicks it to the Colts 8 and T.J. Rushing returns for 19
yards to Colts 27.
The Colts took a quick jump
in the start of this first half or should I say quick jumps as they
flew down the field with no play less than a 10 yard gain except for
1 which was for no gain at all.
It started off with Joseph
Addai at The Colts 27 taking the handoff with progress to the left,
cuts right and is gone for 17 yards to The Colts 44 just like that.
FIRST DOWN
Peyton Manning threw to Bryan
Fletcher for 12 yards on the next play reaching Denver's 44.
FIRST DOWN
Addai was unable to get
anywhere on the next play as Manning hit Fletcher again for a gain of
21 yards to The Bronco's 23 on the next.
FIRST DOWN
Colts are making a mockery of
the heart of Denver's coverage on this drive.
Addai took the handoff and
ran it for another 12 yards on the next play reaching the Bronco's 11
yard line
FIRST DOWN
On the next play, again
Joseph Addai took the handoff, however was immediately seized by
Crowder, Broncos Defender, for maybe a loss of 3 yards. Addai had
other ideas; as he broke free and darted for another 10 yards being
taken down just in front of the Goal Line at the 1 yard line.
FIRST DOWN
73 yards in a hair over 3
minutes as Peyton Manning concluded this phenomenal drive when he
lunged into the end zone with the ball himself for the Touchdown!
(Matt Kryger / The Star)
Colts
21 Broncos 13
Vinatieri kicks it off for 69
yards to the Bronco's 1 as Hixon returns it for 14 yards to their own
15 before Hagler brings him down.
Broncos Ball
at 11:40
Where's Bob? Bob Sanders did
not come out with the rest of The Colts Defense, nor is he on the
Colts sideline.
As much of a play maker and
influence Sanders is to This Colts Defense, that Defense stepped up
and delivered a phenomenal performance themselves as Freddy Keiaho
stuffed Henry for only a gain of 3 on Bronco's first play and Marlin
Jackson intercepted Cutler as he stepped into the pass in front of
the intended receiver Brandon Marshall.
Indianapolis Colts Marlin
Jackson (28) celebrates his interception with Matt Giordano,right, in
the third quarter of their game Sunday afternoon at the RCA Dome.
(Matt Kryger / The Star)
Brandon Marshall was pissed
for when he headed to the sidelines, he removed his helmet and
slammed it to the ground.
Where's the penalty call?
Never was one called.
Colts
call their 1st Timeout at 10:58
COLTS BALL
Again
at 10:58
Manning throws to Aaron
Moorehead but is broken up by Bronco's D. Bly. However, Nate Webster
was flagged in the end zone for Illegal Contact; 5 yards enforced.
Colts are at the Denver 19 with an automatic first down.
Kenton Keith is in for Joseph
Addai as Running Back and breaks off for 4 yards. Addai comes back
onto the field and slices up the middle for 8 to The Bronco's 7.
1st and Goal
Addai ran for an additional 4
more yards.
2nd and Goal on the Bronco's
3 yard line. Manning floats a beautiful fade pass to Dallas Clark in
The End Zone for another Touchdown marking the second time the two
hooked up for points in the game.
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Colts are now 4-of-4 in the
red zone in this game.
Colts
28 Broncos 13
Vinatieri kicks it off to the
Bronco's 1 as Domenik Hixon muffs the catch, recovers and brings it
back out to the Bronco's 21 before Hagler and Dawson take him down.
Broncos Ball
at 8:49
It does not begin well for
the Bronco's as Cutler fires wide of Tony Scheffler while under pressure.
Travis Henry rushed to the
right for 11 yards before being tackled by Freddy Keiaho and Matt
Giordano on their next play, yet got no where when Ed Johnson put a
stop to 'Ol Henry.
Bronco's fell 1 yard short
when Cutler connected with Graham on the next play for 9 yards.
On 3rd and 1, Cutler rolls
left and finds a wide open Cecil Sapp off the play fake for 10 yards
and a first down at the Colts 49.
Cutler hit Graham for 6 yards
on the next play as Henry was injured on the next after picking up a
yard. Henry is being treated on the field and then leaves under his
own power, but walked very slowly as he departed the field. Henry is
listed as questionable to return with a right ankle sprain.
Graham picked up a First Down
when he connected with a Cutler pass for 6 yards.
1st and 10 on The Colts 36
and Dwight Freeney and Freedy Keiaho drops Selvin Young behind the
line of scrimmage for a loss of 1.
Cutler connected with
Marshall for 4 yards, then with Brandon Stokley for 8 getting another
First Down.
Selvin Young got the Bronco's
to the Colts 2 yard line after running for 14 yards, then 9 yards.
Selvin was stuffed though on 2nd and 1 for no gain on the next play.
However, Colts had too many players on the field giving The Bronco's
another shot at 2nd down and Goal.
Cutler mimics Peyton Manning
and runs it in himself for the Touchdown with very little over a
minute of The 3rd Quarter.
Colts
28 Broncos 20
That was as close as the
Broncos were ever going to get as that was their last score of the
evening; while The Colts on the other hand continued to rack them up.
Sauerbrun kicks it off to the
Colts 2 as Kenton Keith is in for T. J. Rushing and returns for 15
yards to The Colts 17.
COLTS BALL
at 1:06
Addai started this drive off
with a 5 yard push through the middle and Peyton connected with
Reggie Wayne for the other 5 for The First Down to close out the 3rd Quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER
COLTS BALL
continued . . .
Addai started the 4th Quarter
off plowing through the middle of The Bronco's Defense, threw a
couple of tackles, juking and then spins and takes off for 13 yards
to The Colts 40 yard line.
Addai takes the next play to
The Colts 47 for 7 yards but is slow getting up.
(Matt Detrich / The Star)
Addai gets up and leaves the
field under his own power as his return is Questionable.
On 2nd and 3, Manning threw
incomplete to Dallas Clark. No problem as they make up the difference
on the next play when Peyton finds Clark deep for 27 yards into
Bronco's territory at the 26 over Champ Bailey
(Matt Detrich / The Star)
On the next play Colts, Jake
Scott was called for Offensive Holding as Keith took the handoff.
Colts are backed up 10 yards.
1st and a long 20 is no
problem for fill in Running Back, Kenton Keith as he finds his way
through the Bronco's Line and heads down field for 22 yards and The
First Down.
(Matt Detrich / The Star)
AS Kenton Keith is turns out
to be quite an impressive little f*%@, Colts give him the ball 2 more
times for gains of 1 and then 8, to get to The Bronco's 5 yard line.
Indianapolis now has 175
rushing yards and is averaging 7.0 yards per carry as the Broncos run
defense continues to be gashed even with Addai out of the picture.
Knock!
Knock!
When you were just wondering
at what time Reggie Wayne was going to become a part of this Colts
Offense Picture, it was answered when Peyton found him in The End
Zone beating out Domonique Foxworth for the for The Touchdown!
(Matt Detrich / The Star)
Colts
35 Broncos 20
Colts are now five of five in
the red zone.
Colts just announced Sanders
has a rib injury, his return is questionable. Joseph Addai has a
shoulder injury and his return is questionable, also.
Vinny kicks it off for 70
yards into the End Zone for the touchback.
Bronco's Ball
at 10:56
Cutler is pressured, rolls
right and heaves the ball deep to Brandon Stokley as Matt Giordano
puts a stop to that reception ever happening.
(Heather Charles /
The Star)
Henry is back in the game and
makes good on a 12 yard run for The First Down.
That's the best Denver will
make on this drive as Freddy Keiaho stuffs Henry on the next play for
a loss of 2 yards.
Young finds his way for 5
yards but Cutler's short dump pass to Marshall is denied by Robert Mathis.
Denver is forced to punt as
Sauerbrun kicks it 65 yards into The Colts End Zone for the Touchback.
COLTS BALL
at 8:33
After Manning threw
incomplete to Clark on their first play, Colts proceeded to move
downfield at ease.
Kenton Keith started the ball
rolling as he tosses Bronco's Defenders off of him and darts
downfield for 13 yards.
FIRST DOWN
Manning connected with Dallas
Clark on the next play for an additional 13 yards.
FIRST DOWN
Keith takes it into Bronco's
territory as he ran for 11 yards and the . . .
FIRST DOWN
Manning found Reggie Wayne
for a gain of 8 and Lawton came into the ball game carrying the ball
on the next 2 plays for gains of 4 on each carry achieving yet
another . . .
FIRST DOWN
Keith came back in and
carried the ball on The Colts next 3 plays for gains of 5, 9 and 4
accumulating once again, another
FIRST DOWN
Denver
calls their 1st Timeout at 02:49
Denver
Bronco Dre Bly looks at the ground during a timeout in the fourth
quarter during their game at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Sunday,
September 30, 2007. The Colts beat the Broncos 38-20.
(Heather
Charles / The Star)
Lawton comes back in and
picks up 3 yards and
Denver
calls their 2nd Timeout at 02:42
Colts are just burning up the clock.
3rd and 3 at The
Bronco's 6 and Lawton runs it again for 2 yards.
Denver
calls their 3rd Timeout at 02:38
During the timeout, the Colts
video boards show some Brandon Stokley highlights from his four
seasons with the Colts. At the end of the video tribute, it shows
Stokley with a message "Thanks for the memories."
Stokley sees the video board tribute and waves.
4th and 1 and Colts bring out
Vinny to make good on a 22 yard Field Goal.
Colts
38 Broncos 20
Vinatieri kicks off into the
Bronco's End Zone as Hixon returns for 20 yards to their own 20.
Bronco's Ball
at 2:29
Although Cutler connected
with Young for 11 yards, Young was called for Delay of Game and 5
yards were enforced between downs bringing them back to their 26.
(2:16) Jay Cutler ran
to the right for 9 yards to their 35 as Kelvin Hayden pushed him out
of bounds.
(2:09) Cutler dumps one
off to Young for 8 yards.
(2:01) 1st and 10
at their 43 and Freeney comes in for the kill and gets his first sack
of the season as he came up from behind Cutler and stripped the ball
loose while Marlin Jackson recovered the fumble.
(Matt Detrich / The Star)
Two Minute Warning
That's pretty much it folks
as Manning takes a knee on the next 3 plays and Colts win it . . .
Colts 38
Broncos 20 |
VS 
