Colts come back from 17 down.

huevonkiller · Oct 5, 2008

Houston QB Rosenfels’ miscues lead to loss to Indy

By KRISTIE RIEKEN, AP Sports Writer 5 hours, 25 minutes ago

HOUSTON (AP)—Headed for another early-season loss, Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts staged a stunning comeback thanks to a colossal collapse by the Houston Texans.

Manning’s late-game poise—and the lack of it for Houston quarterback Sage Rosenfels—helped the Colts scored 21 points in a late span of 2:10. Two touchdowns came thanks to fumbles by Rosenfels, then Indianapolis intercepted Rosenfels’ last-ditch comeback attempt for a 31-27 win Sunday.

Manning threw two touchdown passes, connecting with Reggie Wayne on a 5-yarder with 1:54 remaining for the decisive points. Linebacker Gary Brackett returned a fumble by Rosenfels 68 yards for a score in between Manning’s TD throws.

“All of our team played great football today, played winning football and I made those mistakes that cost football games,” Rosenfels said. “There is no reason we should have lost that game.”

But they did, in incredible fashion.

“I thought we had that passion at the end,” said Colts coach Tony Dungy. “But it was missing during the middle of the game and we’ve got to get that back somewhere.”

Rookie Tom Santi caught the other late score, a 7-yarder to bring the Colts (2-2) within 27-17 with 4:04 to go. It was his first NFL touchdown.

Backup Rosenfels, playing for the ill Matt Schaub, had the winless Texans (0-4) ahead by 17 points before losing two fumbles and throwing an interception. Texans fans had wanted to see Schaub replaced all season, and Rosenfels was nearly flawless for three quarters. Then came one of the worst meltdowns in the history of the young franchise.

After Manning found Santi for his touchdown, Indianapolis attempted an onside kick, but Houston recovered. On the next drive, Rosenfels ran right at defensive back Marlin Jackson, who upended him and knocked the ball loose. Brackett ran it in to make it 27-24.

“For one play I made a really stupid mistake and that started the downward spiral,” Rosenfels said. “I feel like I let those guys down.”

Said Brackett: “I told those guys, ‘There’s a lot of time left. Somebody’s got to make a play.’ It just happened to be myself.”

On the ensuing drive, Robert Mathis sacked Rosenfels and stripped the ball at the Houston 19. Manning hit a leaping Wayne in the corner of the end zone, the play was reviewed, and the call was upheld.

Houston got back the ball with almost 2 minutes remaining, but Rosenfels was intercepted by Melvin Bullitt.

The five-time AFC South champion Colts were off to their worst start since starting the 1998 season 0-4 when Manning was a rookie. Manning was looking for his team to get back on track with this game.

“The encouraging thing is we feel like we can find a little more consistency, we’re capable of scoring more points and we have the players to do it,” he said. “The idea today was to get a little swagger back … I was proud of the guys for never giving up and fighting ‘til the end.”

The Texans played the 100th game in franchise history in their hurricane-damaged stadium with the retractable roof open; the roof couldn’t be repaired in time for Sunday’s game.

Rosenfels’ miscues ruined good days by rookie Steve Slaton and Andre Johnson. Slaton ran for 93 yards and two touchdowns and Johnson bounced back from two poor games with nine catches for 131 yards. Johnson, who had 67 yards in the last two games combined, scored his first touchdown of the season on a 5-yard reception just before halftime for a 17-10 lead.

Mario Williams had two sacks as he stayed in Manning’s face most of the day. Manning was 25-of-34 for 247 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

Williams still seemed to be in shock after the game.

“I’ve never seen anything in my life like that,” he said of the fourth quarter. “For that to happen, I can’t even remember seeing anything like that growing up. It’s just devastating.”

Slaton brought Houston within 10-7 on a 1-yard run early in the second quarter set up when Jackson was called for pass interference on Johnson in the end zone. Slaton’s other score came on a 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter that pushed the lead to 27-10.

Houston settled for a 37-yard field goal by Kris Brown to tie it at 10 in the second period after Ahman Green tripped and fell on a direct snap. Green, playing for the first time since Week 1, had 12 carries for 47 yards.

Brown added a 43-yard field goal in the third quarter.

Joseph Addai scored on a 1-yard run that gave Indianapolis a 10-0 lead. That drive was kept alive when Manning found Wayne for a 36-yard gain on fourth-and-1.

Wayne finished with seven receptions for 97 yards and Dallas Clark had five receptions for 81 yards.

The Colts were relieved to get a win to leave the Texans in last place in the AFC South. Wayne described how much better a 2-2 record feels compared to being 1-3.

“Last place and not last place,” he said. “You never want to lose, period. Whenever it goes against you, you kind of look at it. We lose this game, we’re in last place.”

Notes

Johnson surpassed 5,000 yards receiving for his career with Sunday’s performance. … The win ties Manning with Terry Bradshaw for seventh on the NFL’s all-time list with 107. … Williams has four sacks this season.
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Source: Associated Press

Scoring on that 4th and 7 to make it 27-17 was pretty huge. We're now second in the division too.

huevonkiller · Oct 5, 2008

[video=youtube;g_Zsdd28eU0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_Zsdd28eU0[/video]

huevonkiller · Oct 5, 2008

So the only other team to do this was... The Colts? Lol.

Just in case you weren't sure, what you saw today was exceedingly rare. The Colts became only the second team in NFL history to come back from a 17 point deficit or greater with 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter to go on to win the game. The other team to pull off the feat? The Indianapolis Colts, of course (Random fact: the second comeback came on the eve of the 5th anniversary of the first comeback).

Considering that we are experts in the field of epic comebacks, I come to you, Colts nation, with the question of which comeback you found more impressive. Before you vote, consider the following:

* James Mungro, Marvin Harrison, and Ricky Williams (not the famous one Sticky Ricky) scored the 3 TDs vs. Tampa. Tom Santi, Gary Brackett, and Reggie Wayne scored the 3 TDs vs. Houston.
* The '03 comeback was aided by a 90 yard kick return by Brad Pyatt to set up the first TD and an onside kick recovery by Idrees Bashir to help set up the second.
* The '08 comeback was aided by 2 (2!) fumble recoveries, one which was returned for a TD.
* Tampa finished 4th in defense in 2003, Houston is currently 30th.
* Total time used and yards covered for the 3 TDs scored to tie the Tampa game: 155 yards in 3:46 (The Colts also had a 14 play, 76 yard drive that took 6:36 to set-up the winning field goal in OT).
* Total time used and yards covered for the 3 TDs scored to win the Houston game: 178 yards in 5:14.
* The Houston comeback was completed with 1:54 left in the game, the Tampa game was tied with 0:35 to go.
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Source: Stampede Blue

Vintage · Oct 6, 2008

By far one of the weirdest games I've seen. I cannot believe you guys ended up winning. And what a catch by Wayne.

Vintage · Oct 6, 2008

And what was Sage thinking trying to helicopter that for a first down? I know he was trying to pick it up, extend the drive, run time off... but pretty much the only thing that was going to save the Colts was a turnover. And he risked that for a first down? At least force the Colts to drive for a TD.

You gotta know when to play it safe.

Kudos to the Colts for not giving up, making plays, etc.

huevonkiller · Oct 6, 2008

Vintage said: ↑

And what was Sage thinking trying to helicopter that for a first down? I know he was trying to pick it up, extend the drive, run time off... but pretty much the only thing that was going to save the Colts was a turnover. And he risked that for a first down? At least force the Colts to drive for a TD.

You gotta know when to play it safe.

Kudos to the Colts for not giving up, making plays, etc.
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Colts deserved it though after that Rashean Mathis Pass-Interference-Interception two weeks ago that screwed us. We were due. :]

Vintage · Oct 6, 2008

True. Maybe you'll exact your revenge on the Jags the 2nd time around.

huevonkiller · Oct 6, 2008

Recap Week Five: Colts 31-Texans 27 (Cardiac Edition)

Stampedeblue_tiny by BigBlueShoe on Oct 6, 2008 1:10 PM EDT in Game Recaps

This from Jake The Snake demands repeating:

Just in case you weren't sure, what you saw today was exceedingly rare. The Colts became only the second team in NFL history to come back from a 17 point deficit or greater with 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter to go on to win the game. The other team to pull off the feat? The Indianapolis Colts, of course (Random fact: the second comeback came on the eve of the 5th anniversary of the first comeback).
Click to expand...

Fives year to the day of one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history (between the Colts and the Buccaneers), the Colts engineer yet another improbable comeback, on the road.

Oh, and happy birthday, Coach Dungy. Sincerely, Sage Rosenfels.

Before we get into the particulars of the game, you all remember the 1995 Colts, right? The "Cardiac" Colts? They would usually start a game like garbage, play most of the game like garbage, but then (in the fourth quarter) Jimmy Harbaugh and his Colts mates would come to life and eek out an improbable win, usually with about 2 seconds left in the game.

These Colts, right now, remind me of that team.

You will recall that the defense that year started out like crap, giving up tons of points to Cincinnati, the Jets, and Miami. Yet, the Colts were able to scratch, claw, and fight their way to wins. This team is very similar. There is no quit in them. No give up. No surrender. None. They simply will not stop until the gun sounds, until time runs out and the men in zebra shirts tell them "gave over." We can dissect and dismantle any number of problems this team has.

Heart and guts are one of those problems.

The obvious key to the game was turnovers committed in the last 4 minutes by back-up QB Sage Rosenfels, who started in place of Matt Schaub because Schuab had a stomach virus. Again, rotten luck and crappy circumstance doom the Texans. Contrast this with the Jaguars, who really should be 0-5 if not for HORRIBLE officiating that has benefited them for three straight games. They should not have converted on the final drive against the Colts because of a bad call, and they should not have converted in OT against the Texans because of a bad call. Hell, last night, the Jags had numerous bad calls against the Steelers go their way. The only difference is they lost. Tennessee should have lost yesterday as well. The roughing the passer call on Kerry Collins during their game-winning TD drive was laughable. That ref should be FIRED. Not given some demerit points. Not suspended. Not taken off the list of potential refs to work playoffs games. F. I. R.E.D. My point is it is these kinds of plays (and calls) that are determining wins and loses.

It is a fine line between winning and losing, and the Texans are not your typical 0-4 team.

I have to say, this is the most maddening season I have ever experienced thus far. If it isn't terrible officiating it is Miami's wishbone T formation beating up AFC favorite San Diego. Consider that the teams everyone had contending in the AFC (New England, Jacksonville, Indianapolis, and San Diego) have a combined record of 9-9, with the win number inflated by NE's 3-1 start sans Tom Brady (and without Brady that team has zero chance to win a Super Bowl). Meanwhile, the supposedly "good" teams like Buffalo got destroyed by the friggin Cardinals. The Titans should be 4-1, and their defensive captain is fighting with his DBs during a game. Seattle looks atrocious. Dallas has no defense. And, the Packers have lost 3 straight games; the most recent loss at home to the Falcons. Yes, the Falcons.

Does this make any sense to you? I thought not.

With the way the first quarter of the season has started, I am the happiest fan of a 2-2 team I can be. 2-2 feels like 4-0 right now for me. This season is out of control. No one looks good, save the World Champs. They are the only complete team right now, and they are dominating people without their key players, like Plaxico Burress (who is a dumbass) or Osi Umenyiora (who is out for the year).

Back to the Colts, I hope you all can appreciate just how special yesterday's win was. From Advanced NFL State.com (via a shake n bake story):

The Colts win probability before the Rosenfels fumble was .03, 3%. 3 out a 100 times will a team win in that situation. Amazing.
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Special players make special plays on special days. As easy as it is to lay the blame at Sage Rosenfels feet, the facts are that Marlin Jackson, Robert Mathis, Melvin Bullitt, Eric Foster, Reggie Wayne, and Peyton Manning all had to make special plays to create the turnovers and TDs late in the game to win. Wayne's catch is one of the greatest of his brilliant career. Manning's TD to Tom Santi on 4th and 7 was as gutty and ballsy as it gets. Mathis stripping Rosenfel's arm of the ball is why he is one of the most under-rated DEs in football. And all Gary Brackett does is make special plays.

Yes, there are problems. Allowing 156 yards on 32 carries (4.9 average) is bad. Prior to Rosenfels' meltdown, he was carving up the Colts secondary. Peyton is having trouble hitting the deep ball. Marvin and Reggie were KILLING Houston's secondary all game, but Peyton couldn't get it there. On one play, he and Marvin got into a heated discussion, but the fault wasn't Marvin's. He was open all game, and Peyton isn't able to get the ball to him.

We can focus on all these negative things, but the bottom line is our team gutted out yet another cardiac win. That should tell you something about their character. In this season of uncertainty, this team is as resolute as it gets.

Go Colts!
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Source: Stampede Blue

44Thrilla · Oct 6, 2008

Colts should be 0-4 right now.

huevonkiller · Oct 6, 2008

44Thrilla said: ↑

Colts should be 0-4 right now.
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In your dreams hater! *cue Kobe Bryant hating commercial*

Colts should be 3-1... :[

Vintage · Oct 6, 2008

Colts got very lucky against Houston. Doubt huevon argues otherwise.

But they won. And thats really all that matters.

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Colts come back from 17 down.

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