The Indianapolis Colts overcame a poor game from Peyton Manning and got an outstanding effort from their defense as they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 23-8, in the AFC Wild Card Round.
The Chiefs could not get anything offensively right from the start, as their normally explosive running game was non-existent against Indianapolis' normally horrible run defense. Kansas City ranked 9th in the NFL this season in rushing; the Colts' rushing defense ranked last, allowing 173 yards per game, the most since the 1987 Atlanta Falcons. They were also the first team since 1984 to allow over 100 yards rushing in every single regular season game. However, the Colts completely reversed their fortunes Saturday night, holding halfback Larry Johnson to just 32 yards on 13 carries, a minute 2.5 average.
Not only could the Chiefs get nothing on the ground, but they couldn't get anything through the air, either. Trent Green completed 14-of-24 passes for only 107 yards. He threw a touchdown pass, but also threw two interceptions, both coming in the fourth quarter.
The Colts' passing game wasn't exactly stellar, either. Manning, known for his playoff failures, threw three interceptions, two to Ty Law, and only one touchdown. However, Joseph Addai and the Indianapolis ground game more than made up for Manning's misfortunes, as Addai rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown off of 25 carries. Dominic Rhodes totaled 68 yards off of 13 attempts.
The Colts did not score a touchdown until the 11:10 mark of the third quarter, when Addai punched it in the end-zone on a six-yard carry. They had three promising drives in the first half, each resulting in field goals by Adam Vinatieri, one being a 50-yarder.
Lawrence Tynes missed a 23-yard field goal for the Chiefs in the second quarter as Kansas City went into halftime without a point, down 9-0.
Trailing 16-0 late in the third, the Chiefs' offense finally showed some signs of life. Green led Kansas City down the field on an eight-play, 60-yard drive by going 6-for-6 with 55 yards and a six-yard touchdown pass to Tony Gonzalez. Kansas City was then successful on a two-point conversion, as Green completed a pass to Kris Wilson in the end-zone, cutting Indianapolis' lead to eight going into the fourth quarter, 16-8.
However, Manning finally came alive on the Colts' next drive, capping a nine-play, 71-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne. Green then threw two interceptions in the final period. Indianapolis sealed the game when Josh Thomas recovered a fumble forced by Robert Mathis when he sacked Green with 4:00 to play in the fourth. Green was dropped three times on that drive, and then threw an interception to Antoine Bethea with 1:31 to play.
The Indianapolis defense was the story of this game, allowing only 126 total yards. They also held the Kansas City offense to a 2.8-yard average per play.
The Colts will be in Baltimore to play the Ravens next week in the Divisional Round.
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