It really came as no big surprise. Sure there were the usual complaints regarding officiating and play calling that come with a close loss, but in the end, the Indianapolis Colts were just about what they have been all year long, a team diminished by injuries with a ton of heart, but not a lot of talent.
So when the Jets kicked the winning field goal with time expiring in a 17-16 playoff tussle at Lucas Oil Stadium, I asked myself if this was a mercy killing or simply a fitting end to what I considered to be a sub par season?
After a scoreless first quarter that would put an insomniac to sleep, the Colts finally gave those who paid to get in something to smile about when Peyton Manning found Pierre Garcon for a 57-yard touchdown. When Colts cornerback Justin Tryon picked off Mark Sanchez near the goal line just before halftime, the Colts defense had pitched a shut out to that point and headed into the locker room with a 7-0 lead.
But New York would move the ball effectively in the third quarter on the ground and continued to move the chains until LaDainian Tomlinson scored their first points of the night on a one-yard touchdown run to knot the score at seven. The home team could only counter with a field goal and when Adam Vinatieri connected from 47 yards out the Colts looked to protect their 10-7 lead heading into the final stanza.
But with the exception of a few mid range pass completions, the Colts offense would basically take one step forward and two steps back for the remainder of the game, while the Jets stuck to the ground game, mixing in the occasional short range pass completion of their own, leading to Tomlinson’s second touchdown run of the day, and suddenly the Jets were in business with a 14-10 lead. The Colts would put together two additional drives in the quarter that resulted in field goals instead of touchdowns, and when Vinatieri split the uprights from 50 yards out with just 53 ticks left on the clock, the Colts appeared headed to the next round of the playoffs.
But the pathetic kickoff coverage the Colts have shown all season surfaced once again, allowing Antonio Cromartie to advance the ensuing kickoff 47 yards to give the Jets excellent field position. Sanchez played it cool as a cucumber on the final drive, completing three passes, including the dagger through the Colts heart; a 17-yard toss to a wide open Braylon Edwards which moved the ball to the Colts 14 to set up the game winner for Jets kicker Nick Folk, who calmly pushed the chip shot through as time expired.
Danny Bridges, who would like to thank Pamela Humphrey of the Colts public relations department for all the resources she provided this season, can be reached at (317) 578-1780 or at Bridgeshd@aol.com.
