Click here for final game stats from AOL Sports.You've never seen two field goal kickers quite as dreadful as Adam Vinatieri and Dave Rayner were today.
The Colts' once-clutch kicker booted it wide from 49 yards and 38 yards in the first half, while Rayner missed from 43 and 45 for the Kansas City Chiefs. They both managed to make at least one in the 1st half, though, resulting in a 3-3 tie at halftime.
You would think Peyton Manning could have managed more than that against the Chiefs' defense, but they came in Indianapolis ready to hit someone in the mouth. They seemed to dominate the line of scrimmage throughout the game, sacking and frustrating Manning all day. By contrast, Brodie Croyle, Kansas City's young QB, seemed to have plenty of time to throw -- perhaps a sign that the Colts have yet to adjust to the loss of Dwight Freeney.
Even without much time to throw, though, Manning let Joseph Addai take the Colts on a touchdown drive early in the 3rd quarter, giving Indianapolis a 10-3 lead. Croyle answered, however, with a touchdown pass to Dwayne Bowe, who tiptoed the end zone sideline to even the score. That's when the chess match really began.
With 6:59 left, Manning took the Colts on a drive that moved quickly into Chiefs territory, then slowed down as they got into field goal range -- presumably. With three minutes to go, the Colts offense stayed in bounds and forced the Chiefs to use all their time outs. Then Manning converted a 4th & 1 on sneak from the Chiefs' 3 yard line with 2:00 left.
Tony Dungy then did something interested. He called for the Colts to take a knee three times near the goal line, setting up Vinatieri for a chip shot field goal with four seconds left. That one, he made, giving the Colts a 13-10 lead.
For whatever reason, though, it wasn't the ball game. The clock never started on the field goal, and the Colts had to kick the ball off with three seconds left. Things appeared to get worse when Vinatieri kicked the ball out of bounds, giving the Chiefs the ball at their 40. Alas, the improbably multi-lateral finale never materialized, and the Colts came away with a tough win that probably shouldn't have been this close.
Under pressure all day, Manning completed only 16 of 32 for 163 yards, no touchdowns and one pick. Addai finished with 106 total yards and a touchdown. Croyle completed 19 of 27 for 169 yards and a touchdown, and if he has that much time to throw in the future, he'll get the chance to win some games. Just not today. A win is a win for the hobbling Colts right now, who go to 8-2 and remain in the driver's seat for the AFC South title. They'll need a better effort than that, though, if they want get back to the Super Bowl.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-18-2007 @ 7:00PM
nickstoli said...
He's slumping, sure, but come on, considering all the clutch kicks he's made, at least wait for him to lose a playoff game before you dump on him.
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11-18-2007 @ 7:42PM
Dan said...
It's also possible Vinatieri is simply having a bad season among a crapload of very good ones. If he's still missing chip shots in 2008, then we got us a problem.
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11-18-2007 @ 9:12PM
MJ said...
The real reason the Colts won and the Chiefs lost?
The K.C. coaching staff was so afraid that their young quarterback might make a mistake and lose the game they decided to not give him the chance and lose the game all on their own.
Run Priest Holmes into the back of our horrid O-line EVERY first down and run a draw play on EVERY 3rd and long. Never trusted Croyle to get the first down for them.
Croyle can throw the ball 75 yards, but instead of throwing up a Hail Mary in the last seconds, they try the chain lateral thing. Honestly, is the success ratio on that any higher than throwing up a jump ball in the end zone?
Croyle played very well. He was very efficient, thew the ball very accurately, and made good decisions. He fumbled the ball once on a sack where his tackle gave up his blocking, but threw NO INTERCEPTIONS. I know it was his first start, but the coaches need to give him a chance to make plays and live or die with them.
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11-18-2007 @ 11:06PM
George B Vieto said...
The Colts could not play Superman football on defense for the whole season due to the fact that injuries to their key players and the fact that every team wants to beat the Colts after they won the Super Bowl last year. The Colts will just have to play with the cards they dealt with and win ugly.
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11-19-2007 @ 7:56AM
drysdale53 said...
well the colts are not a very good team right now manning is frustrated and the offense is not efficient at all. when reggie wayne and dalls clark are missing easy catches you know theres something wrong plus manning is not on the same page as moorehead and fletcher!!! the colts defense is still playing really well without freeney, but freeney is a master of causing turnovers and the colts wont get as much of them without him so that will hurt them in big games. Hopefully the colts figure it out before the playoffs and get healthy, i dont want to see the patriots run over everybody in the playoffs!!! GO COLTS
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11-19-2007 @ 7:59AM
Dave said...
drysdale53: The counter to that is that the Colts' defense still managed to force some turnovers without Freeney. Granted, it was against the Chiefs, but do they win that game without them?
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11-19-2007 @ 8:23AM
Leo Martin said...
Peyton isn't so sharp witout all of his planets in just the right allignment...IS HE?
Brady for the past 5 seasons has done it with little to NO recieving corps. Granted the Pats have always prided themselves on defense. It's dicipline that's the difference here and coaching. Dungy dosen't utilize his palyers in different positions in the event of injury, THERFORE when shifts need to be made...ying dosen't know what yang is doing.
As far as the Pats not running over the league to get to ther SB. It's destiny. They will break a record for breaking records.
I would personally like to thank MANGINA, CBS and the media for pissing the Patriots off!
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11-19-2007 @ 8:24AM
Leo Martin said...
Awfully quiet in the Ponies stable today.....
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11-19-2007 @ 10:40AM
nikkicookers said...
Fact: Great field goal kickers are the most under-rated players in the game. Think of how many games come down to a difference in field goal kicking? They don't make as much money as they should.
nikki
nikkicookers@aol.com
http://www.fitconnect.com
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11-19-2007 @ 10:11PM
Patrick said...
MJ is absolutely right. Herm Edwards needs to grow up and try to start winning games rather then making mistakes. Why run a draw on 3rd and 18 and allow Manning and the Colts offense back on the field?
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11-20-2007 @ 4:43PM
Dave said...
MJ: Maybe that's because every time they trusted Croyle in the preseason, he threw it to the other team. There's a reason Damon Huard had been starting most of the year.
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