Week 15 Game Recap: Cincinnati Bengals 16, Indianapolis Colts 34

What you need to know

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals matched the Colts for half of the game, but then fell behind and abandoned the run. RT Willie Anderson had to leave the game with an ankle injury.

Carson Palmer had a quiet night. He only attempted eight passes in the first half as the Bengals were able to run the ball and keep the score close. When the Colts started to pull away, Palmer’s game became a bit ragged. He completed 50% of his passes but did not throw a touchdown pass on the night, ending with 176 yards through the air.

Rudi Johnson began the game very well and was able to score on a 12 yard touchdown run. He gained 64 yards at just under five yards per carry in the first half as the Colts again struggled against the run. The game situation changed in the second half with the Colts getting a big lead, and Johnson was held to 15 further yards on nine carries.

Chad Johnson dropped two long passes which would have gained a total of around 50 yards. He also left the game for a while in the second half to receive fluids after suffering from cramping. T.J. Houshmandzadeh was held to 49 yards receiving as Palmer struggled to keep the Bengals in the game.

The Bengals’ defense was picked apart by Peyton Manning and he was close to perfect during the game. The pass defense was unable to prevent Manning from completing short passes underneath, and the run defense allowed over 100 yards.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts entered the game with problems on both offense and defense after recent performances, but many of those fears were eased after an impressive win.

Peyton Manning played an excellent game. He completed 29 of 36 passes for 282 yards and four touchdowns. He connected with Marvin Harrison for three scores while the other went to Reggie Wayne.

Dominic Rhodes had a heavier workload than usual due to an ankle injury suffered by Joseph Addai in the middle of the third quarter. Addai did not return to the game. One report stated that Addai could be done for the year with a high ankle sprain, but Tony Dungy said that Addai may be able to play next week as it is a less severe sprain. The Colts gained over 100 total net rushing yards but did not score on the ground.

Marvin Harrison had a huge night, catching three short touchdown passes. He hurt his fingers trying to make a catch later in the game and had to have three taped together. He was playing in obvious pain after that incident. Reggie Wayne had a quiet first half but caught an 18 yard touchdown pass in the second half to end the game with 84 receiving yards.

The Colts played well on defense for much of the game. After conceding 90 net rushing yards in the first half, the run defense allowed just 43 yards after the break. The pass defense was able to pressure Carson Palmer, sacking him four times and forcing four fumbles. Dwight Freeney was responsible for three sacks and three forced fumbles.

What you ought to know

QB Carson Palmer, Pass: 14 - 28 - 176 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - 11 - 0

Palmer was almost a spectator in the first half as the Bengals tried to run the ball against the Colts. He completed three of eight passes and gained 33 yards in the half. He should have completed a touchdown pass to Chris Henry, but his pass was dropped by Henry in the end zone. Dwight Freeney sacked Palmer on the Bengals’ opening drive, causing Palmer to lose a fumble. The Bengals fell behind in the second half and focused more on the passing game. Palmer’s longest completion came on a 46 yard screen pass to Kenny Watson. Palmer had to do without Chad Johnson for a time in the second half as Johnson returned to the locker room with cramps. As the game wore on, Palmer became more and more desperate and he seemed to be looking for big plays on every down. But at the end of the game, the Bengals seemed resigned to defeat and were content to move the ball with short passes and the running game. Palmer was sacked on two more occasions by Freeney, fumbling the ball both times, but the Bengals were able to recover them. Palmer came close to completing a touchdown pass to T.J. Houshmandzadeh, but the ball was knocked away by the defender.

RB Rudi Johnson, Rush: 22 - 79 - 1, Rec: 2 - 17 - 0 (2 targets)

Johnson began the game well. In the first half, Johnson had 11 positive gains from 13 carries. He did fumble early in the game, but Chad Johnson was able to recover for the team. On one carry he looked to have been stopped after a three yard gain, but he broke free and ran for 21 yards. Johnson cut through the Colts’ defense on the Bengals’ third possession and he was able to score a 12 yard touchdown. At that point, it appeared that Johnson would have a huge game as the Colts seemed incapable of stopping the run. But in the second half, Johnson found very little running room. He was held to 15 yards on nine carries after gaining 64 yards in the first half. He caught both his targets for a total of 17 yards. After the Bengals fell two scores behind, Johnson was benched in favor of Kenny Watson as the team focused more on the pass.

RB Kenny Watson, Rush: 4 - 30 - 0, Rec: 3 - 56 - 0 (8 targets)

Watson only had one carry for 13 yards in the first half, but he was used a lot more after the interval. He only had three second half carries, but was targeted eight times in the passing game. Watson was responsible for the Bengals’ longest play of the game, taking a screen pass for a 46 yard gain but his other two receptions were for short yardage.

RB Jeremi Johnson, Rush: 1 - 4 - 0, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (1 targets)

Johnson caught his only target for a six yard gain and had one carry for four yards.

WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Rec: 4 - 49 - 0 (6 targets)

Houshmandzadeh was not targeted at all in the first half. Carson Palmer got him involved on the Bengals’ first possession of the second half, connecting for a 24 yard gain. He was then targeted in the end zone, but the ball was knocked away by the defender. Houshmandzadeh caught three passes on the Bengals’ final drive of the game as the Colts allowed Palmer to complete short passes to keep the clock running.

WR Chad Johnson, Rush: 1 - 1 - 0, Rec: 3 - 37 - 0 (8 targets)

Johnson’s first contribution was to recover a Rudi Johnson fumble. He then appeared to catch a 21 yard pass over the middle, but he was winded on the play and the Bengals called a time out. The Colts used the time to challenge the play and it was ruled incomplete. On the very next play, Palmer fumbled away possession after being sacked. Palmer looked for Johnson twice on the next drive, finding him for gains of 16 yards and 11 yards. Johnson was also given the ball on a reverse, but he ran out of bounds after gaining one yard. In the second half, Johnson had to lead the field after suffering from cramping. He caught a pass on the opening drive of the half for a ten yard gain, but did not make another catch in the game. Johnson did return in the fourth quarter but he dropped a pass on what would have been a gain of around 30 yards.

WR Reggie McNeal, Rush: 1 - 8 - 0

McNeal carried the ball on one play, gaining eight yards to convert on third and seven.

WR Chris Henry (4 targets)

Henry was targeted four times in the game. He was open in the end zone on his first target, but he dropped a well-thrown pass. Palmer looked for him deep on two other plays, but Henry could not make either catch.

TE Reggie Kelly, Rec: 1 - 11 - 0 (1 targets)

Kelly caught his only target of the game for 11 yards.

PK Shayne Graham 3 - 3 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 10 points

Graham was perfect on the night, converting field goals from 27, 30 and 28 yards as well as an extra point try.

CIN Rush Defense

The Bengals shut down the Colts’ running game in the first half. Joseph Addai broke free in the second half for a 41 yard run, and Dominic Rhodes had runs of 13 yards and 16 yards as the Colts looked to kill the clock. The Bengals allowed 112 net rushing yards by the end of the game.

CIN Pass Defense

The Bengals were picked apart by a patient display from Peyton Manning. He was able to complete 29 of 36 passes as the Bengals tried to take away the big play. Marvin Harrison scored three touchdowns from passes inside the five yard line, while Reggie Wayne scored on an 18 yard reception. The Bengals only registered one sack during the game and could not force Manning into errors.

QB Peyton Manning, Pass: 29 - 36 - 282 - 4 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 2 - 10 - 0

Manning played an almost flawless game. He completed over 80% of his passes and was patient throughout the game. The Bengals tried to take away the chance for big plays, so Manning focused on the short passing game and took what the defense gave him. Only two of his completions went for 20 yards or more as he involved the running backs and threw completions to seven different players in the game. He even scrambled 12 yards to convert on third down. After the Colts’ first drive ended in a field goal, Manning found Marvin Harrison for a four yard touchdown on the next possession. Then on the following drive, Manning tried to run the ball in himself but was stopped for a loss. He responded by going straight back to Harrison for a three yard score. In the second half, Manning hooked up with Harrison for a 22 yard gain, his longest completion of the day. Manning found Harrison for their third score of the day on a well-thrown pass in the corner of the end zone for a one yard touchdown. On the following possession, Reggie Wayne was the recipient of an 18 yard pass that found him in the back of the end zone.

RB Dominic Rhodes, Rush: 19 - 52 - 0, Rec: 4 - 26 - 0 (6 targets)

Rhodes started the game and had a bigger workload than usual after Joseph Addai was injured early in the second half. He gained two first downs on the opening drive with a six yard run and a five yard reception. Rhodes took a short pass for a 20 yard gain, but it was reduced to three yards due to a holding penalty. He was held to eight rushing yards on his four first half carries. Rhodes fared better in the second half. He was given the ball at the six yard line and took it to the one before he was tackled. As the Colts tried to run out the clock and with Joseph Addai out of the game, Rhodes saw a lot of touches. He had runs of 13 yards and 16 yards near the end of the game and finished with 78 yards from scrimmage.

RB Joseph Addai, Rush: 8 - 50 - 0, Rec: 2 - 29 - 0 (3 targets)

Addai entered the game during the Colts’ first drive, but he was held to four yards on five first half carries. He had three first downs during the Colts’ second possession, with receptions of 15 yards and 14 yards over the middle, and a four yard run. Addai was given the ball on fourth and one on the opening drive of the second half, but he was stopped short. He broke outside on the second possession of the half and was able to gain 41 yards before being tackled at the six yard line, but he turned his ankle on the play and left the game. Although his return was probable, he remained out for the rest of the game and had his foot iced. After the game, one report suggested that he had a high ankle sprain. Tony Dungy denied that in his press conference and was hopeful that Addai would be ready for the next game.

WR Marvin Harrison, Rec: 8 - 86 - 3 (10 targets)

Harrison had a big night. He drew a pass interference call on his first target before making catches for 11 yards and a first down, and a four yard touchdown on the Colts’ second possession. Harrison almost scored again on the following drive, taking a 19 yard reception to the one yard line. After Manning failed to run the ball in from the one, Harrison was targeted for a three yard score. He opened the second half with a 22 yard catch but the drive stalled. Manning went back to him on the next possession for a 17 yard gain and then found him in the corner of the end zone for a one yard touchdown. Harrison was the target on third down on the next drive, but the ball went through his hands. He hurt his hand on the play and had to have three fingers taped together. He returned to the game and made a nine yard reception, but he used his body to cradle the ball rather than reaching for it with his injured hand. He was in obvious pain after he returned. Harrison went over 80 receptions for the season during the game. It was the eighth straight year he has reached the mark, matching the record set by Jerry Rice.

WR Reggie Wayne, Rec: 7 - 84 - 1 (9 targets)

Wayne had a quiet first half, catching passes of nine yards and seven yards from his two targets. But he was the most targeted receiver in the second half. On the Colts’ third drive of the second half, he caught a 15 yard pass for a first down. Manning then found him deep in the end zone for an 18 yard touchdown. Wayne had a 20 yard catch later in the game to help set up a field goal try.

WR Aaron Moorehead, Rec: 3 - 15 - 0 (3 targets)

Moorehead had three short receptions from his three targets. Two were for first downs.

WR Ricky Proehl, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (2 targets)

Proehl caught Manning’s first pass of the game for a seven yard gain. He was only targeted once more, but was unable to adjust to a ball thrown slightly behind him. Proehl also gained the team a first down after he was held by a defender.

TE Ben Utecht, Rec: 4 - 35 - 0 (4 targets)

All of Utecht’s targets came in the first half. He caught all four for a total of 35 yards and two first downs.

PK Adam Vinatieri 2 - 2 FG, 4 - 4 XP, 10 points

Vinatieri opened the scoring with a 30 yard field goal, and converted late in the game from 44 yards. He was perfect on the night and made four extra point tries. Vinatieri has not missed any kicks at home since joining the team.

IND Rush Defense

The Colts looked weak against the run during the early stages of the game. Rudi Johnson broke a 21 yard run after he should have been stopped for a short gain, and he scored on a 12 yard run later in the first half. The Colts allowed 90 net rushing yards by the half. After the break, the defense tightened up considerable and only gave up 43 more yards.

IND Pass Defense

With safeties Antoine Bethea and Bob Sanders inactive, the Colts had to plug holes in their secondary. Despite the injuries, the team did a good job against the pass. Carson Palmer did not throw any touchdown passes in the game. Dwight Freeney was able to get to Palmer on several occasions and he recorded three sacks and forced three fumbles. The Colts recovered one of the fumbles courtesy of Anthony McFarland. At the end of the first half, Raheem Brock also sacked Palmer and forced a fumble to prevent him taking a deep shot to the end zone as time expired.