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Week 19 Game Recap: Indianapolis Colts 15, Baltimore Ravens 6What you need to know
The Colts’ defense had another big game, and led the team to a win. The offense did not score a touchdown, but Adam Vinatieri managed to kick five field goals. Peyton Manning had another mediocre game, but was up against a defense that played very hard throughout the game. He only completed 50% of his passes, and threw two interceptions and no touchdowns. The Colts’ running game combined for 100 net rushing yards at an average of 2.9 yards per carry. Despite the low average, the running game was able to successfully run out the clock in the fourth quarter and give the Colts the win. Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison were unable to get open as much as they normally manage, and deep passes were a risky proposition against a tough defense. The Colts only had three plays in excess of 15 yards in the passing game. Adam Vinatieri tied the playoff record with five successful field goal attempts in a single game. He now has 34 postseason field goals in his career which is another NFL record.
The Ravens’ defense played well, and held the Colts to 15 points and zero touchdowns. Ed Reed had two interceptions, but the offense struggled and managed just six points in the loss. Steve McNair completed just four passes in excess of 15 yards, but he was intercepted twice and did not throw any touchdown passes. McNair also lost a fumble at the end of the game. Jamal Lewis looked good early in the game, but he only carried 13 times all day. The Ravens finished with 83 net rushing yards as the Colts played well on defense for the second consecutive week. Mark Clayton was responsible for most of the Ravens’ big plays. He caught passes of 19, 19 and 21 yards, and had a 48 yard gain negated by a penalty. Todd Heap was the only other Ravens’ player to have a reception for over 15 yards.
What you ought to know
Manning had another shaky playoff game, completing just 50% of his passes with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He did lead the team on five scoring drives, but they all resulted in field goals. Manning only completed three passes for gains in excess of 15 yards. Reggie Wayne saw most of the early targets as Manning challenged Samari Rolle rather than Chris McAlister. As the game progressed, Manning looked to get Marvin Harrison involved in the game, but two of his passes were intercepted by Ed Reed and both were throwing errors. One was intended for Harrison and the other was meant for Dallas Clark. Two or three other passes could have been intercepted, but the defenders dropped the ball on each occasion. Manning had the chance to throw a 51 yard touchdown pass to Aaron Moorehead at the end of the first half, but he threw the ball too close to the sideline and Moorehead caught the ball out of bounds after juggling the ball. Manning converted a huge third down play with a perfect pass to Dallas Clark to help seal the game late in the fourth quarter.
Addai started the game for the Colts and gave the team its opening first down with a two yard run. His first carry went for seven yards, but none of his remaining carries gained more than four yards. He fumbled on one occasion, but the Colts recovered. Addai was targeted four times in the passing game, and he caught all four balls. One three yard gain was negated by a penalty, but he had receptions of eight yards and 12 yards for his two biggest gains of the day.
Rhodes only had two carries in the first half for a total of three yards, and did not start the game. He had the Colts’ longest gain from scrimmage with a 25 yard run on their second possession of the second half. Rhodes was given the carries on the Colts’ final possession of the game, and he touched the ball 12 times during a drive that lasted over seven minutes. With the Ravens’ defense looking to strip the ball, Rhodes was able to retain possession and keep the chains moving. He gained two vital first downs on the drive and the Colts were able to run the clock down to 23 seconds before kicking a field goal to take a nine point lead.
Wayne was involved on the Colts’ first drive, making receptions of 19 yards and ten yards for first downs. He then had two short receptions and was later targeted deep but was unable to make the catch. Wayne appeared to have run the wrong route in the second half and it resulted in an incomplete pass. He made a diving catch on his next target, diving back towards Manning for a ball that was thrown too short. Manning looked for Wayne again towards the end of the drive, and Ed Reed dropped a possible interception after the ball was tipped by Ray Lewis.
Harrison lined up against Chris McAlister for most of the game, and was often double-teamed by Ed Reed. He converted a third and two with a seven yard reception on the Colts’ fifth possession, but his next target was almost intercepted by Chris McAlister. Manning went straight back to Harrison, finding him for gains of ten yards and 21 yards for two first downs. In the second half, Harrison caught the first pass thrown in his direction, gaining seven yards before fumbling the ball out of bounds. His second target of the half was thrown too deep by Manning, and Ed Reed intercepted the ball. Manning looked for Harrison on the following drive, but his errant pass was caught by Ed Reed out of bounds.
Moorehead was only targeted once in the game. It came at the end of the first half, when Manning threw deep. The ball was thrown close to the sidelines and Moorehead juggled the ball before catching it out of bounds. He was open on the play and a more accurate pass would have resulted in a 51 yard touchdown.
Clark saw five targets in the first half, but two were uncatchable. He failed to catch the other three, and one was intercepted by Ed Reed as Manning looked for Clark deep over the middle. Clark caught his first pass in the second half, and gained 27 yards for the Colts’ longest play of the day. He then dropped his next target after looking likely to make a first down. Clark was targeted once on the Colts’ final drive, and he made a vital diving catch on third and five. The resulting 14 yard gain enabled the Colts to keep the ball and continue to run out the clock.
Utecht was only targeted once in the game, making the catch for an 11 yard gain on third and 19. He also recovered a Joseph Addai fumble in the first half.
Vinatieri converted all five of his field goal attempts in the game. It tied the playoff record for a single game, and his 34 playoff field goals also set a new NFL record. He kicked field goals of 23, 42, 51, 48 and 35 yards. The 51 yard attempt hit the crossbar but just went through.
The Colts looked good on defense and were able to restrict the Ravens to 83 net rushing yards. Jamal Lewis had one 18 yard run, but was otherwise held in check. The Colts were quick to the tackle on the vast majority of plays.
The pass defense did well, creating four turnovers in the game. Nick Harper forced a Todd Heap fumble and the ball was recovered by Gary Brackett. Antoine Bethea intercepted a pass intended for Heap at the goal line and Harper had an interception in the second half on a pass intended for Demetrius Williams. Josh Thomas and Robert Mathis each had a sack, and Mathis stripped the ball from McNair late in the game before recovering the fumble. The Ravens only managed three completions of over 15 yards.
McNair did not have a good game. He only completed two significant passes in the first half. The first went to Mark Clayton for a 19 yard gain, but the drive stalled. The second was caught by Daniel Wilcox for a 15 yard gain to give the Ravens first and goal. Unfortunately for McNair, he tried to force a pass to Todd Heap in the end zone and the ball was intercepted at the goal line by Antoine Bethea. McNair had looked deep for Heap on the previous drive, but the ball sailed over his head and through the end zone. McNair improved a little in the second half. He found Clayton for another 19 yard gain on the opening drive, and then saw Clayton make a 48 yard reception before fumbling the ball away to the Colts. Luckily for the Ravens, the play was negated by a penalty. McNair then connected with Todd Heap for a 23 yard gain, and Jamal Lewis for 13 more yards to put the team in field goal range. On the following drive, Clayton was targeted deep for a gain of 21 yards. But later in the drive, McNair was intercepted by Nick Harper on a pass intended for Demetrius Williams. At the end of the game, McNair was stripped by Robert Mathis and he lost the resulting fumble to end the game.
Lewis carried the ball nine times in the first half, and broke one run for an 18 yard gain and a first down. He was given the ball twice inside the seven yard line, but he could get no closer than the four yard line. As the game started to slip away, Lewis saw less action. He only carried four times in the second half. He was involved in the passing game, catching three of his four targets for a total of 24 yards. His longest reception went for 13 yards to help set up a long field goal attempt.
Anderson carried four times for a total of 18 yards and two first downs. He caught one of his two targets for a six yard gain.
Mughelli carried the ball once in each half, gaining three yards for a first down on both carries. He caught all three passes thrown in his direction, but one reception was negated by a penalty.
Clayton proved to be the Ravens’ biggest threat in the passing game. He caught all three of his targets in the first half, including one for a 19 yard gain and a first down. He dropped his first target of the second half, but then had another 19 yard reception on a deep throw from McNair. Clayton was targeted deep on the following drive and made the catch for a 48 yard gain before fumbling away possession. The play was negated by a penalty. Clayton caught one more deep pass, gaining 21 yards on the play. He was much more involved than Derrick Mason, and ended the day with more targets than any other Ravens’ player.
Mason had a quiet game and did not see a single pass thrown in his direction during the first half. His first target of the game was uncatchable, and he was held to two catches for a total of 16 yards from his three targets.
Williams was only targeted once in the game but the ball was intercepted by Nick Harper.
Heap caught his first target for a three yard gain, but had the ball knocked loose by Nick Harper and the Colts recovered. McNair looked for Heap in the end zone two drives later, but the ball sailed over his head and was uncatchable. On the following drive, McNair looked for Heap again in the end zone, but Antoine Bethea intercepted the ball for the Colts. McNair went back to Heap on the very next drive, and Bob Sanders almost made another interception. Heap made a spectacular leaping catch in the second half for a 23 yard gain, but his only other target of the half fell incomplete.
Wilcox caught his only target of the first half, gaining 15 yards before being tackled at the Colts’ seven yard line. Wilcox made a catch for a five yard gain in the second half, but the play was negated by a penalty. His final target came on a ball that was thrown away by McNair and it was not catchable.
Stover converted both of his field goal attempts, and was good from 40 yards and 51 yards.
The Ravens’ run defense allowed a seven yard gain on the Colts’ first carry of the game, but stifled the ground game for the remainder of the half. But the second half was a different story as Dominic Rhodes managed a 25 yard gain on his first carry. As the game wore on, Rhodes was able to keep possession for the Colts. The Ravens were looking to strip the ball and create a turnover, but Rhodes gained two key first downs towards the end of the game. The defense allowed 100 net rushing yards on the day. Joseph Addai fumbled in the first half but the Ravens were unable to recover the ball.
Despite just one sack, the Ravens’ defense managed to pressure Peyton Manning and force errors. Ed Reed intercepted two Manning passes, and the defense could have had two or three more. But the Colts were able to generate five scoring drives, although none resulted in a touchdown.
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