Week 4 Game Recap: Indianapolis Colts 31, New York Jets 28

What you need to know

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts scored last to win this game after a see-saw fourth quarter that saw five lead changes. Peyton Manning led the Colts on three scoring drives in the quarter. The final march was a nine play 61 yard touchdown drive that gave Indianapolis the lead with just 50 seconds to play. Manning engineered the winning drive in 90 seconds with no timeouts, capping it off with a one yard sneak after a 15 yard pass to Reggie Wayne got the ball to the New York one yard line.

The Jets penetrated the Indianapolis’ 30 yard line on a wild play that featured eight laterals and six New York players handling the ball. The play was reminiscent of the famous concluding play of the 1982 California versus Stanford game, and for a while it appeared that the Jets might have a chance to score. However, when Leon Washington was unable to handle Nick Mangold’s final lateral, Jason Davis pounced on the ball an ended the game.

In addition to the zany last play, the Colts overcame a whopping 20 penalties and a 103 yard kickoff return by Justin Miller that gave New York a four point lead with 2:20 to play.

Peyton Manning completed 70 percent of his passes for 210 yards and one touchdown. The touchdown pass was the 250th of Manning’s career. Manning reached the plateau in 132 games, second fastest in NFL history behind only Dan Marino, who reached the mark in his 128th game.

Marvin Harrison also reached a milestone early in the second half, when he caught a fourteen yard pass. The catch was the 952nd in his career and moved him past Andre Reed into fourth place on the all time reception list. Harrison finished the game with seven catches for 79 yards.

The Colts nearly doubled their season output on the ground with 160 rushing yards. (They had been averaging 81 yards per game.) Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes split carries nearly evenly. Addai ran for 84 yards, while Rhodes added 75. Both scored touchdowns.

New York Jets

As has been the case all season, New York started slowly and struggled in the first quarter. The Jets managed only two first downs in four first quarter possessions. They have not scored in the opening quarter in any game this season. To make matters worse, Robert Mathis beat rookie tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson on the second play of the game. Mathis’ sack forced a Chad Pennington fumble. Josh Thomas recovered it at the New York 26 and four plays later the Colts led 7-0.

After giving up the short touchdown drive, the Jets’ defense hung tough and allowed only 29 yards in Indianapolis’ next three possessions. New York’s offense came to life on its fifth drive with a five play 65 yard march that was culminated with Jerricho Cotchery’s 33 yard touchdown reception tying the game at seven.

The Jets took advantage of the momentum when Mike Nugent executed a perfect onside kick that was recovered by Kerry Rhodes at the New York 43 yard line. Chad Pennington led an 11 play drive that was finished with a one yard touchdown run by Kevan Barlow. Leon Washington converted a key fourth and one play on a pitch from Brad Smith, who lined up at quarterback on the play. Washington gained three, but had to make a razor sharp cut to avoid being tackled for a loss.

The Colts responded with an 85 yard touchdown drive of their own to even the game at 14. The game would remain knotted until the final quarter, which contained five lead changes. New York had to be smelling a big upset after Justin Miller’s 103 yard kickoff return for a touchdown gave them a four point lead with 2:20 to play. However, Peyton Manning calmly led the Indianapolis offense down the field, for the winning score with 50 seconds left.

New York’s last gasp came up short after a wild final play (that featured eight laterals and six different Jets handling the ball) crossed deep into Indianapolis territory, but ended when Leon Washington failed to handle Nick Mangold’s pitch and the Colts fell on the ball. To make matters worse, Laveranues Coles was injured on the play. Coles appeared to injure a shoulder and was in obvious pain.

Jets’ fans have to be wondering what might have been. After marching on a 15 play 77 yard drive to in the third quarter, Eric Mangini elected to try to convert a fourth and goal from the Colts’ two yard line. However, the 16th play ended badly for New York. Chad Pennington was pressured and had to try to force a pass to James Dearth, who was double covered. The pass was intercepted by Rocky Boiman. The interception ended Pennington’s remarkable streak of 119 pass attempts without an interception in the red zone. During the streak, he completed 44 touchdown passes. If the Jets had kicked the field goal, Indianapolis’ winning touchdown would have instead tied the game and the outcome likely would have been determined in overtime.

New York entered the contest struggling in the running game. The Jets were ranked 27th in rushing yards per game, 31st in yards per carry, last in runs of ten or more yards, and tied 28th in rushing first downs. The Jets nearly doubled their rushing output with 135 yards on the ground and averaged 3.6 yards per attempt, a full yard per carry above their season average. Cedric Houston was the Jets’ leading rusher with 49 yards on 12 carries, but was carted off the field with a knee injury. Kevan Barlow started the game at tailback and contributed two rushing touchdowns, but gained only 35 yards on 13 attempts. Leon Washington chipped in with 33 yards on nine carries. The backfield situation is starting to resemble a running back by committee approach. It will remain to be seen, how the injury to Houston affects the mix in the future.

What you ought to know

QB Peyton Manning, Pass: 21 - 30 - 217 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - 1 - 1

Manning completed 70 percent of his 30 passes for 210 yards and one touchdown (to Bryan Fletcher). Manning did not throw quite as often as normal, because the Colts were effective on the ground. However, he did a good job of managing the game. Manning led the Colts on the game winning touchdown drive in 90 seconds with no timeouts. His one yard touchdown sneak came on a quick snap, and seemed to catch the Jet defense off guard. He also caught the Jets off guard with a quick snap earlier in the game on Joseph Addai’s two yard touchdown run.

Manning was 11 for 14 for 96 yards and one touchdown in the fourth quarter.

RB Joseph Addai, Rush: 20 - 84 - 1, Rec: 3 - 15 - 0 (4 targets)

Addai led the Colts with 20 carries and 84 yards. His two yard run was the first rushing touchdown of his career. Addai received all of the carries on Indianapolis’ final two touchdown drives. He lost a 15 yard first quarter run to a holding penalty.

Addai added three receptions for 15 yards.

RB Dominic Rhodes, Rush: 15 - 75 - 1

Rhodes averaged five yards on his 15 carries and had a six yard touchdown run for the Colts’ first score. The 75 yards represent his season high so far. Rhodes had the carries on the final four plays of the Colts’ field goal drive early in the fourth quarter. He gained 16 and six yards to get to the Jets’ one yard line on the first two runs. He was stopped twice at the one yard line, however. Rhodes did not get any attempts on Indianapolis’ final two drives.

WR Marvin Harrison, Rec: 7 - 79 - 0 (8 targets)

Harrison caught seven of the eight passes thrown his way. In doing so, he passed Andre Reed and is in fourth place on the NFL’s all time reception list. Harrison made a couple of key catches tiptoeing along the sideline during the Indianapolis’ 17 point fourth quarter. He was targeted in the end zone on the one pass he did not catch. The pass went of his fingertips at the back of the end zone, but it would have been difficult for him to catch it and stay in bounds.

WR Reggie Wayne, Rec: 4 - 74 - 0 (9 targets)

Wayne was targeted a team high nine times and had four catches for 74 yards. His 41 yard reception was a key play on the Colts’ second touchdown drive. Wayne was stopped at the one yard line after a 15 yard reception that set up Peyton Manning’s game winning one yard touchdown run. He was also targeted deep on consecutive plays from the New York 30 yard line. A pass interference penalty on the second play set up Peyton Manning’s two yard touchdown pass to Bryan Fletcher.

WR Brandon Stokley

Stokley missed the game with an ankle injury.

TE Bryan Fletcher, Rec: 3 - 19 - 1 (3 targets)

Fletcher caught all three passes thrown to him. His first reception was a two yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone. Fletcher caught his other two passes on consecutive plays during the Colts’ winning touchdown drive. Both receptions resulted in first downs.

TE Dallas Clark, Rec: 2 - 14 - 0 (4 targets)

Clark had two receptions for 14 yards. He was unable to corral a low Peyton Manning throw that would have resulted in nice gain.

TE Ben Utecht, Rec: 2 - 16 - 0 (3 targets)

Utecht caught two of the three balls thrown his way. The third target was a high pass across the middle, Utecht was able to get his fingertips on the pass, but couldn’t bring it in. He was injured after a seven yard reception late in the third quarter. On the play, Andre Dyson’s helmet hit him in the lower back. Utecht suffered a bruise on the play and did not return.

PK Martin Gramatica 1 - 1 FG, 4 - 4 XP, 7 points

Gramatica hit all four of his extra point attempts. He added a short 20 yard field goal. The kick was his first NFL field goal in nearly two years. Gramatica’s kickoffs were consistently short and low and set the Jets up with good field position. Ironically, his deepest kick of the day was returned 103 yards for a touchdown, by Justin Miller.

IND Rush Defense

The Colts’ rush defense held the Jets to 3.6 yards per attempt. However New York’s 135 yards rushing yards was nearly double their 72 yards per game on the season. The Indianapolis defense held New York out of the end zone during a key third quarter stand. However, Kevan Barlow was able to rush for two touchdowns. Barlow broke two tackles on his five yard touchdown run. Gary Brackett and Cato June each had nine solo tackles and four assists.

IND Pass Defense

Chad Pennington completed 74 percent of his passes for 207 yards and one touchdown. Robert Mathis had two sacks. The first sack forced a Chad Pennington fumble that set up the Colts’ first touchdown. Montae Reagor also added a sack. Rocky Boiman intercepted Chad Pennington’s desperate fourth down pass in the end zone during the third quarter. The interception set Indianapolis up at their own 20 yard line, rather than at the Colts’ two yard line.

QB Chad Pennington, Pass: 17 - 23 - 207 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - 5 - 0

Pennington completed 74 percent of his passes fro 207 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The Jets had more success than usual running the ball. As a result, Pennington’s 23 attempts represent a season low. Nevertheless, Pennington was sharp throughout the game and completed passes to eight different receivers. His touchdown was a 33 yard pass to Jerricho Cotchery.

Pennington’s remarkable run of red zone passes without an interception ended when his 120th such pass was picked off in the end zone by Rocky Boiman. On the fourth down play, Pennington was under heavy pressure and had to loft a desperate attempt to a double covered James Dearth. Prior to the play Pennington had tossed 44 touchdown passes without an interception in the red zone.

Pennington did a nice job of making plays that don’t show up in the box score; three times, he drew Colt defenders offside with hard counts. He also rushed the Jets to the line of scrimmage at times, once forcing Indianapolis to burn a timeout. And, he performed a masterful play action fake that fooled most of the Indianapolis defense and the cameraman as well.

Pennington had one scramble for five yards and a first down.

RB Kevan Barlow, Rush: 13 - 35 - 2

Barlow has been Jets’ starting tailback for the past three games, but has been sharing carries with the other runners. Barlow led the Jets in attempt with 13 in this game, but gained only 35 yards. He did, however get two rushing touchdowns and now has four on the season. He was hit at the line of scrimmage on his second touchdown run, but shook off the tackle and plowed into the end zone from five yards out.

RB Cedric Houston, Rush: 12 - 49 - 0, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (1 targets)

Houston led the Jets in rushing yardage in this game with 49 yards on 12 attempts. He was New York’s most effective rusher, but left the game with a left knee injury. Houston was unable to put any weight on the leg and was carted to the locker room. Before the injury, Houston was running with power through the Indianapolis defense. His rush for 13 yards is the longest rush for the Jets this season.

Houston also contributed one five yard reception.

RB Leon Washington, Rush: 9 - 33 - 0, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (1 targets)

After a very productive game, last week, Washington was given a special package of plays for this week’s game. He carried the ball nine times for 33 yards and converted a key fourth down and one play with a three yard run, after he made a Colts’ defender miss him completely in the backfield.

Washington was credited with an eight yard reception on the final play of the game. On the play, Pennington hit him with a short crossing route. Washington then pitched the ball to Brad Smith. After seven additional laterals, the play finally ended when Washington was unable to handle a pitch from center Nick Mangold.

Washington made a costly mistake on the Colts’ final kickoff return. Martin Gramatica squibbed the ball. Instead of letting momentum carry the ball into the end zone, Washington picked it up at the goal line and was forced to try a return. By that time, the coverage team had swarmed downfield and tackled Washington at the two yard line, leaving the Jets 98 yards away from the end zone with only 47 seconds to play.

RB B.J. Askew, Rush: 1 - 5 - 0

Askew ran once in the game and converted a first down with a five yard gain.

RB Derrick Blaylock

After getting significant playing time in the first two games, Blaylock has been inactive in the past two weeks.

WR Laveranues Coles, Rec: 6 - 81 - 0 (12 targets)

Coles was targeted a game leading 12 times (44 percent of the Jets’ passes). Coles’ six catches resulted in a game leading 81 receiving yards. His long reception was good for 19 yards. Coles now has 30 receptions for 412 yards on the season. However, Coles was in obvious pain with an apparent shoulder injury on the game’s final play.

Coles lost a 16 yard reception to a penalty.

WR Jerricho Cotchery, Rec: 3 - 65 - 1 (5 targets)

Cotchery had three grabs for 65 yards, including a 33 yard touchdown reception. On the play, Chad Pennington found Cotchery in the middle of the field. Cotchery ran for the corner of the end zone and made it to paydirt after a nice stiff-arm flattened Antoine Bethea, who was the only Colts’ defender with a chance.

Cotchery was the target of a Pennington pass near the goal line and received a pass interference call that set up a one yard Kevan Barlow touchdown plunge.

WR Tim Dwight, Rec: 3 - 31 - 0 (3 targets)

Dwight had receptions on all three of his targets. His catches went for 15, seven, and nine yards. The first two converted third downs on two Jet touchdown drives. Dwight also returned one punt for 12 yards.

WR Brad Smith, Rush: 1 - 8 - 0, Rec: 1 - -4 - 0 (1 targets)

Smith lined up under center for two different plays. He gained eight yards on a sweep the first time. On the other occasion, he pitched a ball to Leon Washington, who converted a first down with a nice cut.

Smith caught one screen pass for a short loss, when Dwight Freeney quickly diagnosed the play, aborted his pass rush, and nearly intercepted the football.

WR Justin McCareins

McCareins was not targeted for the second game in a row.

TE Chris Baker, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (1 targets)

Baker caught one six yard pass in the game. He also returned a short kickoff for 11 yards.

TE Sean Ryan, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (1 targets)

Ryan caught one six yard pass in the game.

TE James Dearth (1 targets)

Dearth was targeted on a play action fake during the Jets’ ill-fated fourth and goal play in the third quarter. The Indianapolis defense was not fooled and Rocky Boiman, who was one of two Colts’ defenders sticking to Dearth, picked the pass off.

PK Mike Nugent 0 - 0 FG, 4 - 4 XP, 4 points

Nugent converted all four extra point tries, including one that was equivalent to a 30 yard field goal, after a holding penalty. He did not have a field goal attempt for the second consecutive game.

NYJ Rush Defense

The Jets’ run defense allowed the Colts to run for 160 yards, which was two yards short of doubling their season average. Indianapolis ran for 4.4 yards per attempt with three rushing touchdowns. Peyton Manning seemed to catch the Jets off guard two times by going to the no huddle and calling quick plays that ended with touchdown runs by Joseph Addai and Manning himself. Eric Barton had eight solo tackles and three assists. Jonathan Vilma added six solo tackles with five assists.

NYJ Pass Defense

The Jets’ pass defense held Peyton Manning below his season passing yard average. However, Manning threw fewer passes than normal due to the Colts’ success on the ground. Shaun Ellis had five tackles and two huge sacks that resulted in 25 lost yards. Former Clemson star, Justin Miller had nine solo tackles and returned a kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown. He was however, called for a questionable pass interference call on Reggie Wayne that led to a Colts’ touchdown.