Tuesday, January 09, 2007
NFL Playoffs: COLTS BEAT CHIEFS TO PROGRESS
Rookie Joseph Addai and a solid defensive performance helped the Indianapolis Colts register a 23-8 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Saturday's AFC wild-card game.
Entering the post-season most of the talk around the Colts centred on their porous run defense, which ranked last in the NFL after allowing 173 yards a game and a staggering 5.3 yards per carry.
However, the Colts (13-4) were able to restrict Kansas workhorse Larry Johnson while also having little trouble shutting down the rest of the Chiefs' sputtering offense.
Indianapolis limited Kansas City to 16 total yards on 18 plays in the first half and did not allow a first down until less than four minutes remained in the third quarter.
Johnson, who rushed for 1,789 yards on an NFL record 416 carries during the regular season, was limited to 32 yards on 13 attempts, while Kansas City rushed for just 44 yards.
Defensive end Dwight Freeney led the defensive charge for the Colts, registering a pair of sacks and forcing a fumble.
The Colts held a 435-126 advantage in total yards and gained 28 first downs to just seven for the Chiefs.
Addai had little trouble against the Chiefs' worn-out defense, rushing for 122 yards on 25 carries, while his six-yard touchdown run with 4:14 remaining in the third quarter gave the Colts a 16-0 lead.
Addai's running and three first-half field goals from kicker Adam Vinatieri helped the Colts overcome three interceptions by Payton Manning, who improved to just 4-6 in the post-season.
The Colts play-off journey will continue next weekend when they visit the second seeded Baltimore Ravens (13-3).
Kansas City's Trent Green completed 14-of-24 passes for just 107 yards and two interceptions.
Green found tight end Tony Gonzalez for a six-yard touchdown with eight seconds remaining in the third quarter and his two point conversion to Kris Wilson pulled the Chiefs within eight points.
However, Manning directed a nine-play, 71-yard drive, and capped it with a five-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne with 10:16 remaining, giving the Colts a 23-8 cushion.
The Chiefs needed two scores and went to a hurry-up offense, but Green was picked off in Colts territory by safety Bob Sanders.
Manning completed 30-of-38 passes for 268 yards, while tight end Dallas Clark had nine receptions for 103 yards.
Ty Law had two of the interceptions for the Chiefs (9-8), who were making their first play-off appearance since a 38-31 loss to the Colts in January 2004.
With the Chiefs trailing 6-0, Law's first pick and 43-yard return to the nine early in the second quarter looked like it would change momentum, but Lawrence Tynes hit the left upright with a 23-yard field goal.
The Colts had no such problem in the kicking game with Vinatieri, who was a part of three Super Bowl-winning teams with New England before signing with Indianapolis.
Vinatieri connected on field goals of 48, 19 and 50 yards in the first-half, which ended with the Colts holding a 9-0 lead.
In the first half, the Colts held the ball for more than 21 minutes and amassed 15 first downs but failed to get into the end zone.
Entering the post-season most of the talk around the Colts centred on their porous run defense, which ranked last in the NFL after allowing 173 yards a game and a staggering 5.3 yards per carry.
However, the Colts (13-4) were able to restrict Kansas workhorse Larry Johnson while also having little trouble shutting down the rest of the Chiefs' sputtering offense.
Indianapolis limited Kansas City to 16 total yards on 18 plays in the first half and did not allow a first down until less than four minutes remained in the third quarter.
Johnson, who rushed for 1,789 yards on an NFL record 416 carries during the regular season, was limited to 32 yards on 13 attempts, while Kansas City rushed for just 44 yards.
Defensive end Dwight Freeney led the defensive charge for the Colts, registering a pair of sacks and forcing a fumble.
The Colts held a 435-126 advantage in total yards and gained 28 first downs to just seven for the Chiefs.
Addai had little trouble against the Chiefs' worn-out defense, rushing for 122 yards on 25 carries, while his six-yard touchdown run with 4:14 remaining in the third quarter gave the Colts a 16-0 lead.
Addai's running and three first-half field goals from kicker Adam Vinatieri helped the Colts overcome three interceptions by Payton Manning, who improved to just 4-6 in the post-season.
The Colts play-off journey will continue next weekend when they visit the second seeded Baltimore Ravens (13-3).
Kansas City's Trent Green completed 14-of-24 passes for just 107 yards and two interceptions.
Green found tight end Tony Gonzalez for a six-yard touchdown with eight seconds remaining in the third quarter and his two point conversion to Kris Wilson pulled the Chiefs within eight points.
However, Manning directed a nine-play, 71-yard drive, and capped it with a five-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne with 10:16 remaining, giving the Colts a 23-8 cushion.
The Chiefs needed two scores and went to a hurry-up offense, but Green was picked off in Colts territory by safety Bob Sanders.
Manning completed 30-of-38 passes for 268 yards, while tight end Dallas Clark had nine receptions for 103 yards.
Ty Law had two of the interceptions for the Chiefs (9-8), who were making their first play-off appearance since a 38-31 loss to the Colts in January 2004.
With the Chiefs trailing 6-0, Law's first pick and 43-yard return to the nine early in the second quarter looked like it would change momentum, but Lawrence Tynes hit the left upright with a 23-yard field goal.
The Colts had no such problem in the kicking game with Vinatieri, who was a part of three Super Bowl-winning teams with New England before signing with Indianapolis.
Vinatieri connected on field goals of 48, 19 and 50 yards in the first-half, which ended with the Colts holding a 9-0 lead.
In the first half, the Colts held the ball for more than 21 minutes and amassed 15 first downs but failed to get into the end zone.
# posted by Eho @ 4:05 PM 
