Colts clip Ravens' wings

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By Bryan Ault, January 17, 2010

 “We didn’t play well enough to win,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said. “We didn’t play hard enough to win. They fought. They fought all year and they fought today.”

 

The Indianapolis defense certainly fought. They held Ravens running back Ray Rice—

who rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns last week against the New England Patriots –to 67 yards on 13 carries. They forced two interceptions and a sack on Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, and forced a fumble against Rice.

 

“They played good defense,” Harbaugh said. “They played exactly what they’ve always played, and they just played it very well.”

 

“The defense did a tremendous job,” Colts head coach Jim Caldwell said. “They played hard and tackled well. Anytime you hold that offense—with the way they run the ball, as well as they run the ball— and hold Ray Rice under 100 yards is tremendous.”

 

Even members of the Indianapolis offense played defense. Late in the third period, Ravens safety Ed Reed intercepted a pass by Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. During Reed’s return, Manning’s intended target—wide receiver Pierre Garcon—stripped the ball out of Reed’s hands. Colts tight end Dallas Clark recovered the ball.

 

“It was a great play by Garcon forcing the turnover,” Manning said. “It was a huge play. The interception shouldn’t have happened, but it was a great job by Pierre for getting the ball back for us.”

 

“It was a great play by Garcon,” Harbaugh said. “That hurt us. It’s like any carry out in the open. You have to put that ball away.”

 

The Colts capped off their good fortune with a 33-yard field goal by kicker Matt Stover, which gave the Colts an insurmountable 20-3 lead.

 

The only two touchdowns of the game came with three minutes to go in the first half, both by the Colts. Manning’s 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Austin Collie capped off an eight-minute drive.

 

Taking over with two minutes remaining in the half, Flacco threw two incompletions after an Indianapolis timeout, leaving ample time for a hungry Manning. 

 

With 1:23 remaining in the half, four completions by Manning and two pass interference penalties against Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis and cornerback Dominique Foxworth advanced the ball to the 14-yard line. Three plays later, Manning’s three-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Reggie Wayne gave Indianapolis a 17-3 lead heading into halftime.

 

“Just before the half, those two scores were key,” Caldwell said. “If we don’t get those two scores, it’s a different ball game. We were then able to keep them at bay.” 

 

Manning finished the night 30/44 for 246 yards and two touchdowns.

 

The Colts will host the AFC Championship Game for the second time in four years, and will play the winner of today’s divisional round game between the New York Jets and San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.