Week Sixteen Quick Recap: Colts 31, Raiders 26 (aka, RUN Peyton! Run!)

by Brad Wells on Dec 26, 2010 7:25 PM EST in 2010 Colts Game Recaps

OAKLAND CA - DECEMBER 26: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts looks on against the Oakland Raiders during an NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 26 2010 in Oakland California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

At 31-26 with roughly a minute left in the game, you completely faked the Oakland Raiders defense on a play action. You turned left, and had 27 yards of day light ahead of you. No one was going to catch you. No one. Gayle Sayers on horse tranqs wouldn't have caught you. As you passed the 5 yard line, it was a foregone conclusion that you were going to walk into the endzone, score a touchdown, and lead the Colts to a 38-26 drubbing of the Raiders.

But, in true Manning fashion, you kind of did the unexpected. Instead of walking into the endzone, you slide down at the one yard line. Normally, this kind of thing makes folks like me jump up and scream "WHAT THE F*CK ARE YOU DOING!' But, in this case, I didn't do that.

See, with 1:28 remaining, and the Colts with the ball on the Raiders one with no timeouts left, the game was over. A few kneel downs, and all is finished. Scoring here would have been nothing but stat padding (cough * cough * Tom Brady).

Rather than stick to the Raiders, you played it classy, Big P. I thought that was kind of cool. Thanks.

Oh, and good job today kicking the Raiders butts, especially after we all saw the Jaguars lose at home to the Redskins.

Go Colts.

Tweet Comment 42 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I did not see Peyton run

Feed got cut just before he did it.

So Pissed

by colt29 on Dec 26, 2010 7:29 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Fear not

I have come to your rescue

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81d3a082/Manning-takes-it-home

Try to kick me while I'm down...I'll break your leg
Indianapolis Colts News and Updates

by coltsfan723 on Dec 26, 2010 7:34 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Good job Peyton.

by Ayrshire on Dec 26, 2010 7:29 PM EST reply actions

Love the comment on Brady...so true

A good effort by the team. The ground game was a pleasant suprise, but the passing game didn’t look sharp. With the exception of the opening play, the only big problem with this game was the prevent defense. Just frickin stop it already. It doesn’t work. Good win, bring on the Titans.

PS…dear santa, in addition to a few offensive lineman, I would really like a new offensive cordinator, defensive cordinator, and special teams cordinator.

by strandedincarolina on Dec 26, 2010 7:31 PM EST reply actions

It's a real head-scratcher

as to why our special teams coordinator still has a job. Seriously.

by Ayrshire on Dec 26, 2010 7:32 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

The backups' backups are playing ST.

by Ty46 on Dec 27, 2010 4:25 AM EST up reply actions

Prevent

Well, the prevent defense did hold the Raiders to 19 points at home. The touchdown they scored at the end was really a garbage one. So, when you really look at it, when the game was still being decided, the Colts held the Raiders offense to 12 points (all FGs). That’s not to shabby.

SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue and editor of SB Nation Indiana.

by Brad Wells on Dec 26, 2010 7:34 PM EST up reply actions

Not too shabby at all.

If I may go off subject just a moment. I was watching the Bears game here in Chicago with my buddies, and if we do get the Jets at home, we can take them.

by chihoosierguy on Dec 26, 2010 7:37 PM EST up reply actions

We can take anyone,

as long as we don’t turn the ball over. Didn’t we have three today? Fortunately, we still won.

by Ayrshire on Dec 26, 2010 7:45 PM EST up reply actions

only 2 turnovers

COLTS FOOTBALL

by cooltrev on Dec 26, 2010 8:11 PM EST up reply actions

It's not the cover 2, but the prevent defense at the end of the game that is worthless

by strandedincarolina on Dec 26, 2010 7:55 PM EST up reply actions

i totally disagree

on your assement of the manning run…he did not have a clear path to endzone..At about the five he had a defender on his tail and was going to be ripped down from behind and possibly hurt.. Instead of being like brett favre and taking crazy hits manning doesnt like to get hit…and even if he would of scored he would of done so on an akwarded angle tackle.. I think this is one of the rare times dierdorf was right lol….ill take a 31-26 victory with manning playing next week over a 38-26 “drubbing” and manning hurt…Smart man manning smart man

COLTS FOOTBALL

by cooltrev on Dec 26, 2010 7:35 PM EST reply actions

I disagree

Just watched the replay a bunch of times, if Manning keeps running at “max speed” he will score on that play. He decided to slow up and go into a slide. The only injury he might have got was a hamstring pull (still bad of course and not worth the TD) but he wasn’t going to be caught.

by Buffalo Braves on Dec 26, 2010 7:44 PM EST up reply actions

That defender

could have dove and took a shot at his ankles. It was a smart slide. With a run out, there’s not much of a chance for ANYONE and we both know the Colts don’t want to chance any more injuries. Smart move.

Try to kick me while I'm down...I'll break your leg
Indianapolis Colts News and Updates

by coltsfan723 on Dec 26, 2010 7:47 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

no way

mannings expression at the end tells all… he slams the ball down he expected to be able to score before he looks back and sees the defender coming in… and manning doesnt like contact we all know that

COLTS FOOTBALL

by cooltrev on Dec 26, 2010 7:52 PM EST up reply actions

Smart move coltsfan723? Absolutely it was a smart move, no disagreement there.

But I’m not buying that he couldn’t have score if he wanted to, not for a second. We’ll agree to disagree on that one.

by Buffalo Braves on Dec 26, 2010 8:34 PM EST up reply actions

He definitely could have gotten

in for the score, but there was also a possibility that the guy pursuing him could have made him hit the turf hard. The last thing our team needs is for Peyton to separate a shoulder or something like that. I truly believe he had a couple of reasons for making the slide. And, I’m glad he did.

by Ayrshire on Dec 26, 2010 8:48 PM EST up reply actions

I dont doubt he could have scored

but that’s not stopping the defender from diving at his ankles to try to make the play. And it would have been a bad angle to take a hit. Id rather him slide, then take an ankle sprain. Not only that, say someone on defense gets hurt during the last minute trying to make a play?

Try to kick me while I'm down...I'll break your leg
Indianapolis Colts News and Updates

by coltsfan723 on Dec 26, 2010 8:51 PM EST up reply actions

how bad ass was Dom

He had to run all the way around the Line and back across the field and if he is there a second earlier he hits the guy with a block and P goes into the endzone.

by sandtiger812 on Dec 26, 2010 10:12 PM EST up reply actions

STs and D Brown

I agreed with Ayrshire about our ST coach, but then I realized how many guys are basically NFL newbies on STs. Love this team!

Was Brown injured? He looked pretty good but never came back in the game. I hated seeing Joe out there when the Raider were selling out on the run at the end of the game.

by smonroe on Dec 26, 2010 7:37 PM EST reply actions

I dont think so

Addai and Rhodes were on fire, so I think the team was just sticking with them. They are both better blockers than Brown as well.

Try to kick me while I'm down...I'll break your leg
Indianapolis Colts News and Updates

by coltsfan723 on Dec 26, 2010 7:38 PM EST up reply actions

Good news

And eventually we get Session back. Maybe Hayden makes a cameo in the playoffs?

by smonroe on Dec 26, 2010 7:40 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Hopefully next week

Brown made a nice stop today, but I’d much rather have Hayden back there.

Try to kick me while I'm down...I'll break your leg
Indianapolis Colts News and Updates

by coltsfan723 on Dec 26, 2010 7:42 PM EST up reply actions

Colts went with the hot hand at RB. No one was hurt.

by jackhammerslam on Dec 26, 2010 7:59 PM EST up reply actions

btw

i went crazy intially! I WAS SCREAMING JUMPING UP AND DOWN AND WAS CERTAIN MANNING WOULD SCORE! I was livid as I saw him slide and immediatley thought what in the heck is he doing? but then after watching it again… You see Manning look back and then does the wise thing sliding and avoiding contact….Also thought this was funny it happened on Super Bowl Fantasy Sunday…ha i wonder how many people are gonna lose because manning went down instead of trying to score haha lol

COLTS FOOTBALL

by cooltrev on Dec 26, 2010 7:38 PM EST reply actions

My thoughts on the run.

Good Choice, there is a lot less chance of someone getting injured on 2 kneel downs vs a kickoff and the ensuing defensive plays.

by sandtiger812 on Dec 26, 2010 7:42 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

True.

And, we definitely want Peyton to live to fight another day. He was almost ready to be tackled. I’m glad he went down. That was won of the smartest things I’ve ever seen him do, and that’s saying quite a bit.

by Ayrshire on Dec 26, 2010 7:48 PM EST up reply actions

'one' of the smartest things

by Ayrshire on Dec 26, 2010 7:48 PM EST up reply actions

Question...

…Peyton threw for 179 yards. As a team, Indy had 191 yards on the ground. In his career, how many times has the offense ran for more yards than Peyton has passed..?

If at first you don't succeed, quit and watch TV.
In the name of the Colts, the Hoosiers, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Amen.

by The Learned Hand on Dec 26, 2010 7:49 PM EST reply actions

Probably when Peyton was in 4th grade

and we had Dickerson

by smonroe on Dec 26, 2010 7:52 PM EST up reply actions

2nd longest run

of Manning’s career.

Try to kick me while I'm down...I'll break your leg
Indianapolis Colts News and Updates

by coltsfan723 on Dec 26, 2010 7:50 PM EST reply actions

This game

sort of felt like the Super Bowl in 2007 when we spotted the other team 7 points in the first 10 seconds and great running by Dom.

by Ayrshire on Dec 26, 2010 7:58 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

This was a great win.

Good to see D. Rhodes tearing it up.
Tamme played well.
Manning’s run was great.
The defense – particularly Freeney/Mathis – were huge throughout.

-We will beat the Titans next week and win the AFC South.

by The Shua on Dec 26, 2010 8:05 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Talk about a Colts Christmas

Besides our win – the Chargers get knocked out of the playoffs and the Jags lose!

It’s a Christmas miracle.

by smonroe on Dec 26, 2010 8:16 PM EST reply actions

Started out a little 'shaky' though.

Looked like, near the end of the Jaguars/Redskins game….that Shanahan was doing his best to lose it. And, after our special teams melt-down at about the same time, to start our game,…..it wasn’t looking good. But, things finished up much better than they started.

by Ayrshire on Dec 26, 2010 8:23 PM EST up reply actions

It was pretty funny to watch Peyton run

and their similar running prowess is one more trait he and Brady have in common.

But Peyton didn’t stop at the one yard line to show “class.” He stopped to keep possession of the ball, let the time run out and win the game without kicking it back to the Raiders – they already had one kickoff returned for a TD, so why give them a chance for another in garbage time?

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Dec 26, 2010 10:33 PM EST reply actions

i have to agree with this

i think it was a little of not wanting to get tackled from behind and having the ability to run the clock out. Hypothetically if Peyton scores there and the raiders get the ball kicked to them, they return it for a TD and get an onside kick they still have a shot. I know it’s a long shot, but if we just kneel on it, games over. I dont know if that’s exactly what peyton was thinking, but i think it was a combination of both.

"Are you f*cking kidding me???"

by danorocks17 on Dec 26, 2010 10:49 PM EST up reply actions

Exactly

Smart play on two levels: avoiding a possible hit but also keeping possession with a lead, a first down, and no time outs left for the opponent. The definition of “icing the game.” Not so much “class” as “smart.”

Of course the Patriots would have scored and then tried an onside kick. :p

Nothing's complicated if you understand it.

by ctnyc on Dec 26, 2010 10:58 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah.

The Patriots have been pretty good this season at not running up the score. They didn’t try in the second half of the Bears or the Bills game. The Jets game is different because it’d be like beating up on the Glitter Kitties. When the beat the Lions by 3 scores on Thanksgiving, it was a tie going into the fourth and their final score was off an interception returned to the Lions 12 yard and they just ran the ball.

I guess “running up the score” is just something else to add to the irrelevant arsenal of statements by Patriots detractors?

Pats Pulpit | @Follow Me On Twitter

by Richard Hill on Dec 26, 2010 11:18 PM EST up reply actions