Indianapolis Colts 'Running' Toward Another AFC South Title

by John Oehser

Filed under: Colts, AFC South

INDIANAPOLIS - Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell's message was clear. That's how Indianapolis Colts left tackle Charlie Johnson remembers it, anyway - as a relatively important moment that led at least in part to what has gone on in recent weeks.

And, in case, you missed it, here's what has gone on: The Colts, after an injury-plagued three-game November slump, have re-emerged as the favorites in the AFC South, winning three consecutive games in what is now close to being a December to very much remember.

It's how the Colts have done it that is notable: They have run the ball.

That's right:

The pass-oriented, Peyton Manning-led Indianapolis Colts have turned around what at one point was a season very much in peril not by just throwing over defenses, but also by running through them.

"The last few weeks," Colts' center Jeff Saturday said, "have been really good."

Actually, what the Colts done hasn't just been good, it has been downright unexpected.

After ranking 31st and 32nd in the NFL in rushing the last two seasons, the Colts spent much of the season hovering in that same area, and through most of the season again were 32nd of 32 NFL teams.

Injuries were one reason. Joseph Addai, the Colts' leading rusher, missed eight weeks with a neck injury, and reserves Donald Brown and Mike Hart also were in and out of the lineup with injuries. Game circumstance was another. The Colts were falling behind at times early in the season, which led to a lot more passes than was normal even around the Colts. Manning threw more than 43 passes in nine different games, and with one game remaining, his 638 passing attempts are already 49 more than he has thrown in any of his previous 12 seasons.

The first three quarters of the season, in a sense, were defined by a three-game stretch in November.

The Colts lost to New England, San Diego and Dallas, and in those games, they ran 20, 13 and 17 times for 71, 24 and 40 yards. They lost all three games, and while Manning threw eight touchdowns, he also was intercepted 11 times.

The Colts after losing to Dallas 38-35 in overtime were 6-6, and in second place in the AFC South in December for just the third time in nine seasons.

 

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