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Defense delivers for unwavering Colts
| INDIANAPOLIS -- No one passed out cigars. No one broke out champagne. And no one shouted for joy. The atmosphere in the Colts' locker room Sunday afternoon was pretty much how it has been all season long: quiet, confident, focused. The Colts had just locked up the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs -- along the way, they also set NFL records for most consecutive regular-season victories (22) and most victories in a decade (114) -- but it was business as usual as the players dressed, answered questions and headed home. It's not that the Colts have become numb to winning. They just have a way of keeping it in perspective. "The character of this team is that we just don't get too excitedugg boots on sale with each win," said tight end Dallas Clark, who caught three touchdown passes in the 28-16 victory over the Broncos. "I think we do a good job of staying humble and trying to improve and learn from the week before." Their 13th victory without a defeat certainly wasn't the Colts' finest three hours of the season. After jumping out to a 21-0 lead, the offense sputtered and looked out of sync. Of their final nine possessions, only two lasted more than four plays. Quarterback Peyton Manning's passes started bouncing off hands and helmets and pads, and he wound up being intercepted three times. While the offense foundered, the defense kept the Colts from collapsing. Led by end Dwight Freeney (one sack, two quarterback hurries), linebacker Gary Brackett (10 unassisted tackles, including two for loss) and defensive back Tim Jennings (an interception), the defense came up big time and time again. The Colts held Denver to a 35 percent third-down conversion rate (6-of-17), stopped them three times on fourth down and allowed only two touchdowns in four series that reached the red zone. "I'm not certain I've seen a better defensive effort than what our guys putugg boots on sale forth today," Colts coach Jim Caldwell said. "They were very, very tough." Now that they have home-field advantage for the postseason, the Colts must decide whether to rest some of their starters down the stretch or continue to keep the pedal to the metal and try to match New England's unbeaten season of two years ago. "Obviously, we are going to do whatever coach Caldwell tells us to do," Manning said, "but I haven't spoken with the other veteran guys to get their sense or feelings." Despite everything the Colts accomplished, the best player on the field Sunday did not have horseshoes on his helmet. Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall turned in a rare performance by catching an NFL-record 21 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Whenever quarterback Kyle Orton needed a big play, he turned to Marshall. It's not that the 6-4, 230-pound Marshall just catches passes; he makes a lot of yards after his catches. "To be that tall, that big, that fast -- that's a hell of a combination," ugg boots on salesaid Broncos cornerback Ty Law, a 15-year veteran. "He's definitely one of the best young receivers I've seen." The Broncos are going to need more players than just Marshall to step up if they expect to get to the playoffs. Although their loss, coupled with the Chargers' victory over Dallas, further reduced the Broncos' chances of winning the AFC West, they still could get to the postseason as a wild-card team. But that might not be determined until the final week of the season. There will be no such suspense for the Colts, who quietly but unwaveringly will continue on a road that appears headed for greatness.
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Posted: 4:11 AM, Dec. 14, 2009 |
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