 |
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Comeback Colts Late field goal by Vanderjagt lifts Colts to 29-28 win
Posted: Sunday December 26, 1999 06:28 PM
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Peyton Manning ended Cleveland's comeback season with yet another comeback of his own. Manning rallied Indianapolis in the fourth quarter, setting up Mike Vanderjagt's 21-yard field goal with four seconds left that gave the Colts a 29-28 win over the Browns. Edgerrin James scored three TDs and rushed for 103 yards for the Colts (13-2), who trailed by nine points at the start of the fourth before Manning brought them back to their 11th straight win. Indianapolis, which went 3-13 in 1998, made NFL history by winning 10 more games than they did the previous season. "We'll take that," Colts coach Jim Mora said of his team's worst-to-first turnaround. "We talked to the team yesterday and they were aware that they could make some history. It's a nice thing to get." And Manning made it possible. Although he didn't throw a TD pass for the first time in 28 games, Manning added a sixth fourth-quarter rally to his 1999 Pro Bowl season resume. He finished 28-of-44 for 283 yards -- 10-of-11 on two fourth-quarter scoring drives - and picked up a pair of key first downs on scrambles. "He's the real deal," Browns safety Marlon Forbes said. "Real poised." Meanwhile, the expansion Browns (2-14) finished their first season back in the league since 1995 with the worst record in Cleveland history. About the only consolation was that by losing Sunday, they locked up the No. 1 overall pick in next year's college draft. But in losses to playoff-bound Jacksonville and Indianapolis the past two weeks, Cleveland looked light years from the team which opened the year getting blown out 43-0 by Pittsburgh. "I think it's two different teams," Browns coach Chris Palmer said. "I think we're competitive right now." Marvin Harrison set a team record with 14 receptions for 138 yards as the Colts remained in contention for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. Indianapolis went 3-13 in '98, and entered the game tied with 1929 New York Giants and '63 Oakland Raiders with a nine-game victory swing. "It definitely was a complete turnaround," Harrison said. "Everybody put in a lot of hard work and it was sure a lot better to be on this side of things this year." James also set an NFL rookie record with his 10th 100-yard rushing game. Ty Detmer, replacing injured quarterback Tim Couch, ran for one score and threw for another, and Terry Kirby had two short scoring bursts as the Browns went 0-8 at home this season. But Cleveland kept its fans around until the end, and had the Colts in big trouble when Kirby's second 1-yard TD plunge gave the Browns a 28-19 lead with 11 seconds left in the third quarter. "We fought until the very end," Browns defensive end Derrick Alexander said. "When you play like that you really want to get back onto the field as soon as possible. I know a lot of guys can't wait to get started next year." With the Colts down 28-19, Manning, who seemed to struggle at times in the 28-degree weather, went to work. He completed six of seven passes and scrambled nine yards for a first down. James then drove through a pile to score from the 2, bringing Indianapolis within 28-26 with 9:54 left. Manning never doubted he could pull out the win. "I was just confident in the fourth," he said. "I'm not going to give you any of that -- you could see the fire in his eyes nonsense -- but I did go in the huddle and say, 'We've got to make some plays, now.'" The Browns got nothing on their next two series, and Chad Bratzke made a big tackle behind the line to help Indianapolis get the ball back. With James picking up yardage on every carry, and Manning throwing short to Harrison, Indianapolis moved to the Browns 30. Manning then hit James for 10 yards and James ran for five. An encroachment penalty also helped the Colts set up Vanderjagt's winning kick off a high snap pulled down by holder Steve Walsh. "That was just a great hold," Mora said. "When I saw what happened I was really relieved. It was high and he put it down there just great." Detmer, playing behind a rag-tag offensive line missing four regulars, went 15-of-26 for 173 yards. Notes: The Colts have won six straight road games. ... Browns offensive tackle Orlando Brown, struck in the right eye by a penalty flag thrown by an official last week, was released from the hospital on Christmas Eve. Brown, suspended indefinitely by the NFL for pushing referee Jeff Triplette after being injured, is still suffering from blurred vision and will get daily checkups at the Cleveland Clinic. ... James' 17 TDs ties him for the third most in NFL history by a rookie. Only Gale Sayers (22 in 1965) and Eric Dickerson (20 in 1983 83) have had more. Randy Moss and Fred Taylor each had 17 last year. ... Harrison became the first Colts player and the 25th in NFL history to catch 100 passes in a season. ... Browns rookie wideout Kevin Johnson finished with 986 receiving yards. ... Joe Washington and Lydell Mitchell each caught 13 passes in a game for the Colts.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
