NFL Recap (New England-Indianapolis)
Posted: Sun November 1, 1998 at 7:46 p.m. EST
NEW ENGLAND 21, INDIANAPOLIS 16
INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Drew Bledsoe found some
bodies to throw to, tossing touchdown passes to tight end Ben Coates and rookie Tony Simmons as the New England Patriots
rediscovered their offense and held on for a 21-16 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
It took Bledsoe 8:21 before he found Coates from two yards out for New
England's first touchdown in two weeks. With three receivers out with
injuries seven days ago against Miami, the Patriots managed just three
field goals in a 12-9 loss.
Bledsoe completed 22-of-35 passes for 306 yards and an interception
for New England (5-3), which moved into a tie atop the AFC East with
Buffalo, Miami and the New
York Jets.
"It was a divisional game on the road and we'll take it," said
Bledsoe.
New England's sixth straight victory over Indianapolis improved it to
2-2 in the tight division and snapped a two-game losing streak. Patriots
coach Pete Carroll echoed his quarterback's statement.
"A win on the road in the division is difficult regardless of who you
play," agreed Carroll. "It was important that we got the win today."
The speedy Simmons starred in a makeshift receiving corps that
included resurrected veteran Henry Ellard. Simmons finished with four
catches for 109 yards, including a 63-yard TD grab that extended New
England's lead to 21-10 and proved to be the game-winner.
"Tony stepped up and had a great game for us today," Bledsoe said. He
has the speed and can run with the best of them."
Simmons, who set a school record with 23 career TD catches at
Wisconsin, was a two-time track MVP as a collegiate sprinter.
Coates had 10 grabs for 109 yards and Ellard, who was retired until
the middle of last week, caught three balls for 52 yards. Receivers Terry Glenn, Troy Brown and Vincent Brisby all were
out with injuries.
"It was like playing catch out there (with Coates)," said Bledsoe.
"He drew single coverage and that surprised me."
Colts rookie Peyton
Manning was 30-of-52 for 278 yards with two touchdowns and two
interceptions. Both of those pickoffs were by safety Lawyer Milloy and ended
possessions in the final three minutes.
Manning hit running back Lamont Warren for a
four-yard touchdown that tied the game at 7-7 with 52 seconds remaining in
the first quarter, but the Patriots regained the lead five minutes later as
rookie Robert Edwards
punched in his eighth TD of the season on a one-yard TD run.
Edwards, kept out of the end zone for the first time last week, had 23
carries for 70 yards.
With 3:40 left, tight end Marcus Pollard took a
dump-off from Manning and went 15 yards for the score, making it 21-16.
But Indianapolis (1-7) was unable to get near the end zone again.
In the first half, Manning was sharp in the Colts' low-risk,
high-percentage passing game, going 12-for-19 for 111 yards and no
interceptions. But with virtually no running game to fall back on and his
team trailing, Manning was unable to complete a pass downfield in the
fourth quarter.
"We had the same type of game plan that we have every week going in,"
Manning said. "We try to be balanced and establish the run."
That plan failed as Marshall Faulk ran for 22
of Indianapolis' 32 rushing yards. His main contribution was as a safety
valve for Manning, collecting 119 yards on nine catches.
"Whatever it takes to help the team," Faulk said.
Bledsoe was hot early, hitting on 4-of-6 passes for 47 yards on the
game's first scoring drive, which went 80 yards on nine plays. Coates, who
came into the game with just 18 catches this year, also hauled in a 27-yard
reception on the march.
Manning answered by going 5-of-5 for 46 yards on the ensuing
possession, a 68-yard scoring drive that culminated in Warren's grab.
New England answered on its next possession, with Edwards taking it in
three plays after cornerback Jeff Burris was called for
interfering with Simmons in the end zone.
"I personally have to take responsibility for this loss. I just
didn't play well today," said Burris, who also was beat on the TD by
Simmons.
Edwards leads all NFL rookies with 580 yards and only Denver's Terrell Davis has more
touchdowns with 14.
Mike Vanderjagt kicked a 49-yard field goal to pull the Colts within
14-10 at halftime.
Bledsoe and Simmons hooked up on a bomb for the first score of the
second half 34 seconds into the final quarter, giving the Patriots a 21-10
edge.
After a two-point conversion attempt failed following Pollard's TD,
the Colts got another chance with 2:31 to go. But Manning was unable to
move the club and Milloy snared his 4th-and-9 pass at the New England 47.
Indianapolis got back the ball with 1 1/2 minutes to go and Milloy again
denied the Colts, hauling in a third-down offering at his 45.
"On the fourth down I guess you can say that I forced the ball because
you do not want to take a sack," Manning said. "On the last one I had
Marvin (Harrison) wide open and the ball was just overthrown. It's kind of
frustrating."
Indianapolis has dropped three straight games.
© 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
|
