Indianapolis Colts 2003 season

Colts win their division, and the first-ever playoff game in Indianapolis

Updated Jan. 19, 2004

For more information see: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS HISTORY

Mike Vanderjagt kicks the game-winning field goal with 1 second left on the clock. Steve Healey / staff photo

Week 1: Colts defeat Browns 9-6 in a battle of field goals

The opening game of the season was a struggle for both teams, leaving coach Tony Dungy baffled and disappointed by the number of penalties and mistakes. The Colts defense, while allowing

Cleveland to maintain long drives, held when it counted and kept the Browns out of the end zone. The special teams and the offense also came through with big plays when needed, ultimately leading to the last-second 45-yard field goal by Mike Vanderjagt that won the game.

Peyton Manning completed only 27 of 43 passes and threw two interceptions, including one in the end zone after the Colts had driven the length of the field on their first possession.

Nick Harper had two interceptions for the Colts, both of them late in the second quarter, leading to a field goal that tied the game 3-3 at halftime.

The teams traded field goals in the third quarter. In the fourth, big plays by the Indianapolis defense kept Cleveland scoreless. The Colts took over the ball on the eight-yard line and, thanks to six completions by Manning and a great catch by Reggie Wayne, were in field-goal range and a position to win the game.

Steve McNair is sacked by Dwight Freeney in the first quarter. AP Photo

Week 2: Colts get a BIG win over division rival Tennessee

The Colts home-opener was a sell-out but not in time for it to be televised locally, meaning many fans missed a great game.

The Titans had won 11 of their previous 12 regular-season games and had never lost to the Colts - until now. Coach Tony Dungy called the game the most complete victory since he became head coach.

Titans quarterback Steve McNair was sacked five times. The defense kept the Titans scoreless for the last three quarters and late in the game cornerback Nick Harper had his third interception of the season, this one returned for a touchdown.

Indianapolis had 20 first downs and gained 291 total yards. Tennessee had 14 first downs and gained 236 yards. A seemingly fully recovered Edgerrin James rushed for 120 yards on 30 carries. Peyton Manning threw for 173 yards, completing 14 of 21 passes and, most importantly, had no interceptions. Mike Vanderjagt kicked three more field goals for the team and is 6 for 6 in the first two games of the season.

Reggie Wayne fends off Jacksonville's Jason Craft in the fourth quarter. Robert Scheer / staff photo

Week 3: After a slow start, the Colts defeat Jacksonville 23-13

In what was a huge understatement, Peyton Manning, following a pathetic first half, observed, "we made some adjustments". After 30 minutes in which they gained only 80 yards on 22 plays, the Colts were lucky to trail only 3-0. They were completely outplayed in every aspect of the game, by a team they were supposed to dominate. In the third quarter the Colts finally came alive, controlling the ball for 12:23 minutes, running up a 132-21 yard advantage and scoring 17 points.

Receiver Reggie Wayne had a career day with 10 receptions for 141 yards and two touchdowns. Thirteen of his 15 catches in the first three games, went for first downs. The sound of fans chanting "Reggie, Reggie", usually heard at Conseco Fieldhouse, filled the Dome.

The Colt defense rated only an "OK" from Coach Tony Dungy who was disappointed in the 126 yards gained by Jacksonville's Fred Taylor.

It was the second home-game in a row that was not televised locally, and the first game in the last 34 that was not a sell-out by kickoff.

Marvin Harrison makes a spectacular touchdown catch in the first quarter. Matt Detrich / staff photo

Week 4: A huge win in the "Big Easy"; Colts crush the Saints 55-21

In front of a national audience on ESPN, the Colts showed they were a team to be reckoned with.

Peyton Manning, playing in his home town of New Orleans, was 20-of-25 for 314 yards. He broke a team record by throwing six touchdowns. For the third time in his career, Manning received a perfect quarterback rating - becoming the first NFL quarterback since the system began in 1973 to receive three perfect ratings.

Marvin Harrison, whose season started slowly, once again became a favorite target. He had six receptions, 158 yards and three touchdowns. Marcus Pollard, also overlooked for much of the first three games, had four catches for 63 yards and rookie tight end Dallas Clark scored his first touchdown. Mike Vanderjegt made both of his field goal attempts, remaining a perfect 12 for 12.

Edgerrin James was out with a sore back but backups Ricky Williams, Dominic Rhodes and James Mungro combined for 100 yards rushing, 56 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Although Colts' defenders weren't very successful in containing Saints running back Duece McAllister, who had 101 yards, they did come up with two interceptions and two fumble recoverys - which resulted in 28 points.

Simeon Rice of the Buccaneers "leaps" during a field goal attempt and was called for a penalty, giving the Colts a second chance to win the game. Cliff McBride / Tampa Tribune

Week 5: Colts stun the Bucs winning 38-35 in overtime

It was a game, for the Colts, in which almost everything that could go wrong, did go wrong - until late in the fourth quarter. What the Colts lacked in finesse they made up for in heart as they overcame a 21-point deficit - twice, to tie the game and send it into overtime where an unbelieveable turn of events led to a win.

Mistakes, penalties and breakdowns plagued the Colts throughout the first half. After the first quarter, the Bucs led 14-0 and in the second quarter they added another seven points.

The Colts finally scored in the third quarter on a 37-yard Peyton Manning to Marvin Harrison pass.

Going into the fourth quarter, Tampa led 28-7. The Colts' Ricky Williams scored a touchdown early in the quarter but then, when a pass by Manning was intercepted by Ronde Barber and returned for a touchdown, the Colts looked doomed. With four minutes left in the game, the score was 35-14. No team in NFL history had ever won a game after being behind by 21 points with four minutes left.

Beginning an amazing series of events, Brad Pyatt returned a kickoff 90 yards, setting up a touchdown run by James Mungro. Idrees Bashir came down with the onside kick and, six plays later, Manning threw a touchdown pass to Harrison. After the Colts defense held the Bucs, Manning threw a 52-yard strike to Harrison, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by Williams. The game was tied at 35 with 26 second left. In overtime, the Bucs stalled and the Colts took over, marching the ball down the field to give Mike Vanderjagt a chance to win the game with a 40-yard field goal. He missed. But the referees, who had been assessing penalties all night, called Tampa's Simeon Rice for "leaping", giving Vanderjagt another chance. His kick was deflected, hit the right upright and banked through. The victory gave the Colts their first 5-0 start since 1977 and left the Buccaneers, whose league-best defense had allowed 35 second-half points to be scored, stunned.

Peyton Manning hands off to Ricky Williams who was filling in for the injured Edgerrin James. Williams fumbled twice in the game. Robert Scheer / staff photo

Week 6: In a battle of the undefeated, Colts lose to Panthers 23-20

For the second week in a row the Colts, trailing in the fourth quarter, forced an overtime with a late touchdown - but this time they never got an opportunity to score. Carolina won the toss and marched down the field, with the help of missed tackles and a costly penalty by the Colts, and kicked a field goal to win the game.

Indianapolis was leading 13-3 at the half but then the team self-destructed. The Colt defense allowed the Panthers to gain 253 yards in the second half and the overtime - 169 of those on the ground.

Playing without Edgerrin James and Tarik Glenn, the offense also struggled. Ricky Williams, filling in at running back, fumbled twice, losing both. Peyton Manning threw for 293 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Marvin Harrison, however, had his third consecutive 100-yard game, breaking the 36-year-old Colt receiving yard record held by Raymond Berry.

Admittedly not the reason they lost the game, the Colts were nevertheless upset at a call by game officials that Chad Bratzke never had possession of a ball he had intercepted, and then fumbled. Fortunately, the Colts were going into their bye week, allowing time for injuries, regrets and hard feelings to heal.

Marcus Pollard dives into the end zone to score a second quarter touchdown. AP Photo

Week 7: After a slow start, the Colts defeat the Texans 30-21

Houston was a team that Indianapolis was supposed to beat - and beat easily, but the Texans gave the Colts a run for their money.

A banged up Houston team made some good first half plays, helped along by the Colt defenders' inability to consistently stop the run, and Brad Pyatt who fumbled a punt.

After scoring two touchdowns in the second quarter, Houston led 14-3 and the sell-out RCA Dome crowd was booing.

The Colts responded. Marvin Harrison had a 37-yard reception, setting up an acrobatic Marcus Pollard touchdown. Then, just before half-time, Houston's running back, Domanick Davis, fumbled and the Colts recovered. Indianapolis scored a second touchdown and took a 17-14 lead into the locker room.

In the second half, the Colts scored another touchdown and added two field goals by the still-perfect Mike Vanderjagt. Except for a allowing a fourth-quarter touchdown, the defense was also much more effective in stopping Houston.

Peyton Manning completed 22-of-30 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions. Marvin Harrison had his fourth consecutive100-yard game and Reggie Wayne had another big day, adding 96 yards on six catches.

This game also marked the return of Edgerrin James after a three-game absence. James rushed for 104 yards on 23 carries - 78 of those yards came in the second half - 58 of them in the fourth quarter.

The win meant that for the first time since 1977, the Colts were starting the season 6-1.

Miami quarterback Brian Griese is sacked by Dwight Freeney and Chad Bratzke. Griese was sacked five times. Getty Images

Week 8: With a little luck and a lot of defense, the Colts squeak by Miami 23-17

The Colts came within one play of losing this long, hot, mistake-filled game, but Dwight Freeney put the exclamation point on an impressive performance when he sacked Dolphins quarterback Brian Griese late in the game, forcing a fumble and saving the win.

Freeney was the prime motivator on a day in which his teammates found themselves constantly battling back from mistakes and bad luck. The Colts were denied a safety, had one touchdown called back on a holding penalty, had a dropped pass that cost them a scoring opportunity, and dropped a late interception. But the most potentially damaging mistake was the one made by Peyton Manning when, late in the fourth quarter, he threw an interception deep in his own territory.

With just over two minutes left, Miami found itself in a position to score and steal a win from the Colts, who had dominated the game. That's when Freeney slipped by Griese's protection and got his third sack, and second fumble, of the day.

It wasn't just Freeney who excelled; the Colt defenders played well as a unit. After yielding averages of 160 rushing yards per game in the previous two weeks, they held the Dolphins to 47 yards on 14 attempts. Star running back Ricky Williams gained only 36 yards on 13 carries.

The Colts dominated time of possession, holding the ball for nearly 38 minutes, wearing down one of the NFL's best defense's. Edgerrin James rushed 26 times for 89 yards and Manning completed 23-of-37 passes for 266 yards with that one, nearly fatal, interception.

 

Three Colts defenders (L to R) Walt Harris, Jason Doering and Rob Morris collide in the second quarter trying to grab a tipped ball -- which was then picked up by Jacksonville's George Wrighster. Matt Detrich / The Star.

Week 9: Fred Taylor's revenge;

Colts upset by Jaguars 28-23

The Colts limped away from Jacksonville after getting banged up and beaten by a team that had lost 12 of its past 14 games. Led by running back Fred Taylor, the Jaguars turned a 13-point halftime deficit into a 28-23 victory with a dominant second half against the division-leading Colts.

At halftime, the Colts were up 20-7. Peyton Manning passed for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Place-kicker Mike Vanderjagt capped two red-zone drives with 27- and 26-yard field goals, and the defense limited Jacksonville to 85 total yards.

Then, all four wheels fell off in the second half. The Jaguars seemed to make every play that mattered, registering 268 of their 353 total yards after the break, including 114 on 24 rushes, and converting 7-of-8 times on third down.

Meanwhile, not only couldn't the Colts offense locate the end zone, it couldn't work the clock after Jacksonville botched a field goal attempt with 2:09 remaining. Looking to protect a 23-21 lead, Manning & Co. instead gave the ball back to Jacksonville after three plays netted just 2 yards and squeezed only 37 seconds off the clock.

Two plays later, Taylor completed his best game of the season and Jacksonville's comeback. His 32-yard touchdown run through the heart of the Colts defense included slipping a diving tackle attempt by Colts rookie strong safety Mike Doss. That was a fitting moment, at least from Taylor's point of view. The two had traded verbal barbs in the press since an earlier meeting between the teams in September.

Colts running back Edgerrin James rushed 15 times for 44 yards and had six receptions for 26 yards. But he was a non-factor in the second half and watched his team's final two possessions from the bench as coach Tony Dungy made liberal use of Ricky Williams for his pass-catching skills.

The other missing man was wide receiver Marvin Harrison. His 30-yard scoring catch in the second quarter was the 65th Manning-Harrison touchdown, a tie for third most in NFL history, but after suffering a hamstring injury in the second quarter Harrison was out of the game and doubtful for the Colts next game against the Jets.

 

Colts Hunter Smith celebrates his 21-yard, third-quarter touchdown run after a fake field goal. Matt Kryger / The Star

Week 10: The Colts survive a shootout with the Jets, winning 38-31

The Colts, playing with 40 percent of the active roster at less than full strength because of injuries, showed what Tony Dungy called "championship heart" in the fourth quarter when the game was on the line.

This game was an offensive shootout. Playing without Marvin Harrison, Peyton Manning completed 27-of-36 passes for 401 yards and one touchdown. After expressing frustration with his lack of playing time against the Jaguars, Edgerrin James rushed 36 times for 127 yards and three touchdowns. With this game, James became the Colts' all-time rushing leader.

The most surprising play of the game came in the third quarter after the Jets had tied the score 31-31. The Colts lined up to kick a field goal but when the ball was snapped to holder Hunter Smith, he ran 21-yards for his first-ever NFL touchdown.

On the other side of the ball, the Jets, who needed only four plays to score the first touchdown of the game, averaged 9.4 yards per play - nearly a first down each time they snapped the ball. Chad Pennington hit 11-of-14 passes for 219 yards and Curtis Martin ran 13 times for 105 yards. Their 31 points were the most the (3-7) Jets had scored since defeating the Colts 41-0 in the playoffs.

Both the special teams and defense for the Colts had a disappointing day. Going into the fourth quarter, Colt defenders had allowed the Jets to score on five of nine possessions - including a 90-yard kickoff return. But starting with the the last play of the third quarter, with the game on the line, the defense held the Jets each time they had the ball, forcing them to punt. And unlike the previous week, the Colts kept the ball long enough near the end of the game to run the clock out and preserve the win.

Week 11: Fourth-quarter comeback puts Colts over Bills 17-14.

Rick DeMulling is upended after running with a fumble to keep a Colts drive alive in the 4th quarter. Star staff photo by Rob Goebel.

For the 73,000 Buffalo Bills fans at Ralph Wilson Stadium, it must have seemed that the drought was almost over. The Bills had lost the previous three games - had not even scored a single touchdown in those three games - and now it was fourth quarter and Buffalo had two TDs and an 11-point lead.

The Colts only score to that point was a single field goal in the 2nd, which was topped in Buffalo's next possession when the Bills came back to score their first touchdown in a month. And that was set up by a bizarre play that netted the Bills 36 yards on fourth-and-15. Punter Brian Moorman dropped the snap, picked up the football and quickly considered his options. Running seemed prudent, and he squirted around right end for 21 yards and a first down. Colts cornerback Nick Harper was called for unnecessary roughness and Buffalo got another 15 yards to the Indianapolis 35. Quarterback Drew Bledsoe's 1-yard keeper gave the Bills a halftime 7-3 lead.

After a scoreless 3rd, the Bills started the 4th with a 60-yard drive on eight plays, capped by a seven-yard Sam Morris run to put Buffalo on top 14-3.

But the Colts weren't done. Quarterback Peyton Manning and the offense marched back down the field on nine plays and scored with a 14-yard Edgerrin James run to narrow the lead to 14-9. On the extra point play, Indianapolis tried for a two-point conversion but missed it.

After the Bills surrendered the ball on four plays, Manning & Co. launched another relentless drive and the Colts stood on the three-yard line with a first down. James then gained another two yards, but the Bills' defense held him on the one-yard line for the next two plays. On his last try, James smashed into heavy traffic on the right side and churned into the end zone to put the Colts on top 17-14 with 1:38 left on the clock.

If any Bills fans still had hope for a final possession comeback, the Colts' defense shut it down. Chad Bratzke broke in from right tackle and hammered Bledsoe just as the Buffalo quarterback released a pass. The football fluttered and floated. Colts linebacker David Thornton's interception sent the crowd toward the exits with 34 seconds to play. The Colts held the ball as time expired on the next play.

 

With only seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Edgerrin James is stopped short of the goal line by the New England defense. Rob Goebel / The Star

Week 12: Colts comeback stuffed at the goal line: Patriots win 38-34

For the second week in a row, the Colts fought back in the second half from a significant deficit to find themselves in a fourth-and-goal situation with a chance to win the game. This week, however, four tries were not enough to get into the end zone.

The Colts were behind 17-0 barely three minutes into the second quarter and down 31-10 in the third-quarter thanks to shaky play by almost everyone - particularly the defense and the special teams.

In this game, as in the one against the Jets, the Colts 'special teams allowed touchdowns on kickoff returns. The inability to cover kickoff returns netted the Patriots 229 yards on seven returns.

The defense again struggled. New England quarterback Tom Brady completed his first 11 passes and 14 of his first 15 attempts for 143 yards and a touchdown. In this game and the last home game the defense allowed 69 points to be scored.

Early in the second quarter, the floundering Colts had amassed a total of 35 yards on offense and the crowd was showing its' displeasure. Finally, mid-way through the third quarter, the Colts came alive, scoring three touchdowns and a field goal, recovering a forced fumble and intercepting two of Brady's passes - all leading to the two-yard line and four chances to win the game. Three too-short rushes and a failed pass attempt later, the Patriots walked off the field having preserved their win.

 

Marvin Harrison makes "the catch" in the third quarter that led to Edgerrin James' game-winning touchdown. Matt Kryger /The Star

Week 13: Titan turnovers help Colts secure a 29-27 victory

This much-hyped game didn't disappoint those looking for a close, hard-fought matchup. Both teams were battling injuries and both teams had a lot on the line. While perhaps not great football, it was a great game.

Tennessee, one of the toughest teams in the NFL, fumbled the ball four times, losing possession each time. The Colts, on the other hand, played without a turnover for the fourth time this season.

The Colts' offense and defense struggled at times but came together and played well when they needed to.

Peyton Manning completed 22 of 34 passes for 228 yards and rushed four times for 20 yards. Marvin Harrison caught 10 passes for 124 yards including a spectacular 42-yard, third quarter grab that not only made highlight reels all over the league, but set up an Edgerrin James touchdown. James rushed 27 times for 95 yards and two touchdowns against the league's No. 1 rushing defense.

Embarrassed by their performance in the previous three games, the much maligned Colts' special teams redeemed themselves in this game. They forced, and recovered, three fumbles - their first takeaways of the season. Dominic Rhodes' kickoff returns gave the Colts good field position and Mike Vanderjagt was once again perfect. His five field goals increased his streak to 37.

Titan quarterback and league MVP contender, Steve McNair, hampered by injuries and the fact that the Colts monopolized possession of the ball in the second and third quarters, threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns. Tennessee mounted two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to pare a 29-13 Colts lead to 29-27 but a two-point conversion attempt that would have tied the game failed when Dwight Freeney tipped the ball.

 

After their great performance in the previous week, a pumped up Colts special teams unit awaits the first kickoff of the game. Matt Kryger / The Star

Week 14: Colts contain Michael Vick and rout the Falcons 38-7

Winning for the fourth time in the past five games, the Colts dominated every phase of this game and, by blowing out the struggling Falcons, clinched a spot in the playoffs.

The Colt defense set the tone of the game early when, on the third play of the game, Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick was sacked. He was sacked again on the fourth play and fumbled. The Colts recovered the ball on the Falcons' 14-yard line and, on the next play, the Colts got the first of their five touchdowns.

One week after Vick piled up 320 yards against Carolina - 141 on the ground, he was held to 77 total yards by the Colts. He was sacked four times - three in the first 16 minutes, lost a fumble and was intercepted once. Six of Atlanta's 13 possessions failed to generate a single first down.

Meanwhile, Indianapolis' offense put on a stellar show. Edgerrin James had his longest run of the season - 43 yards, and finished with 126 yards on 20 carries. Peyton Manning completed 25 of 30 passes for 290 yards and five touchdowns. A sixth touchdown was called back on a penalty. With those touchdowns, Manning became the first player in NFL history with at least 25 TD passes in six consecutive seasons. Marvin Harrison caught seven passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns. Harrison, Manning and James all sat out the fourth quarter. Mike Vanderjagt pushed his club-record streak of consecutive field goals to 38 when he connected on a 43-yard attempt in the second quarter.

 

Peyton Manning is pressured by Denver's Trevor Pryce, who gets a hand on the ball causing a fumble. Rob Goebel / The Star

Week 15: Colts blow a golden opportunity, losing to Denver 31-17

Both the Colts and the Broncos had a lot to gain, and a lot to lose, in this game but only the Broncos played like the game meant something.

Things looked promising early for the Colts. Clinton Portis, Denver's Pro Bowl running back, was out with injuries and a rookie was filling in. Then, on the Broncos first possession, Colt linebacker Gary Brackett intercepted the ball and ran it back for a touchdown. But for the Colts, it was all down hill from there. The Broncos took over the football and did exactly what they wanted with it.

The Colts' defense could not take the ball away, they could not defend the pass and they definitely could not stop the run. Bronco running back Quentin Griffin bested his season total by a yard, running 28 times for 136 yards. Denver had a total of 227 yards rushing - the most against the Colts since 1998. Denver's offensive line easily dominated the Colts defensive front. The Broncos racked up a total of 465 yards in the game - 299 in the first half. Quarterback Jake Plummer completed 14 of 17 passes for 238 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for two touchdowns.

Denver also controlled the time of possession. The Colt offense had only 15 minutes and 2 seconds on the field. They ran a franchise-low 37 plays and finished with a total of 183 yards - their lowest output since 1998. Edgerrin James rushed for 42 yards and Peyton Manning for five. Those 47 yards matched the season low. Manning, constantly under pressure, threw for only 146 yards. One of the few bright spots came from Mike Vanderjagt who kicked his 39th consecutive field goal, leaving him two shy of the NFL record. His 146th extra point broke the single-season franchise record of 145.

With the win, Denver clinched a wild-card spot in the playoffs. With the loss, the Colts not only failed to secure the AFC South division title but lost the chance at a first-round bye in the playoffs and set up a situation in which it looked likely they would meet Denver again.

Week 16: Colts win division title with 20-17 comeback over Houston;
Vanderjagt kicks record 41st FG to score the winning points.

Brandon Stokley launches past Texan defender Jason Simmons to grab the game tying TD in the fourth quarter. (Robert Scheer Photo)

In another come-from-behind victory, the Colts won the AFC South title by turning a 17-3 deficit into a 20-17 victory over the Houston Texans in the 4th Quarter, with the go-ahead points provided by kicker Mike Vanderjagt's 41st consecutive field goal, a new league record.

For three quarters the Colts played as if they were giving away their chance to win the division and settling for another wildcard spot in the playoffs. Other than a field goal at the beginning of the second quarter, the Colts were unable to gain yardage and did little with their possessions except punt.

Meanwhile, Houston drove 68 yards for a touchdown in the 2nd, then intercepted a Manning pass to score a field goal. And on the first possession of the 3rd the Texans marched over Colt defenders for another touchdown to make the score 17-3.

But as they have done so many times, the Colts found their focus late in the game and mounted a successful comeback. Defenders who had been repeatedly missing tackles tighted up and limited the Texans to 37 yards and a single first down in their five final possessions.

The Colts offense found its heart at the same time. With Houston defenders limiting his passing game, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning turned to running back Edgerrin James, who produced 171 yards on 27 carries, including a touchdown at the top of the 4th to start the Colts comeback.

Vanderjagt celebrates his game-winning, record-setting 41-st consecutive field goal. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Manning completed 26 of 38 passes, but the Texans were all over Pro Bowl receiver Marvin Harrison so Manning turned to third receiver Brandon Stokley, who came up with nine receptions, including a leaping, acrobatic catch in the 4th Quarter that tied the score at 17-17 with 3:50 remaining.

In the end, as if scripted by Hollywood, it fell to Vanderjagt in the final seconds -- with the game, the division championship and his team's playoff hopes all on the line. And for additional drama there was The Streak. Vanderjagt's 39-yard field goal in the 2nd quarter had been his 40th in a row, tying Gary Anderson's NFL record, but the next kick would be the one that mattered for the record books.

The Texans called a time out, leaving Vanderjagt waiting on the field as the sellout crowd in Houston tried to get under his skin. If it was a tactic to make him feel the pressure of the moment, it didn't work. The man who intentionally wears number 13 on his uniform is not easily ruffled by crowd noise, superstition or even having the whole season on the line. "It's over," he told a Houston defender on the line and put the ball over the goalposts, giving the Colts a 20-17 victory and the division title.

The Colts in the Playoffs:

Brandon Stokeley celebrates as he scores his second touchdown on an 87-yard pass play. Robert Scheer photo

Week 1: Colts blow past Denver, 41-10, in the first-ever playoff win in Indianapolis

With a flawlessly executed 41-10 rout of the Denver Broncos, the Indianapolis Colts advanced in the playoffs and exorcized a ghost. Yes, a Colt victory in the playoffs - at home. That hadn't happened since 1970 when "home" was Baltimore, Johnny Unitas was quarterback and Peyton Manning was . . . not born yet.

One year to the day after their 41-0 playoff loss to the New York Jets, the Colts put on a display of singular ferocity and efficiency that overwhelmed the Broncos - the same Broncos that took the Colts apart 31-17 only two weeks previously. But this time, the Colts played a whole game instead of squandering the first half and then scrambling to recover.

The Colts scored on every possession in the first three quarters - five touchdowns and two field goals. All five touchdowns came on Manning passes. He completed 22 of 26 passes for 377 yards and no interceptions.

Seven of those passes went to Marvin Harrison who had 133 yards and two touchdowns. But with the Broncos' defense focused on Harrison, Manning turned to Brandon Stokley who caught a career high four passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns, including an 87-yard scoring strike that put the Colts up 28-3 in the second quarter. Stokley played in just six games in the regular season, sidelined with various injuries. Running back Edgerrin James did not score but rushed for 78 yards and had five catches for 37 yards.

The Colt defense pounded Broncos running back Clinton Portis and smothered wide receivers Rod Smith and Ashley Lelie and tight end Shannon Sharpe. The defense didn't give up a touchdown until 7:04 remained in the game and the outcome was no longer in doubt. Portis finished with 68 yards on 17 carries, well short of his 122-per-game average. Quarterback Jake Plummer completed 23-of-30 passes for 181 yards and one touchdown, but he was intercepted twice by cornerback David Macklin. Plummer also turned over the ball on a fumble in the third quarter.

Colts center Jeff Saturday is one big reason why the team has had success on offense. Adriane Jaeckle / The Star

Week 2: Colts prevail 38-31 over Kansas City in a battle of offenses

Despite a complicated offense that often required extensive adjustments at the line of scrimmage, the Colts were unruffled by playing in Arrowhead Stadium - the loudest, rowdiest stadium in the NFL, where the Chiefs had won 13 consecutive games. In a contest between the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked offensive teams in the NFL, Indianapolis outgunned Kansas City by a touchdown to advance to the AFC Championship game for the first time since 1995.

Kansas City's defense simply could not stop the Colts. Indianapolis was 8-for-11 on third downs, had no offensive penalties, scored on six of eight possessions and did not punt for the second week in a row.

Peyton Manning completed 22-of-30 passes for 304 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Edgerrin James had a career playoff best 125 yards and two touchdowns. In addition to his usual weapons of Marvin Harrison, Brandon Stokley, Marcus Pollard and Reggie Wayne, Manning threw a pass to rookie Tom Lopienski. It was his first-ever catch in the NFL and he scored a touchdown.

Indianapolis' defense was only marginally better than that of Kansas City, allowing the Chief's offense to generate 408 total yards. Three times the Chiefs decided to go for it on fourth down and all three times they were successful. Kansas City also never punted. It was the first playoff game in NFL history in which there were no punts.

One of the Colts few defensive bright spots came in the second half when star running back Priest Holmes of the Chiefs broke free for a 48-yard run. But as he was fending off Walt Harris, David Macklin stripped the ball from Holmes and recovered it at the Colts 22-yard line. It was the only turnover of the game. Holmes ran for 176 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught five passes for an additional 32 yards.

Despite a poor showing by their defense and several miscues on offense, the Chiefs battled back several times to come close to tying the game. In addition to the 196 yards gained on rushing, Kansas City's quarterback, Trent Green, was 18-of-30 for 212 yards and one touchdown. The Chief's other touchdown was the result of a complete breakdown by Colts' special teams players who allowed a 92-yard kickoff return by Dante Hall at the end of the third quarter.

Peyton Manning is sacked by Jarvis Green of the Patriots in the second quarter. Matt Detrich / The Star

Week 3: Out of sync Colts lose to Patriots 24-14 in the AFC Championship game

On a cold, snowy day in Foxboro, the No. 1 ranked defense of the New England Patriots had its way with the No. 1 ranked offense of the Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts could never quite find their rhythm. Quarterback Peyton Manning had one of his worst games ever, throwing only one touchdown and four interceptions - the first one in the end zone on the Colts' first drive of the game. Manning, characteristically, took the blame for the loss, admitting to having made some bad decisions but the Patriots' defense was all over him most of the afternoon.

Manning was far from the only one responsible for the loss. The offensive line failed to protect Manning, allowing him to be sacked four times. The usually unstoppable Marvin Harrison had only three catches - and fumbled one of those. And Hunter Smith, punting for the first time in three weeks, had the ball snapped over his head forcing him to chase it down and kick it into the end zone, giving New England a safety and two points.

Meanwhile the Patriots, who had won their previous thirteen games, had little trouble picking apart the Colt defense - particularly early in the game when the Colts failed to stop New England on 3-of-4 third downs and one fourth down, allowing the Patriots to get points and dominate the time of possession. Tom Brady was 22-of-37 for 237 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted once - his first interception at home all season. Patriots running back Antowain Smith ran for 100 yards on 22 carries - the ninth ball carrier to surpass 100 against the Colts for the season. Indianapolis ' defense did manage to stop five drives before they reached the end zone, giving Patriots' kicker Adam Vinatieri a chance to kick five field goals, a playoff record.

Ty Law intercepts a pass intended for Marvin Harrison. Law had three interceptions. Matt Detrich / The Star

At the half, the Colts were down 15-0 but scored a touchdown on the first drive of the 3rd quarter when Edgerrin James drove in from the 2. New England answered with two field goals and, going into the fourth, the score was New England 21, Colts 7. After trading interceptions, the Colts scored again on a 7-yard pass to Marcus Pollard.

With just over two minutes to play, and despite all the mistakes and miscues, the Colts had a chance to tie the game but in four attempts could not move the chains. They gave New England the ball back at the Colts' 20-yard-line and the Patriots kicked a field goal ending any hope of a last-minute miracle for the Colts. The Patriots earned their second trip to the Super Bowl in three years and the Colts returned home to begin to plan for next year.