Colts Rush for 114 Yards on 19 Carries in Loss to Jaguars
INDIANAPOLIS – Joseph Addai never worried too much.
Addai, the Colts' Pro Bowl running back, when asked this week about the effectiveness of the Colts' running game, said patience needed to win out over panic.
As it turned out, patience paid off.
Addai, after rushing for 64 yards in the first two games of the season, rushed for 78 yards on 16 carries in the Colts' 23-21 loss to Jacksonville on Sunday, keying a 114-yard, 19-carry performance by the Colts.
"It was good to get (reserve running back) Dom (Dominic Rhodes) and Joe in some space," Colts quarterback Peyton Manning said. "Dom had a really good run on a draw play. Joe made some good runs. I am sure we will see some good blocking by the linemen, the tight ends, the receivers that allowed that to happen. That's a positive and we need to build on that."
The Colts had entered the game last in the NFL in rushing, but were more effective Sunday, with Rhodes finishing with 24 yards on two carries and Addai rushing for two touchdowns, including a two-yarder that gave the Colts the lead with 1:07 remaining.
STANDING UP: The Colts held their first halftime lead of the season on Sunday, and a large reason was a critical red-zone stand by the defense.
The Jaguars midway through the second quarter drove to the Colts 11, where they faced 4th-and-2 with just over six minutes remaining. Colts cornerback Marlin Jackson and defensive end Robert Mathis combined to stop Jaguars running back Fred Taylor for a 1-yard gain that preserved a 10-7 lead.
CLOSING IT UP: The Lucas Oil Stadium roof was closed on Sunday afternoon because of a chance of rain in the area.
SANDERS, UGOH OUT: As expected, Colts safety Bob Sanders and offensive tackle Tony Ugoh were declared inactive shortly before kickoff Sunday.
Sanders, the 2007 Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year, sustained an ankle injury in the Colts' victory over Minnesota last week and Ugoh – a second-year veteran and the starting left tackle – sustained a groin injury in the same game.
Other Colts inactives Sunday:
Tight end Jacob Tamme (ankle), wide receiver Roy Hall (knee), defensive tackle Dan Muir (knee), offensive guard Mike Pollak (knee), defensive end Curtis Johnson and defensive end Marcus Howard.
JOHNSON, JUSTICE START: With Ugoh out, and with three-time Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday returning, the Colts' offensive line to start the game was:
Johnson at left tackle, Steve Justice at left guard, Saturday at center, Dan Federkeil at right guard and veteran Ryan Diem at right tackle.
Second-year veteran Melvin Bullitt started at safety in place of Sanders.
Also, rookie safety Jamie Silva was signed from the practice squad and veteran cornerback Keiwan Ratliff was waived.
FEDERKEIL INJURED: Dan Federkeil, a starting guard for the Colts in the first three games of the season, sustained a shoulder injury in the first half against Jacksonville. Rookie Jamey Richard, who started at center in the first two games of the season, replaced him.
Cornerback Marlin Jackson left with a rib injury in the third quarter and returned.
HOW THEY SCORED
JAGUARS 00 10 07 06 – 23
COLTS 07 07 00 07 – 21
COLTS 7, JAGUARS 0
Marvin Harrison 4 pass from Peyton Manning (Adam Vinatieri kick), 11:03. Seven plays, 80 yards, 3:57. Key play: Dallas Clark 29 pass from Manning on 1st-and-10 from Colts 20.
COLTS 7, JAGUARS 3
Josh Scobee 26 FG, 12:33 remaining second quarter. Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 7:09. Key play: Fred Taylor 27 run on 1st-and-20 from Jaguars 38.
JAGUARS 10, COLTS 7
Rashean Mathis 61 interception return (Scobee kick), 5:10 remaining second quarter.
COLTS 14, JAGUARS 10
Joseph Addai 3 run (Vinatieri kick), 1:28 remaining second quarter. Drive: 11 plays, 74 yards, 3:42 Key play: Anthony Gonzalez 24 pass from Manning on 3rd-and-11 from Colts 40.
JAGUARS 17, COLTS 14
Maurice Jones-Drew 6 run (Scobee kick), 1:17 remaining third quarter. Drive: Seven plays, 71 yards, 3:59. Key play: Taylor 37 run on 1st-and-10 from Colts 47.
JAGUARS 20, COLTS 14
Scobee 21 FG, 2:33 remaining fourth quarter. Drive: 18 plays, 82 yards, 12:18. Key play: Matt Jones 6 pass from David Garrard on 3rd-and-5 from Jaguars 31.
COLTS 21, JAGUARS 20
Addai 2 run (Vinatieri kick), 1:07 remaining fourth quarter. Drive: 11 plays, 77 yards, 1:26. Key play: Harrison 27 pass from Manning on 4th-and-2 from Colts 31.
JAGUARS 23, COLTS 21
Scobee 51 FG, :04 remaining fourth quarter. Drive: Seven plays, 47 yards, 1:03. Key play: Interference penalty on Freddy Keiaho on 4th-and-1 from Jaguars 29 gives Jaguars 1st-and-10 on Jaguars 40.
