Colts finally fall
IRVING, Texas – Maybe the burden of an unbeaten season was becoming too much for the Indianapolis Colts. They sure played like it.
Peyton Manning and the Colts looked nothing like their perfect record Sunday, turning the ball over on four of their first six possessions and coming up empty on their final two drives to lose 21-14 to the Dallas Cowboys.
After close calls all season, Indianapolis (9-1) couldn’t overcome this sloppy outing – even against a club whose quarterback was making only his fourth career start and whose defense was missing its top performer.
“We’ve been playing with fire – and the fire caught us,” Colts coach Tony Dungy said.
Manning threw two interceptions after having thrown only three all year. He lost his first fumble of the season and Marvin Harrison lost his first since 2004. All told, Indianapolis had its most turnovers in its last 79 regular-season games, dating to Nov. 25, 2001.
Still, the loss could be somewhat of a relief. There won’t be any more questions about chasing the hallowed mark of the 1972 Miami Dolphins or their own 13-0 start last season. The focus now returns to mundane topics like winning the division and becoming the AFC’s top seed, all of which seems within reach considering the Colts’ remaining foes are a combined 25-34.
“It’s not a positive when you lose a game,” said Manning, who also had a season-high 19 incompletions and was sacked twice on one drive after going down only 10 times all season coming in. “We’re going to dissect the film and find things we can build on. It’s been awhile since we lost a regular season game. But that doesn’t make this less painful.”
The victory is just as big for Dallas (6-4) as the loss is disappointing for Indianapolis.
Start with it being the most impressive win in coach Bill Parcells’ four seasons. Then factor in that after being down 14-7, quarterback Tony Romo led two touchdown drives, then another to run out the clock, all in his first home start. And give the defense bonus points for playing so well in their first game since Greg Ellis, their captain and MVP thus far, was lost to an injury.
To team owner Jerry Jones, it was like “a couple of wins in the ‘90s that showed our team that they could do it,” referring to clubs that won three Super Bowls.
With three wins in Romo’s four starts, the Cowboys are two games over .500 for the first time all season. Four of the remaining six games are at home and the rest of the division is ailing, leaving Dallas in prime position for a big finish.
“I told the team (this win) ought to tell them something about what they’re capable of doing,” said Parcells, who in his 19 years in the NFL had never ended an opponent’s perfect start this deep into a season. “If we keep playing like this, we have a chance to do something.”
It sure didn’t start out that way.
Romo lost a fumble on a sack by Dwight Freeney on the opening drive, then threw an interception soon after. He didn’t get the Dallas offense inside the Indianapolis 20 until the final 30 seconds of the third quarter.
However, once he did, the Cowboys grabbed control for good.
Marion Barber III scored from the 5 to tie it early in the fourth, capping a 68-yard drive. Then Romo followed with an 80-yard series, again capped by a Barber TD that put Dallas ahead for the first time. His last possession might’ve been the best because he kept Manning and the Colts from getting back on the field, using up the final 2:59.