INDIANAPOLIS — While the Indianapolis Colts were pleased to come away with an 18-15 victory in Sunday night’s National Football League matchup with the New England Patriots, what happens over the next several weeks is far more important to the team’s chances at making a seventh straight trip to the playoffs.
“[The win is] good, but it’s the same thing where if we would have lost [Sunday], we’re not going to make any game too big or too small, but with the hole we’re in, each win is big,” tight end Dallas Clark said after the Patriots’ game.
“But, we have another one next week and the week after that and the week after that, so we’re going to enjoy it. It’s definitely a positive and a momentum builder.”
The Colts will go into this week’s road game at Pittsburgh (4:15 p.m. Sunday, CBS) with a 4-4 record, still with an outside chance of winning another AFC South title. But with the Tennessee Titans rolling along with an 8-0 record, a wild-card spot is the more likely scenario for Tony Dungy’s ballclub.
Indianapolis can’t afford to falter much over the remainder of the season.
The field for a wild-card spot is currently pretty crowded with the likes of San Diego, Denver, Cleveland, the New York Jets, Miami and Buffalo. And teams like Jacksonville and Houston aren’t that far off the pace.
“We feel like every game right now is almost like a playoff game,” wide receiver Reggie Wayne added. “It’s kind of like everybody that’s not leading their division are kind of like in a big ball. So each game is going to be crucial. We also know that everybody that’s in that big ball, most of them have got to come through us. We pretty much control our own destiny. We just want to go out and take it one game at a time.”
The Colts, a franchise noted for their long winning streaks in recent season, will be fighting for playoff positioning for the rest of the year.
“I think you approach it the same way you approach every week which is work hard, keep going and fighting and hopefully things will turn around. There’s no secret or magic formula. The only thing I know how to do is work a little harder and that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to work a little bit harder and hopefully, we’ll figure it out,” wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez pointed out.
Center Jeff Saturday agreed.
“I think [New England] is a game of many that we have to win to stay in this hunt. I think it’s important because it shows our young guys we can beat a playoff-caliber team at home when we play our style of football,” Saturday said.
• Colts-Patriots ratings hit — The Indianapolis-New England game was the highest rated show among television viewers on Sunday night. NBC’s telecast earned an an 11.9 overnight rating and 18 share.
It was a three-percent gain over last season’s Cowboys-Eagles game (11.5/18) and was the highest rated broadcast of the night on any network, beating Desperate Housewives on ABC by 16 percent (10.3/15).
The top ten metered markets for Colts-Patriots were: 1. Indianapolis, 40.1/52; 2. Providence, 29.4/41; 3. Boston, 27.5/41; 4. Nashville, 18.3/25; 5. Washington D.C., 16.0/24; 6. Las Vegas, 15.4/23; 7. Pittsburgh, 14.7/20; 8. Baltimore, 14.4/21; T9. San Diego, 13.9/24; T9. Sacramento, 13.9/21.
NFL Network will air a 90-minute replay of the Colts-Patriots game at 8 p.m. today.
• Dungy says 2008 record won’t determine his future plans — Whether Indianapolis makes the playoffs or not this year won’t be a determining factor in whether Dungy returns for another season as the Colts’ head coach.
“No, I don’t think it will be and it’s one of those things … my wife and I have kind of talked about it every year for the last three or four years. Where are we? Where are we family-wise? I still enjoy coaching. I love it. I love our guys and our organization. So that part is always going to be there,” he said during an interview Monday on Sirius NFL Radio.
“It’s just other things you may want to do, where your family is, and we’ll look at it at the end of the year. But it won’t be, hey, we had a great year, we won the Super Bowl so this is the time to go.”
• Injury list — Running back Joseph Addai (hamstring) and safety Bob Sanders (ankle/knee) apparently came through Sunday night’s game in good shape. Addai and Sanders played the entire game and should be in good shape for this week’s road trip to Pittsburgh.
Weakside linebacker Freddy Keiaho (knee) and cornerback Kelvin Hayden (hamstring) both sat out against New England. Neither player may be available for the Steelers, although Keiaho may be closer to getting back on the field than Hayden. No other injuries were initially reported after the Patriots’ game.
“There’s nothing that was brought to my attention during the game,” Dungy said Monday. “Freddy Keiaho wanted to play. He was out there running in the [pre-game] warmups, trying to show me that he could play. I sense that he’ll be very close [to practicing this week]. Kelvin I’m not sure. He didn’t run before the game, so we’ll see.”
Hayden was due back from knee surgery that was performed last month to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. But he had been bothered by a sore hamstring for several weeks before he incurred the knee injury and apparently tweaked it again last week.
“He did it early on in the preseason I guess. Had a little bit of problems with it lingering. Came back and actually practiced a couple of days and did fine. But it just wasn’t quite a 100 percent. But his knee is fine,” the Colts coach said.
There is no update on when cornerback Dante Hughes (ankle) will be available to be back, although it may be in time for the Pittsburgh game. The Colts are now down four cornerbacks — Hughes, Hayden, Marlin Jackson (knee) and Michael Coe (knee). Jackson (injured in practice last week) and Coe (hurt in training camp) are both out for the remainder of the season.
Colts
Colts know there’s plenty of work to be done to reach postseason
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Colts not standing pat in looking toward 2013 season
Indianapolis Colts second-year general manager Ryan Grigson has quickly earned a reputation as someone who isn’t afraid to shake things up a bit.
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Landry believes he'll acclimate to Colts system
Many Indianapolis fans have questioned why strong safety Laron Landry decided to skip the Colts' OTA workouts, especially since he was joining a new team with a somewhat different defensive system than what he was used to playing with the Jets.
He understands their concerns, but isn’t worried about learning the intricacies Colts’ 3-4 hybrid package.
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Colts in harmony with new coordinator Hamilton
With new Colts offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton now running the show, the Colts are in the middle of a metamorphosis from the downfield, big-play system that was utilized by former coordinator Bruce Arians to more of a West Coast scheme that will look to make more use of the short, controlled passing game.
According to Andrew Luck, so far so good.
- Pagano amazed by collection of veterans
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Opening Day: Terre Haute Rex host Quincy
In his first season at the helm, first-year Terre Haute Rex manager Ronnie Prettyman is going to be surrounded by men he knows and trusts.
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. -
Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
While the Indianapolis Colts put their rookies and a handful of second-year players through workouts this weekend at the team’s Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, a pair of first-year coordinators are getting a chance to do some valuable on-field work as well.
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Werner, 36 others open Colts’ mini camp
The Indianapolis Colts welcomed 37 players to the start of the team’s rookie mini camp Friday at the West 56th Street headquarters.
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Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts received high marks for the impact players the team added through the NFL draft.
Of the 10 players selected, five ended up either starting or seeing extensive playing time (quarterback Andrew Luck, tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and running back Vick Ballard) during the Colts’ 11-5 season.
While this year’s class may not rival that group in terms of name recognition and flash, it may produce just as many major contributors once the 2013 season gets underway. -
Werner at top of game
Bjoern Werner was a late comer to football. But after being selected in the first round of the 2013 National Football League draft by the Indianapolis Colts, Werner realizes that he has reached the pinnacle of the sport in a relatively short amount of time.
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Colts select pass rusher Werner in first round
The Indianapolis Colts selected Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner. The 6-foot-3, 266-pound defensive lineman can also play left outside linebacker.
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Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
As the 2013 NFL draft gets underway tonight at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the Indianapolis Colts are continuing their wait-and-see stance in regard to the first-round pick.
The draft begins at 8 p.m. — televised by the NFL Network and ESPN — with the Kansas City Chiefs making the night’s first selection. Teams will have 10 minutes to make their decisions during the first round. Indianapolis will have the 24th overall pick in the first round.
There will be only one round tonight. The second and third rounds are scheduled for Friday, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with seven minutes allotted per pick in the second round and five minutes allowed in the third. The final four rounds are slated to begin at noon Saturday with four minutes between selections.
As it stands now, Indianapolis does not have a second-round pick. It was traded to Miami last fall in exchange for veteran cornerback Vontae Davis. But second-year general manager Ryan Grigson has nut ruled out the possibility of trading down from the first round if the Colts aren’t satisfied with the players available. -
Direction clear for Colts in 2013 draft
The Indianapolis Colts head into the 2013 NFL Draft with some definite plans.
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Colts veteran among those excited to see Luck's growth in 2013-14
Veteran defensive end Cory Redding is a big fan — literally and figuratively — of Indianapolis Colts second-year quarterback Andrew Luck.
Redding, who has become one of the Colts’ lockerroom leaders after just one season with the team, thinks he has some reasonable expectations of Indianapolis’ former No. 1 draft pick. -
Heyward-Bey feeling fortunate to hook up with Luck
Add one more player to the list of veteran free agents signed by the Indianapolis Colts this offseason.
Former Oakland Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey agreed to a a deal with the Colts late Monday evening. Bey, who played collegiately at Maryland, was the seventh player selected in the first round of the 2009 National Football League draft. -
Colts sign nose tackle
Another day, more player signings for the Indianapolis Colts.
Nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin agreed to terms with the Colts on Tuesday evening and officially signed with the team Wednesday. Franklin (6-1, 315) is a 10-year NFL veteran with stops in Baltimore (2003-06), San Francisco (2007-10), New Orleans (2011) and San Diego (2012). -
Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck
The Indianapolis Colts’ roster moves just keep coming.
While the Colts haven’t yet added that big-name wide receiver that team owner Jim Irsay hinted at in tweets over the weekend, Indianapolis has addressed one area on offense.
Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had agreed Monday night to be the Colts’ primary back-up to second-year starter Andrew Luck. He officially signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the team Tuesday morning.
“We are very pleased to announce the signing of Matt Hasselbeck,” general manager Ryan Grigson said in a prepared statement. “His body of work, intangibles, and extensive league experience speak for themselves. Those factors, plus his familiarity with our offensive scheme, will make him a great asset to our team and its vision as we move forward.” -
Colts likely done signing free agents, for now
With the possible exception of adding a few lesser-priced players, the Indianapolis Colts’ big-time foray into the veteran free-agent marketplace is pretty much done.
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Landry, Jean Francois join Colts defensive unit
After adding five veteran free agent players to the Indianapolis Colts roster on Tuesday, general manager Ryan Grigson plucked two more plums late Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon.
New York Jets safety LaRon Landry and San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois both signed contracts with the Colts. Landry, a strong safety who appears to be a bigger version of former Indianapolis Pro Bowler Bob Sanders, and the versatile Jean-Francois are expected to make immediate impacts on the Colts’ defensive unit. -
Colts introduce free-agent signees
What the Indianapolis Colts accomplished last season — posting an 11-5 record and earning an AFC wild-card berth with a young team plus having that kind of success without its head coach on the sidelines for 12 games — didn’t go unnoticed by players around the NFL.
That was especially true for the five veteran free agents who were added to the Colts’ roster Tuesday. Offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus (Detroit), cornerback Greg Toler (Arizona), outside linebacker Erik Walden (Green Bay), offensive guard Donald Thomas (New England) and linebacker Lawrence Sidbury (Atlanta) admitted as much Wednesday.
“I felt like this would be the best fit for me at this point in my career. I really liked what I saw was happening with the program here and the way things have taken shape. I feel like we have a really great team here and it’s on the rise. I really wanted to be a part of that,” Thomas said during a teleconference interview with the Colts’ media. -
Colts sign five free agents, filling needs at offensive line, cornerback
The Indianapolis Colts were a busy team on the opening day of the National Football League’s veteran free agent market, which got underway at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
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Jeff Saturday retires as a Colt
An Indianapolis Colt for life. Pencil in Jeff Saturday for that honor.
The 14-year veteran center in the NFL put an official stamp on a career Thursday that began in Baltimore in 1998 and ended in Green Bay in 2012. But it was those 13 seasons in between — from 1999 to 2011 in which he played for Indianapolis — when Saturday earned his greatest rewards. -
Saturday thrilled to retire as a Colt
The 14-year veteran center in the National Football League put an official stamp on a career Thursday that began in Baltimore in 1998 and ended in Green Bay in 2012. But it was those 13 seasons in-between — from 1999 to 2011 in which he played for Indianapolis — that Saturday earned his greatest rewards.
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Saturday to retire as Colt on Thursday
Former Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday will make his retirement from the National Football League official on Thursday.
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Indianapolis franchises punter McAfee
A week ago, Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano said it was a priority that the team retain the services of punter Pat McAfee.
McAfee, an unrestricted free agent who’s contract is due to expire March 12, was designated as the Colts’ franchise player Friday. The move allows Indianapolis extra time to work out a long-term deal for the team’s special-teams ace.
“He’s huge. He’s a major priority in free agency. Obviously, we’ve reached out and are working to get Pat re-signed,” Pagano said during the National Football Scouting Combine. “We saw what he did for us last year. He’s a great weapon, not only kickoffs and touchbacks. -
Colts GM enjoying time at combine
Indianapolis Colts second-year general manager Ryan Grigson makes no bones about it. He enjoys watching prospective football players strut their stuff.
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Colts keeping eye on large crop of talented linemen in NFL Draft
According to most National Football League draft observers, this year’s crop of prospects is deep with quality offensive and defensive linemen.
Among the offensive line candidates who have been showcasing their talents at the National Football Scouting Combine, which began in earnest Thursday and wraps up on Tuesday, the spotlight has been on the offensive tackles. Offensive left tackles in particular. -
Colts' Pagano back to full work schedule at combine
Back and ready to go.
That’s the attitude Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano is taking during the National Football Scouting Combine, which completed its second day of operations Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium. During a wide-ranging press conference at the combine, Pagano confirmed that he is back to a full work regimen after missing 12 games last fall as he battled a rare form of leukemia.
After undergoing cancer treatments that featured heavy doses of chemotherapy, the second-year head coach was able to return to the sidelines for Indianapolis’ final regular-season home game against Houston and for the team’s AFC wild-card matchup with eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore. -
Colts looking forward to different approach to draft in 2013
A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts had the first overall pick in the 2012 National Football League draft.
It was a foregone conclusion that the Colts would select former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the selection. While Indianapolis front office and player personnel officials certainly had to do their due diligence in preparing for the draft, the Colts find themselves this year in a bit different situation.
The team will have the 24th overall pick in the first round, which is a double-edged sword. Indianapolis picks lower in the round due to a successful season. But the pool of available can’t-miss talent isn’t quite as plentiful as drafting earlier in the round. -
Former Pro Bowl selection Freeney won't return to Colts
The news coming out of the Indianapolis Colts headquarters Friday afternoon was not totally unexpected. Team officials have confirmed that two veteran players – former Pro Bowl defensive end/outside linebacker Dwight Freeney and wide receiver Austin Collie — will not be returning for the 2013 season.
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