Published: October 12, 2008 11:50 pm            

Return to form: Colts look like their old selves in blowout of Ravens

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts sent a loud message to rest of the National Football League with their 31-3 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

Not only did the Colts post their first-ever win at Lucas Oil Stadium — snapping a 0-for-4 streak in the process (0-2 in the preseason and 0-2 in regular season games) — in convincing fashion against one of the league’s best defensive units, Tony Dungy’s team, which improved to 3-2 for the year, finally showed signs of breaking out of its early-season funk in the process.

The Colts used a lethal combination of aggressive defensive play, heads-up offense and a special-teams unit that was, indeed, special against the Ravens. They came out of the box early against Baltimore, which entered with the NFL’s No. 1-ranked overall defense (allowing just 192.5 yards per game) and also was tops in rushing defense (giving up an average of 64 yards per game) and pass defense (128.5 yards per game).

Indianapolis’ much-maligned defensive unit set the rout in motion, forcing five turnovers (three interceptions and two fumbles) and not allowing a first down in the first quarter. The Colts also sacked Baltimore rookie quarterback Joe Flacco four times, three by defensive end Robert Mathis.

Mathis, who forced and recovered a fumble to help Indianapolis’ comeback win at Houston a week earlier, was a force all day Sunday.

Unofficially, he finished with six total tackles, three sacks, two quarterback hits, four tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

The Colts came into the game with the NFL’s worst run defense, giving up an average of 188.5 yards through the first four games of the season. But against Baltimore, Indianapolis had 51 total yards on 19 carries (including a team-high 23 yards on six carries by rookie Ray Rice).

Throw in a Colts’ kickoff coverage unit that did not allow a return of 20 or more yards (thanks to three touchbacks by kicker Adam Vinatieri) and kept Baltimore’s offense bottled up deep in its own territory for most of the first half.

“Our special teams did a good job of getting us the good field position early in the game. Baltimore plays a style of defense that is not going to be pretty. You’re going to have to get big plays. We felt we would get some [big plays] in the midst of some of that that looked a bit ugly. And that was the way it was offensively,” Colts coach Tony Dungy said afterward.

“Defensively, we did a good on their running game. We got ahead and that put them in some passing situations. The thing to be displeased about was the penalties (11 for 84 yards). We are not going to be able to afford to have that many penalties and give up that many yards. It was good for our guys to see how we can play when we are on top of things.”

The Colts, who had 334 yards in total offense for the day (including 258 through the air), seized a 17-0 lead before the end of the first quarter, then added touchdowns in the second and third quarters in securing the win.

Quarterback Peyton Manning was hot early, firing a 67-yard TD pass to wide receiver Marvin Harrison with 9:43 remaining in the first quarter and adding a 22-yard scoring toss to wide receiver Reggie Wayne seven minutes later.

Manning would end the game by hitting on 19 of 28 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns, including a second scoring pass to Harrison late in the second quarter. The Colts ended the game with just one healthy running back as starter Joseph Addai left with a hamstring injury at the 10:45 mark of the first quarter and rookie Mike Hart, playing on offense for the second time this season, suffered a knee injury with 10:18 left in the second quarter.

Dominic Rhodes became the workhorse for Indianapolis, rushing 25 times for 73 yards and scoring on a 1-yard run midway through the third quarter. Rhodes broke off his longest run since 2004 — a spinning, twisting 38-yard effort that set up Manning’s second TD pass to Harrison three plays later.

Hart had a key third-down run in the first quarter on Indianapolis’ third offensive possession of the game, picking up 2 yards on the play against the middle of the Ravens’ defensive unit. He later added an 18-yard catch and run in the second quarter but was hurt on the play.

Wayne had a game-high eight catches for 118 yards and a touchdown, while Harrison added three catches for 83 yards. Anthony Gonzalez chipped in with four receptions for 33 yards.

“We did play well. We got off to a fast start,” Manning said. “The defense did an excellent job all game, holding them to three points was impressive and creating a lot of turnovers. We had some excellent field position, but we wanted to be aggressive against Baltimore. They are such an aggressive defense and they are so smart. You have to pick and choose your times to be aggressive, but you have to be.

“Otherwise, if you just sit back on your heels, that is what [the Ravens] really feast on. So we wanted to take some shorts down the field and Marvin ran a good route, just a straight take-off route on the first [touchdown pass]. That was big to hit.”

Flacco completed 28 of 38 passes for 241 yards and had passes picked off by cornerback Tim Jennings, safety Antoine Bethea and safety Melvin Bullitt.

“Obviously a disappointing performance,” Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said after the game. “We didn’t play very well in all three phases. We got what we deserved. That’s what happened when you play the way we did.

“But I will say this. I like the way our team continued to compete, fight and I liked the way they are going to handle adversity. They are mighty men and I think we’ve got a great future in front of us. I can’t wait to see where we go from here.”

The Colts will be on the road for the next two games, playing at Green Bay next Sunday (4:15 p.m.) before heading to Nashville to face AFC South leader Tennessee in a Monday night matchup Oct. 27. Indianapolis will return home to face New England on Nov. 2.

        

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