Indianapolis Colts bounced back from a 3 game slump

Thursday night, Peyton Manning went back to been Peyton Manning as he guided the Indianapolis Colts with a 319 yards and 2 touchdown performance in the team’s 30-28 win against the Tennessee Titans. The Titans’ D had to deal with vintage-like Manning as he was brilliant completing 25 of 35 passes to match Dan Marino’s record as he also hit his 63rd 300-yard-game. At 7-6, the Colts’ hopes of making into the playoffs are still alive.

It has been a while since the Indianapolis Colts head coach, Jim Caldwell, walked out of the field with a grim smile on his face. The Colts, the almighty Indianapolis Colts had been struggling significantly during their last three games. First came their visit to the New England Patriots where Tom Brady and Co. brought in their A-game and defeated the Colts by 31-28. Then the Colts went back to Lucas Oil Stadium and faced the San Diego Chargers which whooped them on their own field by 36-14, and as if that wasn’t enough, on the following week, they hosted the Dallas Cowboys who took them to overtime on the Cowboys 38-35 win. Suddenly, the Colts where seriously jeopardizing their chances of making it into the NFL Playoffs.

At 6-6, right before their game against their Thursday game against the Tennessee Titans, the Colts where in a serious need to turn this game into a winner and finally but an end to a 3 game slump. Who’s to blame? Well, it get’s tricky. An easy answer would be to take a look at the Colts Quarterback. Peyton Manning had a series of under-par performances that where critically affecting the Colts’ chances of winning games.

Against New England, Peyton Manning recorded 38 of 52 for 396 yards and 4 touchdowns. It could have been a brilliant game, had he not been picked 3 times during the game. Those 3 interceptions finally gave the win to the Pats. On the following game, playing at home, one would have guessed that Manning was going to bring on his A-game but against San Diego, Manning completed 31 of 48 for 285 yards, connecting two touchdowns but suffering 4 interceptions. There’s no way you can suffer 4 interceptions in an NFL game and somehow managed to win it. Then came the Dallas Cowboys. He completed 36 of 48 passes for a very decent 365 yards and two touchdown passes. And yet againt, the Cowboys defense was capable of picking up 4 of Manning’s passes.

So just in case you where not following the math, up to last Thursday game, Peyton Manning had thrown 11 interceptions in his last 3 games. That’s almost 4 times the number of picks he had for the entire season. Now, if Manning wanted to make a comeback and guide his team into a winning game, it had to be the Titans.

For the Titans, Kerry Collins completed 28 of 39 for 244 yards 3 touchdowns and no interceptions. The Titans managed to rally back into the game, but time ran out before they could seriously affect the Colt’s win. The Titans have now recorded their 6th consecutive lost. Things are not looking great for the Titans this season. Offense, Defense, Special Teams