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Ho Hum: Colts usually 7-0, then fade
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Published: November 4, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS - The Indianapolis Colts can hear the calls of perfection almost anywhere these days.
They are 7-0 for the fourth time in five seasons. They are the AFC's last remaining unbeaten team. Jim Caldwell is the first rookie head coach since the 1970 merger to have wins in his first seven games. The Colts have extended their franchise-record regular-season winning streak to 16 -- the equivalent of a perfect season.
The Colts know their record creates a false image. With a stagnant ground game, a softer-than-usual schedule and more than half a season still to play, the Colts acknowledge they've accomplished nothing yet.
"We've been here before," defensive end Dwight Freeney said after Sunday's victory over San Francisco. "I've said this before, ‘We've been 13-0 and lost in the first round.' For us, it's business as usual, I guess. We're just trying to keep this thing rolling, and we'll see what happens in January."
That has been the refrain since former Coach Jim Mora's infamous "playoffs" speech eight years ago. When asked about the playoffs after a loss, he fumed: "I just hope we can win a game."
Players and fans haven't forgotten previous results.
❑ In 2002, there was the 41-point playoff blowout against the Jets.
❑ In 2003, the Colts went 12-4, won the AFC South, and Peyton Manning won his first MVP award. Manning finally won his first playoff game, too, before Indianapolis lost at New England in the AFC title game.
❑ In 2004, it was a nearly identical script. Indy went 12-4, won the AFC South, Manning won another MVP award and broke Dan Marino's single-season record for touchdown passes with 49. Then the Colts lost at New England in the playoffs again.
❑ It was supposed to be different in 2005 when the Colts won their first 13 and Manning finally seemed to have the two things that had kept him from winning a championship -- a strong defense and home-field advantage. But the Colts had an inexplicable divisional-round loss at home to Pittsburgh, the eventual Super Bowl winner.
❑ In 2007, the Colts went 7-0 before losing to the unbeaten Patriots at home. Although everyone expected a rematch in the AFC title game, it didn't happen. The Colts lost in the divisional round, this time to San Diego.
❑ And last year after winning their final nine games to post yet another 12-win season, the Colts lost in overtime at San Diego in the wild-card round.
The exception, of course, came in 2006 when the Colts had to play every game to get their playoff seeding. They then won the only Super Bowl title in the Manning era.
So what do 7-0 and 16 straight regular-season wins mean to the Colts?
"Nothing," said Reggie Wayne, a three-time Pro Bowl receiver. "All it means is we have another win under our belt. There are no handouts."
It's true that only one of Indy's wins has come against a team with a winning record -- Arizona (4-3) in Week 3.
It's also true that during this 16-game winning streak, Indy has defeated five of last year's division champs -- all on the road. This season, the Colts are 4-0 on the road, yet they still see imperfections.
"We will see some things on film," Manning said after Sunday's win. "We never had much rhythm, had a number of three-and-outs. It was just one of those days, kind of call it a grinder. We just keep kind of grinding it out."
This season, the Colts already have won 14-12 and 18-14 at home, and 27-23 at Miami when Manning rallied his team despite having the ball less than 15 minutes.
The combination has Caldwell thinking this could be a different kind of season.
A revamped defense is playing with the stoutness and tempo of the ‘05 team. Freeney has had a sack in every game since the 2008 regular-season finale, tying the franchise record of eight straight. Robert Mathis and Freeney have combined for more sacks (14) than seven teams and have matched the totals of two others.
The run defense that was a big problem last year is ranked No. 17. On Sunday, Frank Gore broke a 64-yard touchdown run, but the 49ers gained just 49 yards on their other 17 carries. The pass defense is ranked No. 7 after setting a 16-game record for fewest touchdown passes allowed (six) in 2008.
What the Colts must still figure out is how to get their running game going.
If they can, their numbers could be even more dazzling. Five more wins would extend Indy's NFL record of consecutive 12-win seasons to seven. Manning needs just four 300-yard games in the last nine weeks to match the league's single-season record. But the Colts want to make sure this season is remembered for more than numbers.
"We're going to continue to push for our goal, which is the Super Bowl," Wayne said. "We're going to need these close games. We're going to need to fight through a little adversity and push forward."
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