INDIANAPOLIS - Let me preface my second- guessing of the Indianapolis Colts by acknowledging hindsight's infinite 20-20 vision.
Now, what in the world were they thinking by having Reggie Wayne throw a pass in one of the most pivotal moments of the Colts' 20-17 win/ escape vs. the Houston Texans on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium?
I know the Joseph Addai touchdown pass was a big hit the week before, and I praised it as such. This was different.
When you've got the greatest quarterback in the game, and you're trailing by four points and the fourth quarter clock is ticking, don't take the ball out of his hands.
The Detroit Lions should run trick plays every week.
The Colts should run them once a decade.
The fact the Colts got away with the worst play call I've seen during the Peyton Manning era should be considered a gift from fate. Fate realized it would have been a crime - self-inflicted, but a crime nonetheless - if the Colts weren't 8-0 when they play their nemesis New England Patriots next Sunday night in Indy.
If the Colts ever try such a play in such a situation again, they deserve to lose. The Addai pass against the 49ers was brilliant and opportunistic because other things weren't working. The Wayne pass was stupid. Sorry. I tried to think of a classier adjective. None fits as well.
I'm not blaming Wayne, who threw the ball off a reverse on first down at the Houston 40-yard line. He said he tried to throw the ball out of bounds before Houston safety (and Fort Wayne's own) Bernard Pollard jumped in front of Pierre Garcon and made the interception. He'll know better next time. Let's hope there is no next time.
The Colts are too good to be messing around with trick plays. They're at their best when Manning is being Manning, directing the no-huddle and tossing quick passes the way he did the entire first half Sunday. He threw 40 first-half passes and put up 242 yards with only one real mistake. Pollard, playing the game of his life, picked off that mistake, too.
The Colts led 13-3 at halftime, but it should have been more.
“We really did move the ball,” Manning said, “but we just didn't finish it well.”
This game served as a reminder to the Colts not to veer from what makes them successful - offensive execution based on Manning's mastery of the offense, and solid, tenacious defense.
When they look back, they'll realize this was an escape.
The Colts escaped because Houston kicker Kris Brown sliced a 42-yard field goal to the left as time expired. He made a 56-yarder at the end of the first half. Forty-two yards is a lot longer when the pressure's on.
They escaped because Colts coach Jim Caldwell threw the best challenge flag of his short career at the two-minute warning of the first half. It looked as if Texans running back Ryan Moats fumbled out of bounds, and that was the initial ruling. Caldwell called for a review, and it turned out Moats fumbled, then landed of top of Colts safety Antoine Bethea and the ball landed back in fair territory, where it was touched by Colts cornerback Jerraud Powers after it landed in the end zone for a touchback.
They escaped because the defense came through after the sick trick play, forcing a Houston three-and-out and allowing Manning time to stage his 39th career fourth-quarter game-winning drive with great passes and great catches by Dallas Clark (a career-high 14 catches for 119 yards) and Austin Collie.
They escaped because, faced with third-and-goal at the 2-yard line, Joseph Addai ran like a championship running back should, refusing to let one hit bring him down as he scored the final go-ahead touchdown. Addai scored the Colts' other touchdown in the first quarter, on a screen pass. He had 63 yards rushing, 49 receiving, in his best game of the year.
Now the Colts get ready for the real big one, with the Patriots coming to town for a Sunday night circus. Manning (318 yards Sunday) vs. Tom Brady (332 yards Sunday). The rookie Caldwell vs. the grizzled genius Bill Belichick. Big on big.
The Colts can beat the Patriots, but it won't be easy. And it won't happen if they again lose sight of their strengths.
Put the trick plays to rest. Rely on Manning's magic. It has a much longer track record of success.
