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12/20/2006 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nothin' like a little home cookin' to cure what ails ya.
The Colts can surely attest to that old cliche after Monday's fairly dominant 34-16 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at the RCA Dome ended a two-game skid and kept Indianapolis on pace with Baltimore in the race for a first- round playoff bye.
Both the Colts and Ravens are now 11-3 and trail San Diego by one game for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. The Colts currently own the tiebreaker over the Ravens, but one of those three teams will have to play on the first weekend in January, which is usually a detriment to making a long playoff run.
The two-game skid, which included a horrendous performance at Jacksonville last week, had many speculating that the Colts were in free fall. As Monday's effort showed, that is far from the truth.
"We didn't look at it like it was a crisis," said Colts head coach Tony Dungy after the game. "I know everybody talked about that, but you'd seen it all through the league -- teams not playing their best for a week or two, and we knew we were still in good position."
Added quarterback Peyton Manning, "Two losses is kind of unfamiliar territory. The past two weeks have been kind of unfamiliar. Not something we wanted to continue. We wanted to answer the bell, answer the challenge."
They did, and on both sides of the ball.
Manning directed a strong offensive attack that featured a good mix of runs and passes. The Colts didn't have to punt until the fourth quarter, with the game well in hand.
Defensively, things were much different from the previous two weeks. Tennessee and Jacksonville combined to run for 594 yards in the past two games, but the Colts stiffened up -- somewhat -- and yielded a total of just 278 yards to the NFL's seventh-ranked offense.
The Bengals still ran for 133 yards, as Indy has yet to yield fewer than 100 yards on the ground in a game this season, but the Colts kept Cincy quarterback Carson Palmer under wraps, and overall it was a solid effort from a much-maligned group entering the game.
"We played well and played together," said defensive end Dwight Freeney. "We're not worried about what everyone else says."
Freeney finally had a breakout game. He entered the contest with just 2 1/2 sacks for the entire season, but notched three on Monday and forced three fumbles -- one of which came on Cincinnati's first series and led to an Indy field goal.
SEVEN MINUTES IN HEAVEN
Monday's outcome was still in doubt after a Cincinnati field goal made it a 17-13 game with 9:14 to play in the third quarter, but the next seven minutes gave Indianapolis all the breathing room it would need.
Manning directed a six-play, 75-yard drive for a touchdown on the next series, and the Indy defense came up with a three-and-out without yielding a yard. The Colts then went 57 yards in six plays and one penalty for another touchdown and a comfortable 31-13 lead with 2:16 remaining in the third.
Game, set, match.
DINKIN' AND DUNKIN'
Manning and the Colts did not shred the Cincinnati secondary, but instead worked the underneath routes to near perfection.
Marvin Harrison caught three touchdown passes -- they went for four yards, three yards and one yard -- and finished with eight catches for just 86 yards. Reggie Wayne hauled in seven passes for only 84 yards, including an 18-yard scoring strike.
"On offense, I thought we played very patient," said Dungy. "We got the scores and that's what we hadn't been doing [during the past two games]. We'd been moving the ball, but we hadn't been scoring."
Utilizing Harrison and Wayne was just what the doctor ordered.
"There are a lot of quarterbacks in the league playing, but nobody's got two guys like that," Manning said of his top two receivers. "It sure makes a lot of difference as a quarterback when you have one great receiver. With two great receivers, it sure makes my job a lot easier."
Especially when the other team allows them to run free in an effort to not get beat deep.
SAFETY FIRST, MORE LIKE FOURTH AND FIFTH
The injury bug in the defensive backfield forced the Colts to start Dexter Reid and Matt Giordano at safety on Monday. Bob Sanders sat for the 10th time in 14 games because of a knee injury, while Marlin Jackson and Antoine Bethea each missed the game because of shoulder problems.
Giordano had five tackles, while Reid finished with four. Each also broke up a pass.
ADDAI A HURTIN'
The Colts suffered another injury on Monday, this time in the offensive backfield, as rookie running back Joseph Addai sprained his ankle. He was hurt on a 41-yard run in the third quarter, a burst that set up a touchdown pass, and did not return.
"It's not the infamous high sprain," Dungy said after the game. "We are hopeful he'll be OK. I saw on the replay that it got rolled up on the long run, but we are going back to Houston [Addai's hometown] this week, so my sense is he'll be ready."
Addai finished with 50 yards on eight carries, and Dominic Rhodes helped pick up the slack with 52 yards on 19 attempts.
UP NEXT
Now that the Colts have again established their home dominance, improving to 7-0 at the RCA Dome this year, it's back to the road this Sunday in Houston. Indy has lost its last three away from home, and needs to get some confidence away from the friendly confines of the dome.
"We've been playing well at home and winning at home. Now, we've got to take that on the road this week," Dungy stated Monday night.
The Colts beat up on the Texans at home in Week 2 with a 43-24 triumph. Manning threw for 400 yards with three scores as Indy racked up 515 yards of total offense and rolled to its ninth straight win without a loss against Houston.
Indianapolis has scored at least 30 points in five of the nine meetings, including three straight. Last year's matchup at Reliant Stadium ended in a 38-20 Colts win.
<< Tomlinson, Manning to lead AFC Pro Bowl offense
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson
and Colts quarterback Peyton Manning head up the list of this year's AFC Pro
Bowl Selections, the league announced on Tuesday.
This year, Tomlinson has set r
<< Zach Attack: Thomas shines in Buffalo
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Zach Thomas was all over the field on Sunday, but his
sterling 21-tackle effort went for naught in Miami's 21-0 loss to the Buffalo
Bills.
Not only was it Miami's second loss in three games, but it also finished the
team'
<< Sevilla looks to add to La Liga lead before holiday
Seville, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - When the Spanish La Liga gets into full
action on Wednesday, Sevilla has a chance to add to its 1-point lead over
defending champion Barcelona and hold the league lead at year's end.
Barca, idle i
<< Inter goes for number 10
Rome, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Numerous midweek Serie A matches will take
place on Wednesday, as the contest at Lazio highlights the 10 games with Inter
Milan heading into Rome to take on the fifth-place Biancoceleste at the Stadio
Giusepp
Cubs sign Marquis to three-year contract >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs made it official on
Tuesday, signing pitcher Jason Marquis to a three-year contract on Tuesday.
It was reported on Saturday in the Chicago Tribune that the deal would be
worth $
BC hires Jagodzinski >>
Chestnut Hill, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Boston College has named Green Bay
Packers offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski head football coach, director
of athletics Gene DeFilippo announced on Tuesday.
Jagodzinski becomes the 33rd h
Cutler looking sharp >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - When the Jay Cutler era began a few weeks back, the Broncos
were in the thick of the AFC playoff race, and after a couple rocky outings,
the youngster still has a chance to lead his club to the postseason.
Denver head coac
Losman turns in solid showing >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman had one his best
performances as a pro in Sunday's 21-0 victory over the AFC East-rival Miami
Dolphins.
Losman threw for 200 yards and matched a career high with three touchdown
passe
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Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.
Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.
Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.
Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.
All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.
A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.
For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.
2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award
Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1
Ron Brace (NE) 25/1
Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1
Darius Butler (NE) 40/1
Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1
Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1
Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1
Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1
Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1
Larry English (SD) 15/1
Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1
Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1
Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1
Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1
James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1
Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1
Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1
Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1
Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1
Roy Miller (TB) 20/1
Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1
Fili Moala (IND) 30/1
Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1
Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1
B J Raji (GB) 7/1
Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1
Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1
David Verkune (CLE) 20/1
Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1
Field (Any Other Player) 6/1
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