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INDIANAPOLIS (November 16, 1998) --
QB Peyton Manning, struggling in his rookie season,
emerged from the doldrums to rescue the Colts with the first
come-from-behind win of his career.
"I'm telling you, that guy's going to be a great quarterback," Jets DB Ray Mickens said after the 24-23 loss at the RCA Dome. Manning led the Colts on a 15-play, 80-yard drive, ending with a 14-yard TD pass to TE Marcus Pollard with 24 seconds left. The 257-pound Pollard dragged CB Otis Smith, more than 60 pounds lighter, into the end zone. "That was a mismatch because a linebacker could've made that tackle," said Manning, who became the fourth rookie since the 1970 merger to throw a TD pass in seven straight games. Manning, attacking the Jets' dime defense (seven defensive backs), hit eight of 13 passes for 93 yards on the drive. The key play was an 18-yarder to RB Marshall Faulk, who broke a Corwin Brown tackle on fourth-and-15. "We don't tackle very good," coach Bill Parcells said. Breakout Game: After being held to 96 yards in the previous two games, RB Curtis Martin broke out for 134 yards on 28 carries — a 4.8 average. In two games against the Colts, who entered the day with the 29th-ranked run defense, Martin has 278 yards. In the other eight games, he has 528 yards. Perfect No More: Rough day for QB Vinny Testaverde, who threw an interception on his first play and fumbled on his final play. "I'm having a tough time with that first play," he said. "If I can get through that first one, I'll be okay." Testaverde was awful in the red zone — 0-for-4, with a sack and a fumble. Take away his 63-yard TD pass to Wayne Chrebet, and Testaverde was 11-for-27 for 186 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. Testaverde, 6-1 as a starter, said the crowd noise contributed to his fumbled snap with 10 seconds left in the game. "Because of the noise, I was pulling out as Kevin (Mawae) was snapping," he said. Breakdown: Aaron Glenn was victimized on two touchdown passes — a 4-yarder to Torrance Small and a 38-yarder to Marvin Harrison — the first time either of the Jets' starting cornerbacks was beaten for a score this season. Getting a Grip: Embattled RG Matt O'Dwyer committed a huge holding penalty in the second quarter, negating a 49-yard TD pass to Martin. . . . Chrebet's 63-yard TD reception was the longest score of his career. He had the fifth 100-yard receiving day of his career. |