|
|
The Indianapolis Colts are playing about as well as they can on offense. It's their defense that concerns coach Tony Dungy.
In the Colts' 38-31 playoff win over Kansas City on Sunday, Peyton Manning and the offense gained 434 total yards. It was just enough, however, as the defense yielded 408 yards, gave up several big plays and allowed the Chiefs to convert all three of their fourth-down attempts -- a combination that could cost Indianapolis in the AFC Championship against New England.
``We made some
plays when we had to ... but we have to tackle better,'' Dungy said Monday.
``Defensively and special teams-wise, it wasn't really one of our better games.
We're going to have to get those two areas cranked up if we want to win this
coming week.''
The Colts (14-4) ended the regular season ranked 11th in the NFL in defense
and 20th against the run, a weakness that was exploited by Kansas City running
back Priest Holmes -- who ran for 176 yards. Tickets
``It's not just the stats, but the way we're giving them up,'' Dungy said. ``We've just got to be in the right gaps and do the right things. We've got to tackle a little better.''
New England (15-2) beat Indianapolis 38-34 in November. A 17-14 divisional playoff victory over Tennessee was the Patriots' 13th straight win and sent them into the rematch with the Colts on Sunday with a spot in the Super Bowl on Feb. 1 at stake.
Much of the credit for the Colts even being in that position goes to Manning, who was the league's co-MVP. He is the only player in NFL history with at least 4,000 yards passing five years in a row, and this year the Colts ranked first in the league in passing and third in total offense.
``Our coaching staff has done a great job of gameplanning and going after the weaknesses in the other defenses we play, but we've been very sharp,'' Dungy said. ``We've had very few penalties, very few missed assignments. ... And we're good enough talent-wise that when we're not making mistakes we're tough to defend.''
In two games in the playoffs, Manning has completed 44 of 56 passes for 681 yards and eight touchdowns. His 377 yards and five touchdowns against the Broncos earned a perfect passer rating.
``It's hard to really think of two performances like this back to back,'' Dungy said. ``At Kansas City, on the road, with the wind and the noise, to put two together like that in the playoffs in high-pressure situations, I'd have to think back a long ways.''
The last time Indianapolis reached the AFC championship game was at Pittsburgh in 1996, when an incomplete pass on the final play cost the Colts a victory and a trip to the Super Bowl. New England beat St. Louis 20-17 to win the Super Bowl two years ago.
``We're going to have to go in there and play well,'' Dungy said. ``We've won our share of road games, now we have to go in and win one more with the stakes being very high.''