Richards says the D reminded people who they were
Obviously, the last few weeks I don’t think we’ve played to our ability,” middle linebacker/co-captain Gary Brackett said. “We always thought we could play better and we went out and got it done today.”
With the offense in a street fight, the Colts defense held the league’s third-ranked rushing attack to 113 yards. It allowed a season-low total of 251 yards, got stops on 9-of-10 third downs and put pressure on Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel, who was 16-of-29 for 156 yards. The Colts kept Kansas City out of the end zone.
The Chiefs brought a 3-4 defense — three linemen, four linebackers — then used it seldom, if at all. Crennel went coverage crazy, going 2-3-6 much of the day. He limited Manning’s opportunities by utilizing two down linemen, three linebackers and six defensive backs.
Crennel forced Manning to spend much of the afternoon throwing underneath. With so many Chiefs in coverage, he had to lean heavily on his running game. Joseph Addai and Mike Hart combined for 28 carries.
The Colts had an opportunity to create separation early, but their first two offensive possessions bogged down inside Kansas City’s 7-yard line. An offense that ranked No. 3 in the league in red zone efficiency (TDs on 11-of-15 trips inside the opponents’ 20-yard line) had to settle for 20- and 24-yard field goals by Adam Vinatieri.
“It was a crazy week,” Hart said after rushing 11 times for 50 yards — both career highs — and an 11-yard touchdown that sealed the Colts’ 19-9 victory.
“We went from me not thinking I’d be able to play, to playing, then I was playing a lot. This week was kind of like my career, just up and down, up and down.”
Hart, a 2008 sixth-round draft pick, missed much of his rookie season after suffering a serious injury to his right knee.
“Yeah, I got a glance at it,” he said. “It’s a nice gesture on their part. I had some good years here, but to be honest with you, I’m trying to play a football game. I wasn’t too concerned with it.”
The Colts never said why they cut Lilja, who had started 59 of 66 games, including two Super Bowls. The team gave him a $1.7 million roster bonus send-off when he was released after the third year of a five-year, $20 million contract. The Colts didn’t have to do that, so it was a generous gesture. But the release was still puzzling.
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