Tag Archives: Indianapolis Colts

1997 Game 169 (Week 13) Indianapolis at Detroit

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The Lions roll the Colts

Barry Sanders and the Detroit Lions are among the league’s elite in 1997. Sanders is on pace to shatter the single season rushing record, and quietly, Scott Mitchell is having the best season of his career. As a result, the Lions are now 9-3 with a 29-6 thumping of the Indianapolis Colts in the Silverdome on Sunday.

Barry Sanders has eclipsed the 100-yard mark in 11 of the 12 games this season, but he needed his last carry of the day to reach that mark on Sunday. Sanders finished with 104 yards on 20 carries in the game. On the season, Sanders has rushed for 1,677 yards in 12 games, which equates to 139.8 yards per game. If he stays on this pace, he will rush for over 2,236 yards and crush the single season rushing record that Eric Dickerson of the Rams set in 1984 with 2,105.

QB Scott Mitchell, directing the #1 offense in the NFL, threw for 268 yards in this game on 17 of 33 passing with 2 TD passes and no interceptions. On the season, Mitchell has his career-high in passer rating with 98.3, which is better than reigning MVP Brett Favre. Mitchell also has 21 TD passes with only 4 interceptions on the season.

Mitchell has had two great targets to throw the football to. Beings most teams load up against Barry and the run, Mitchell has virtually had one-on-one coverage against WRs Herman Moore and Johnny Morton. On Sunday, Moore caught six passes for 116 yards and a TD, while Morton caught six passes for 131 yards and a TD. On the season, both receivers have 79 catches and 8 TDs on the season. Morton has 1,219 yards and Moore has 1,001 yards.

As for the Lions defense, they pummeled Colt QBs all day long. They knocked Paul Justin out of the game and then sacked Jim Harbaugh 6 times. Cornerback Kevin Abrams had a career-day as he picked up two Paul Justin passes and returned one of them 12 yards for a TD.

Next week, the Lions will host the lowly Bears on their annual Thanksgiving Day game, while the Colts, now 4-8, will travel to Boston to take on the New England Patriots.

1997 Game 169 Stats

1997 Game 155 (Week 12) Green Bay at Indianapolis

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Packers dominate the Colts

The Green Bay Packers didn’t play their best offensive football; however, the defense was up to the task Sunday Afternoon in the RCA Dome against the Indianapolis Colts as the Packers went to an NFC-best 10-1 with a 31-9 victory.

Many experts called this game a “trap” game. Next week, the Packers take on their nemesis the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field, so many thought the Packers would overlook the Colts. It didn’t happen. The Packers defense held the Colts to just three field goals and limited them to 231 total yards in the victory.

Reggie White led the Packers defense with 2.5 sacks in the game. The Packers had a season-high six sacks. Leroy Butler and Doug Evans picked backup QB Paul Justin off twice in the game. The defense held Marshall Faulk and Co. to just 46 yards rushing.

As for the offense, Brett Favre was efficient. He completed 18 passes on 30 attempts for 184 yards and 2 TDs. He didn’t throw any interceptions but did have a fumble.

The Packers relied mostly on their run game and RB Dorsey Levens delivered. He rushed for 133 yards on 23 carries with 2 TDs. Levens is on pace to break the Packers’ single-season rushing record held by Jim Taylor in 1962.

The Packers will try to erase past playoff failures and validate their Super Bowl win next Sunday against the Cowboys. The Packers won the title, but many say it wasn’t complete because they didn’t face the Cowboys. Sunday the Packers can erase those doubters.

As for the Colts, they are now 4-7 on the season and have dropped out of the AFC race for a Wildcard position. Next week, they travel to Detroit.

1997 Game 155 Stats

1997 Game 138 (Week 11) Cincinnati at Indianapolis

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Bengals are in the playoff mix

After starting the season 1-3, the Cincinnati Bengals have reeled off 5 victories in their last six games and are currently in the middle of the playoff mix in the AFC. The Bengals took down the Indianapolis Colts, 21-13, in the RCA Dome on Sunday to improve to 6-4. They are still in the hunt for the Central division crown.

The Bengals finally got some production from their star receiver Carl Pickens. He came into the game with only 24 catches on the season, but he finally got things cooking when he caught 7 passes for 122 yards and a TD.

Jeff Blake started the game, but left do to injury. Veteran QB Boomer Esiason replaced him and went 8 of 16 passing for 106 yards with a TD and an INT. Blake was 10 of 15 for 106 yards and a TD.

For the Colts, Paul Justin replaced injured QB Jim Harbaugh for another week. Justin threw for 273 yards on 28 of 44 passing with a TD and an INT. The Colts were only able to muster up 60 yards on the ground as they fell behind the Bengals 21-3 at halftime.

The Bengals defense punished Justin sacking him six times on the afternoon. They held the Colts to only 289 total offense.

The Bengals have a huge showdown with AFC Central Division leader Pittsburgh next Sunday at Three Rivers Stadium.   The Colts won three straight coming into this week and sit at 4-6 on the season. They will host the World Champion Packers at the RCA Dome next Sunday.

1997 Game 138 Stats