Final
Recovering Manning, Colts open new stadium against Bears
Sep 7, 2008 - 12:53 PM Chicago at Indianapolis, 8:15 pm EDTINDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Peyton Manning's streak of 160 consecutive regular-season starts appeared to be in jeopardy.
But after being named probable for Sunday's season opener against the Chicago Bears, the Indianapolis Colts can concentrate on continuing their winning ways in the new Lucas Oil Stadium after spending the last 25 years in the RCA Dome.
Manning, who is recovering from surgery to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee, can help the Colts extend their NFL record with a sixth straight 12-plus win season. They also can tie the Dallas Cowboys for second place on the all-time list with a seventh straight season with at least 10 wins - nine away from the San Francisco 49ers' mark set from 1983-98.
"You have a lot more things to worry about in training camp," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "Then, when you come to the regular season, you're just focusing on, 'OK, here are the resources we have. What can we do to win this game?'"
Indianapolis, which looks to secure its sixth straight AFC South championship, also plans to extend the league's longest active streak with its seventh straight playoff berth.
The Manning-led offense provides enough proof such expectations are easily within reach.
"You want to see their potential," Dungy said. "You like what you've seen. You like the work ethic and the athleticism and the ability. Now, can we put it together? Can we be a team that's on top of the details, that works hard week in and week out and stays focused on the task? If we do all of that, we can be very good.
Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison make up one of the most imposing wide receiver corps in football, while second-year receiver Anthony Gonzalez appears primed for a breakout season.
Harrison's days as an elite wideout may be numbered and his durability is in question since the 36-year-old played just five games due to a sprained left knee in 2007.
While he was out, Wayne became Manning's most potent target. Wayne already had been very productive the last few years, but Harrison's absence was a contributing factor in his NFL-best 1,510 yards last season.
Tight end Dallas Clark is also always dangerous in the slot and third-year running back Joseph Addai complements the offensive attack. In fact, Addai can become the first running back in Colts history to rush for at least 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons in the league.
Led by reigning Defensive Player of the Year Bob Sanders, the defense is also one of the best in football.
The Bears, who fell in Super Bowl XLI to the Colts in 2006, enter the campaign a bit more questionable on the offensive end of the ball.
Rookie running back Matt Forte likely will be the main cog, taking over for the since-departed and troubled Cedric Benson. The passing game also has gone through a big change, including a new look at quarterback, where Kyle Orton will take over for the much-maligned Rex Grossman.
Orton threw 43 passes in the preseason, fewer than the Bears attempted in three regular-season games a year ago when they were 7-9.
"I feel like I've gotten plenty of reps," Orton said to the Chicago Sun-Times. "And when I wasn't out there, I was getting reps on film and in my mind. I feel good. My body feels good, and my mind feels good. I'm not too worried about that."
- NFL
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CHICAGO 7 8 7 7 29
INDIANAPOLIS 3 3 7 0 13 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: IND - FG, ADAM VINATIERI 39 YD, 9:08. Drive:
11 plays, 59 yards in 5:05. Key
plays: Manning 19-yard pass to
Harrison to Chicago 49; 15-yard
roughing the passer penalty on
Bears' Urlacher to
Sep 7 11:29 PM - NFL
TD CHI
JASON MCKIE 1 YD RUN
(ROBBIE GOULD KICK)
CHICAGO 29
INDIANAPOLIS 13 8:56 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Bears 29, Colts 13 4th - 8:56Sep 7 11:04 PM - NFL
END, 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CHICAGO 7 8 7 22
INDIANAPOLIS 3 3 7 13 END, 3RD QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: IND - FG, ADAM VINATIERI 39 YD, 9:08. Drive:
11 plays, 59 yards in 5:05. Key
plays: Manning 19-yard pass to
Harrison to Chicago 49; 15-yard
roughing the passer penalty on
Bears' Urla
Sep 7 10:48 PM
TD CHI LANCE BRIGGS 20 YD FUMBLE RETURN (ROBBIE GOULD KICK)
Bears 22, Colts 13 3rd - 1:52Sep 7 10:41 PM
TD CHI LANCE BRIGGS 20 YD FUMBLE RETURN (ROBBIE GOULD KICK)
Bears 22, Colts 13 3rd - 1:52Sep 7 10:41 PM- NFL
TD CHI
LANCE BRIGGS 20 YD FUMBLE RETURN
(ROBBIE GOULD KICK)
CHICAGO 22
INDIANAPOLIS 13 1:52 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Bears 22, Colts 13 3rd - 1:52Sep 7 10:41 PM
TD IND REGGIE WAYNE 6 YD PASS FROM PEYTON MANNING (ADAM VINATIERI KICK)
Bears 15, Colts 13 3rd - 9:18Sep 7 10:21 PM
TD IND REGGIE WAYNE 6 YD PASS FROM PEYTON MANNING (ADAM VINATIERI KICK)
Bears 15, Colts 13 3rd - 9:18Sep 7 10:21 PM
TD IND REGGIE WAYNE 6 YD PASS FROM PEYTON MANNING (ADAM VINATIERI KICK)
Bears 15, Colts 13 3rd - 9:18Sep 7 10:21 PM- NFL
TD IND
REGGIE WAYNE 6 YD PASS FROM PEYTON MANNING
(ADAM VINATIERI KICK)
CHICAGO 15
INDIANAPOLIS 13 9:18 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Bears 15, Colts 13 3rd - 9:18Sep 7 10:21 PM - NFL
HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CHICAGO 7 8 15
INDIANAPOLIS 3 3 6 HALFTIME
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: IND - FG, ADAM VINATIERI 39 YD, 9:08. Drive:
11 plays, 59 yards in 5:05. Key
plays: Manning 19-yard pass to
Harrison to Chicago 49; 15-yard
roughing the passer penalty on
Bears' Urlacher
Bears 15, Colts 6 HalfSep 7 9:58 PM
SAFETY CHI JOSEPH ADDAI TACKLED BY ADEWALE OGUNLEYE IN END ZONE
Bears 12, Colts 6 2nd - 3:59Sep 7 9:44 PM
SAFETY CHI JOSEPH ADDAI TACKLED BY ADEWALE OGUNLEYE IN END ZONE
Bears 12, Colts 6 2nd - 3:59Sep 7 9:44 PM- NFL
SAFETY CHI
JOSEPH ADDAI TACKLED BY ADEWALE OGUNLEYE IN END ZONE
CHICAGO 12
INDIANAPOLIS 6 3:59 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Bears 12, Colts 6 2nd - 3:59Sep 7 9:44 PM - NFL
FG CHI
ROBBIE GOULD 41 YD
CHICAGO 10
INDIANAPOLIS 6 4:43 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Bears 10, Colts 6 2nd - 4:43Sep 7 9:37 PM - NFL
FG IND
ADAM VINATIERI 34 YD
CHICAGO 7
INDIANAPOLIS 6 9:38 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Bears 7, Colts 6 2nd - 9:38Sep 7 9:23 PM - NFL
END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CHICAGO 7 7
INDIANAPOLIS 3 3 END, 1ST QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: IND - FG, ADAM VINATIERI 39 YD, 9:08. Drive:
11 plays, 59 yards in 5:05. Key
plays: Manning 19-yard pass to
Harrison to Chicago 49; 15-yard
roughing the passer penalty on
Bears' Urla
Sep 7 9:10 PM - NFL
TD CHI
MATT FORTE 50 YD RUN
(ROBBIE GOULD KICK)
CHICAGO 7
INDIANAPOLIS 3 4:59 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Bears 7, Colts 3 1st - 4:59Sep 7 8:59 PM - NFL
FG IND
ADAM VINATIERI 39 YD
CHICAGO 0
INDIANAPOLIS 3 5:52 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Bears 0, Colts 3 1st - 5:52Sep 7 8:53 PM
Related News
- NFL Draft Is Deepest in Years Feb 29
- The Bear’s Den, December 26, 2023 Dec 26
- Week 16 Colts’ QB Analysis: There is no Santa Claus. Dec 25
- If the Colts had to lose, they picked a great week to do it. Dec 25
- Christmas’ Day Football picks and predictions Dec 25
- 2024 NFL draft: Big board of top 100 players Dec 25
- 10 Bears Takes: A 27-16 Christmas Eve win has them back on track for a strong finish Dec 25
- Monday Morning Awards: Week 16 @Falcons Dec 25
- Bears vs Cardinals: Inside the snap counts, stats, and more Dec 25
- Best Bets: Monday Football Triple Header (Open Thread) Dec 25
- Colts-Raiders odds: Colts open as 3-point favorites Dec 25
- It’s A Bears Win Merry Christmas Den! December 25, 2023 Dec 25