Colts' 12th win full of memorable moments

Colts' 12th win full of memorable moments
December 29
Indianapolis Star columnist Phil Richards
"There might as well have been a quota system in place Sunday afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium. Whatever the Indianapolis Colts needed, they got: wide receiver Marvin Harrison, quarterback Peyton Manning, tight end Dallas Clark, kicker Adam Vinatieri.

Need a catch, a completion, a kick?

Got 'em, milestones all.

Of course it all came the Colts' way, within the team concept, from the team concept, the we, not me. The Colts beat the Tennessee Titans 23-0 to finish the regular season 12-4. It's the sixth consecutive season they have won 12 or more games, and the record they broke was their own. The 2007 Colts were the first NFL team to win 12-plus over five straight seasons.

"That was an enormous team goal; an enormous team accomplishment," center Jeff Saturday said. "I've been here all those years and there are teams that don't win 12 games in a season ever. To have done it six years in a row, I don't know how you can put words on it."

"The main goal," said Manning, who went 7-for-7 for 95 yards and a touchdown before sitting down after a single series, "was to get the win today."

The fifth-seeded Colts charge into the playoffs riding a nine-game winning streak. They will play a wild card game Saturday night in San Diego. The Colts won there 23-20 on Nov. 23, beating the Chargers with a late Vinatieri field goal.

As the No. 1 seed, Tennessee (13-3) has a first-round bye and home field throughout the AFC playoffs.

None of that was affected Sunday. Playoff positions were locked in. Both teams rested injured players and were quick to bench regulars. The Colts held out four defensive starters and end Robert Mathis. Five offensive starters joined them on the sideline after the opening drive.

Sunday was about winning for winning's sake and grabbing what you could along the way.

Harrison grabbed seven passes for 31 yards. On the last, he ran a short curl down the numbers, took backup quarterback Jim Sorgi's second-quarter pass and was tackled by Tennessee cornerback Chris Carr after a 3-yard gain.

Harrison arose and walked off the field with the football under his arm, into the embrace of his teammates. The sellout crowd of 66,721 stood and roared in unison. Harrison made his way to his standard perch, at the far end of the bench. Reserve defensive end Josh Thomas was sitting there. Thomas quickly yielded.

"Give it up to the veteran," Thomas said, "especially after the record."

Harrison's seven catches ran his 13-season career total to 1,102, past Cris Carter and into second place on the NFL career list. Jerry Rice had 1,549.

A moment after Harrison sat down, Colts coach Tony Dungy walked over and hugged him.

It might or might not have been goodbye. The Colts are unlikely to play at Lucas Oil Stadium again this season and they would have to pay Harrison $13.4 million next year.

"It's been great watching him and coaching him and he's been phenomenal and it's well
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