COLTS HOLD OFF DETERMINED 49ERS

The Indianapolis Colts won their sixteenth consecutive regular season game on Sunday, beating the San Francisco 49ers 18-14.  It was far from easy, however, and the Colts’ offense as well as quarterback Peyton Manning looked ragged and out of sync all day.  The only touchdown pass of the day for Indianapolis was thrown off a trick play by running back Joseph Addai, and his toss was the eventual game winning points.   The Colts improved to 7-0 with the victory while San Francisco slipped to 3-4.

While the Colts won the outright battle, the Niners won the ‘war’ against the NFL pointspread and easily covered as a +12’ road favorite.  It was only the Colts second ATS loss of the season and broke a run of five consecutive covers.  The Niners have also been a solid play against the number this season, and improved to 5-1-1 ATS with the cover.  The 32 combined points scored went UNDER the posted total of 45.  Both teams have now gone UNDER in four of seven games this season.

After the hard fought victory, Colts’ receiver Reggie Wayne suggested that winning close games was important for any team with aspirations of a Superbowl title:

"We need these games if we're going to push toward our goal, which is the Super Bowl. We're going to need these close games, we're going to need to fight through a little adversity and push forward. We were able to do that today. It was a grinder. We figured out a way to win."

Addai’s touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter was his first as a pro.  He recalled the play in his postgame interview:

"I was just trying to get the ball out there. In practice, I'm just kind of spotting up there, kind of looking, reading my keys. I don't really have a key to read, but I kind of sit back there like a real quarterback."

Peyton Manning had little to say about his performance or the team’s effort as a whole:

"I thought we weren't quite as sharp as we have been at times. There's definitely some areas we can improve on."

Niners’ coach Mike Singletary was pleased with his team’s effort, but less so at some poor execution:

"A couple dropped balls make the difference in a game like this. Any missed opportunities in a game like this are going to bite you in the end. The only thing I can say is we came here to win the football game."

The Colts now face a tricky scheduling stretch beginning with a home game against the Houston Texans this Sunday.  The Colts are a -9 home favorite with the total set at 48.  New England will come to town next Sunday, with Indianapolis heading to ‘Charm City’ for a game against the Baltimore Ravens on November 22.  San Francisco will host the Tennessee Titans this Sunday, with the Niners installed as a -4’ home favorite and the total set at 40’.  They’ll then have a short week before a home game against the Chicago Bears on Thursday, November 12. After a bye week, they’ll return to action on November 22 as they travel to Green Bay to face the Packers.