FLASH RECAP:
Peyton Manning throws a 20-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Gonzalez with 4:49 remaining to lift visiting Indianapolis (12-2) to a victory over Oakland (4-10) before an announced crowd of 62,000 at McAfee Coliseum on Dec. 16, 2007.
With the comeback victory, the Colts win their fifth straight AFC South title.
The Colts become the first team in NFL history to win 12 or more games in five consecutive seasons. Indianapolis and the 1992-1995 Dallas Cowboys had been the only teams to win 12 or more games in four consecutive seasons
Oakland erases a 10-7 lead on Justin Fargas' 2-yard touchdown run with 10:49 left. With 89 rushing yards on 24 carries, Fargas eclipses the 1,000-yard plateau for the first time in his NFL career. He has 1,009 rushing yards for the season.
After Fargas’ touchdown, Indy takes the ensuing kickoff and drives 91 yards in 11 plays for the go-ahead touchdown — highlighted by Manning's scoring pass to Gonzalez. On the two-point PAT try, Joseph Addai runs it in for a 21-14 Colts lead.
Oakland drives to the Indy 17 in the game's final two minutes. On fourth-and-nine from the 16, Josh McCown’s short pass intended for Jerry Porter is batted away by cornerback Kelvin Hayden with 1:50 left.
For the second straight game, the Raiders surrender a punt return for a touchdown as the Colts’ T.J. Rushing brings back a Shane Lechler punt 90 yards for a score 6:18 into the game. The previous week, Green Bay’s Will Blackmon returned a Lechler punt 57 yards for a TD.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
QB Peyton Manning — Is 22 of 39 passing for 276 yards with one TD and three sacks. On the Colts' game-winning drive, Manning is 7-of-7 passing for 68 yards.
LB Freddy Kejahoe — Contributes 10 solo tackles and four assists.
WR Anthony Gonzalez — Has seven catches for 86 yards. His 20-yard touchdown catch with 4:49 left erases a Colts deficit.
RB Justin Fargas — Has 89 rushing yards on 26 carries and a touchdown.
LB Thomas Howard — His interception of a Peyton Manning pass late in the third quarter is Howard's sixth of the season.
DT Gerrad Warren — Five solo tackles and a sack.
KEY STATS:
The Colts become the first team in NFL history to win 12 or more games in five consecutive seasons. Indianapolis and the 1992-1995 Dallas Cowboys had been the only teams to win 12 or more games
in four consecutive seasons.
The Raiders hold the Colts to 58 rushing yards. Oakland enters the game ranked second to last in the league in rushing yards, allowing 150.4 yards per game.
TURNING POINT:
Trailing 14-13, the Colts go on an 11-play, 91-yard drive for the winning touchdown. On the drive's final play, Peyton Manning throws a 20-yard TD pass to Anthony Gonzalez with 4:49 left, elevating the Colts to a 19-14 advantage.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders DT Warren Sapp
"Play after play after play they were just making plays. We just couldn't get one. We couldn't get them in a situation where we had them and needed to make a play and got it done."
"We're too far along to feel good because we played the world champs down on the 14-yard line to win the game. Who cares? We lost. We got to start winning these games. Some day we'll be that team that makes the plays and finishes people off like that."
Raiders coach Lane Kiffin
"It’s one of those drives that you just do at the right time. Part of it kind of makes you wish we could have done that earlier in the game and not have to rely on that, but it’s always nice to know that you’re capable of doing it. Starting on our own 9, backed up, and a hostile crowd, it feels good to be able to get that touchdown."
Colts QB Peyton Manning
BY THE NUMBERS:
2-2: Peyton Manning’s career record against the Raiders.
5: Colts consecutive division titles.
33:46: Raiders time of possession, compared to only 26:14 for the Colts.
1,009: Rushing yards for Oakland's Justin Fargas, who has 89 rushing yards and a TD against the Colts.
DID YOU KNOW?:
With 22 completions, Peyton Manning (3,426) passes Joe Montana (3,409) for eighth place on the NFL all-time list.
Thomas Howard's sixth interception of the season is most for a LB since Baltimore's Ray Lewis had six in 2003.
Colts QB Peyton Manning (18) avoids a sack
attempt by Raiders LB Kirk Morrison (52).
