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Colts' Surgical Skill Carves Up Bucs D

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By IRA KAUFMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 8, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS - The Buccaneers spent a long afternoon under a surgeon's care Sunday and went home numb.

With Peyton Manning masterfully directing a 400-yard attack against the league's fifth-rated defense, the Colts rolled to a 33-14 triumph despite missing five starters.

'I can't imagine anyone playing any better,' Pro Bowl cornerback Ronde Barber said of Manning's clinical blend of patience and precision. 'This was surgical almost.'

Tampa Bay entered the RCA Dome with the NFL's stingiest scoring defense, but Indianapolis reeled off five scoring drives of at least 67 yards.

The Colts converted 12 of 16 third-down situations despite the absence of Pro Bowl receiver Marvin Harrison. Kenton Keith, a first-year pro filling in for injured Joseph Addai, carried 28 times for 121 yards and two scores as the Bucs missed tackles and assignments in equal measure.

'That's Peyton, that's why he's the man,' said Bucs defensive tackle Chris Hovan. 'Still, we're 3-2 heading home next week and this team is not going to get discouraged.'

Rookie safety Tanard Jackson provided the few defensive highlights early in the second quarter with a jarring hit against tight end Dallas Clark on an incompletion, followed by an interception when Manning floated a deep ball intended for Reggie Wayne.

'That was one of the few bad throws on Peyton's part,' Jackson said. 'The ball was up in the air for awhile and I was able to make a play. He's the best quarterback in the league and he proved that today. On the play against Clark, we knew Manning likes to hit the seam down the middle. It was a case where opportunity and technique met.'

That didn't happen often enough Sunday as Manning posted a 101.9 passer rating and helped the defending NFL champions maintain their gaudy scoring average of 33 points per game.

'Tanard's still learning, but he's a grown man,' said secondary coach Raheem Morris. 'There's no better way to grow up than in a game like this one. I'm proud of that guy. As far as Peyton Manning is concerned, let me put it this way: in the words of Denny Green, he was what we thought he was.'

Tampa Bay fans feared the worst when Clark caught a 10-yard TD pass to cap the initial Indianapolis drive. The Buccaneers had not allowed a first-quarter point through the first four games, but ex-Seminole Craphonso Thorpe returned a punt 29 yards to set the Colts up on a short field.

Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin tried his best to unnerve Manning, ordering up three-man fronts and new blitz packages, but the Super Bowl MVP kept finding Clark, Wayne and rookie receiver Anthony Gonzalez underneath zone coverage.

'We didn't give up the big play, but we couldn't get off the field,' said linebacker Derrick Brooks, who topped the Bucs with 12 tackles. 'I give them credit. They stayed patient and Manning dinked and dunked us all day long.'

Manning completed 10 of his first 11 passes and the Colts grabbed a quick 13-0 lead against a club that hadn't trailed since the Sept. 9 opener at Seattle. The Bucs, tied with Carolina atop the NFC South, vow to regroup against the Titans on Sunday.

'They're a great offense, but today we beat ourselves in a lot of ways,' said despondent strong safety Jermaine Phillips, who didn't deliver his usual signature hit. 'We definitely didn't play our best ball today.'

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