Published: October 06, 2009 11:14 pm      

NASON: Offense, defense look great in Colts’ win

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, about 56 degrees. I must say, I was skeptical when I was informed that Lucas Oil Stadium’s roof was going to be open. I am a little spoiled when it comes to watching Colts games with weather not being a factor. I now see why the push to have a retractable roof. It was a little chilly but a beautiful setting, thankfully a far cry from my father’s hometown team, the Cleveland Browns.

For the first time in a long time, both sides of the ball looked great at the same time in the Colts’ 34-17 win over Seattle. The defense allowed only 49 rushing yards and had five sacks, and on the offensive side five players had 50 or more yards receiving — Joseph Addai (50), Austin Collie (65), Dallas Clark (80), Reggie Wayne (74) and Pierre Garcon (71).

Seattle had 279 total yards. The turnover bug hit Seahawks as they had two fumbles, one in the third quarter and one in the fourth. Seattle’s punter Jon Ryan came into the game leading the NFL with a 52.8 average. He got a workout in this game as the Seahawks punted five times. The Colts punted only twice.

With Peyton Manning passing for two touchdowns, he tied Fran Tarkenton for third most touchdown passes in NFL history (342). Manning went 31 of 41 for 353 yards with an interception and a passer rating of 107.1. Manning also recorded his 51st career 300-plus yard game and his fourth in a row.

Collie, a fourth-round draft pick out of Brigham Young, got his first NFL touchdown. He is a second-generation BYU man, following his father, Scott, and his brother Zac, but Austin is familiar with being first. At BYU, Austin ranks first in career receptions with 215, first in career receiving yards with 3,255 and yes, first in career receiving touchdowns with 30.

The game was a big success with the Colts improving to 4-0 and remaining in first place in the AFC South and heading to the always dangerous 0–4 Tennessee Titans for a 8:20 Sunday night game at LP Field in Nashville. Read all of my articles at JeffHerrod.com.

• Ed Nason is a Logansport resident and Colts season-ticket owner. He can be reached at 574-732-4100.