NFL Recap (San Diego-Indianapolis)
Posted: Sun October 4, 1998 at 7:14 p.m. EDT
INDIANAPOLIS 17, SAN DIEGO 12
INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Peyton Manning's first NFL
win came at the expense of fellow rookie quarterback Ryan Leaf as the Indianapolis Colts
capitalized on three turnovers and defeated the San Diego Chargers,
17-12.
Billed as a showdown between the top two picks in the 1998 draft,
Manning and Leaf both struggled as turnovers set up 14 of Indianapolis' 17
points. Linebacker Elijah
Alexander had an interception and recovered a fumble and Mike
Vanderjagt kicked field goals of 48, 51 and 40 yards for the Colts (1-4),
who won for the first time under coach Jim Mora.
"It was a special win, obviously you're going to remember your first
one," said Manning. "The defense put us in a great position by turning the
ball over early, and allowed us to get some points on the board."
Manning completed 12-of-23 passes for 137 yards, including a 19-yard
touchdown to running back Marshall Faulk, with an
interception. Leaf also was 12-for-23 for 160 yards and one interception.
"The Colts did what they had to do," said Leaf. "What I said to
Peyton Manning at the end of the game is personal and I just wished him
good luck."
Leaf hit Charlie
Jones with a 56-yard pass to set up a one-yard touchdown run by Natrone Means, pulling the
Chargers within 14-12 with 1:48 left. But on the potential tying two-point
conversion, Leaf threw an ill-advised pass to the left corner of the end
zone intended for Webster
Slaughter. Defensive back Monty Montgomery cut in front as the
underthrown ball fell to the turf.
Tight end Ken
Dilger fielded the ensuing onside kick and returned it 14 yards to the
San Diego 25. Four plays later, Vanderjagt kicked a 40-yard field goal
with 1:14 remaining.
"It was a regular onside kick," said Dilger. "I saw the ball coming
my way and made the adjustments. I noticed several of our players around
me and no one in front of me so I took off with it. I thought I was going
to score."
After two incompletions, a five-yard sack by defensive tackle Tony McCoy and a five-yard
penalty, the Chargers were faced with a 4th-and-20 at their own 15 with 49
seconds left. But Leaf threw a short pass to tight end Freddie Jones, who was
tackled four yards shy of a first down by Alexander to seal the win for
Indianapolis.
Means rushed for 130 yards on 31 carries for the Chargers (2-3), who
suffered their third straight loss after opening the season with two wins.
It was the second 100-yard game of the year for Means, who rushed for 160
yards in Week Three at Kansas City.
Faulk was held to 50 yards on 25 carries, but caught four passes for
44 yards. Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, who signed with the Colts on Wednesday,
started and had two carries for five yards and caught one pass for nine
yards.
"Obviously we thought we could win if we could contain him," said
Chargers linebacker Junior
Seau of Faulk. "It seemed like turnovers killed our chances. Today,
he hurt us more catching the ball than running the ball."
Manning and Leaf, the first quarterbacks to be selected 1-2 in the
draft since 1993, combine for nearly $74 million in salary. Manning is the
highest-paid rookie QB with a six-year deal worth $42.72 million; Leaf
received a five-year deal worth $31.25 million.
But the regular season has served as the school of hard knocks for
both quarterbacks. Manning has been intercepted 12 times in five games
while Leaf has completed just 45 percent of his passes with nine
interceptions.
The day started off bad for Leaf when his second pass was picked off
by Alexander at the Indianapolis 44 and returned 12 yards to the San Diego
44. Leaf attempted to hit Freddie Jones over the middle and failed to spot
Alexander, who dropped in coverage.
Seven plays later, Manning hit a wide-open Faulk for a 19-yard
touchdown off a play-action, fake reverse 6:23 into the game.
"It was a play-action fake where you turn your back but you know they
are going to be blitzing," said Manning. "I tried to stall a little bit
but it was one of those plays that I knew Marshall was going to be open and
it was just a matter of getting the ball off."
The Colts then faked the extra-point and snapped the ball directly to
Dilger, who ran behind a wall of blockers for the two-point conversion,
giving the Colts an 8-0 lead.
"It was something we worked on all week and we made some adjustments
on Saturday," said Dilger. "It was my call at the line and when one
shifted over, I got the green light. I don't think I've run the ball like
that since high school."
On the Chargers' next possession, running back Terrell Fletcher
fumbled after being hit by safety Tim Hauck and Alexander recovered at the
San Diego 36.
"What makes it good is when you turn the turnovers into points, that's
what won the game for us today," said Alexander, who sat out last week with
an ankle injury. "I told the guys I was going to get the job done."
After three plays netted five yards, Vanderjagt kicked a 48-yard field
goal to increase Indianapolis' lead to 11-0.
Means was a workhorse on San Diego's first scoring drive, carrying
seven times for 35 yards. John Carney capped it with
a 50-yard field goal 48 seconds into the second quarter.
The Colts then turned the ball over when a pass by Manning intended
for Marvin Harrison was
intercepted by safety Rodney Harrison at the San
Diego 48 and returned 21 yards to the Colts' 31.
The Chargers appeared to take advantage when Leaf connected with Bryan Still on a 45-yard
touchdown, but San Diego was penalized five yards for an illegal formation,
negating the play. Two plays later, the Chargers were forced to punt.
A 40-yard punt return by Latario Rachal set up the Chargers at the
Indianapolis 35. But after the Chargers failed to get a first down, Carney
missed a 47-yard field goal attempt wide to the left.
Rachal again attempted to ignite the Chargers with a 35-yard punt
return to the San Diego 46. After Means carried three times for 14 yards
and Charlie Jones gained 14 yards around left end, Carney kicked a 27-yard
field goal with 1:55 left in the half to pull the Chargers within 11-6.
The first big play in the second half was a 27-yard pass over the
middle from Manning to Torrance Small to the San
Diego 21. But Vanderjagt missed a 40-yard field goal wide to the right
eight seconds into the fourth quarter. He had converted his first eight
field-goal attempts.
Another Chargers' turnover set up Indianapolis' third score when Means
fumbled a handoff from Leaf and defensive end Bernard Whittington
recovered at the San Diego 36. Four plays later, Vanderjagt kicked a
51-yard field goal to increase the advantage to 14-6.
"We are disappointed with the way we lost," said Chargers coach Kevin
Gilbride. "Our defense was spectacular. They traveled about 50 yards for
their scores."
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