Feb 4, 2007 9:13 pm US/Central
Third Quarter: Anybody's Ballgame
John Dodge, cbs2chicago.com
(CBS)
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning looks to pass.
Jeff Haynes/AFP/Getty Images
After two quarters in which the football was about as slick as Prince's hair during the halftime show, the rain continues to fall, and the football stage has been set for a wet-and-wild second half.
The Colts have dominated statistically, but only lead by two points.
After the Bears miss a few tackles, the Colts return the kickoff to their own 38-yard line and quickly move the ball deep into Bears territory with a combination of solid running and short, precise passing. A tiring Bears defense manages to keep the Colts out of the end zone. And a time-consuming challenge by Indianapolis—coach Tony Dungy incorrectly believed the Bears had 12 men on the field--gives the Bears D a bit more time to recover. Adam Vinatieri hits the field goal with 7:26 left in the quarter.
Colts 19, Bears 14.Are the Colts getting Hester-ical? Another squib kick keeps the ball out of Devin Hester's hands, giving the Bears the ball on their own 35-yard line. Rex Grossman completes two quick passes moving the Bears into Colts territory. But a Colts sack puts Bears in a third-and-long situation. Grossman again muffs the snap, and the Bears are fortunate that they only have to punt the ball away.
The Colts take over on their own 35-yard line. Running back Dominic Rhodes breaks three tackles on the first play, moving the ball to the Bears 28-yard line. Indy gives the ball right back to Rhodes, who blasts forward for another good gain. Daniel Manning's face mask on the play puts the ball, first and goal on the Bears 10 yard line. A Peyton Manning pass to Reggie Wayne is out-of-bounds in the end zone. Then, on third down, Rhodes is stopped short of the end zone. Vinatieri hits another field goal with 3:16 left.
Colts 22, Bears 14.The Colts have run 63 plays to the Bears' 23 plays so far. And, although the Bears are fortunate that it's still a one possession game, the field goals are starting to add up against Chicago.
Another squib kick by the Colts and a personal foul gives the Bears excellent field position, near the 40-yard-line of Indianapolis. Bears give the ball to Thomas Jones for a nice gain on first down. Bears continue to try to establish the running game and Jones gets the ball for a first down. Grossman scrambles from pressure, and narrowly avoids throwing an interception. Robbie Gould hits a line-drive field goal with 1:14 left.
Colts 22, Bears 17.Colts return the kickoff to their own 32-yard line. Tony Dungy successfully challenges an incomplete pass ruling, giving the Colts a third-and-two situation with about 30 seconds left. If he had failed on that challenge, the Colts would have been left with only one time out. Colts convert on third down to close out the quarter.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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