PRO FOOTBALL : Colts Get Second Chance, First Win : Blocked Kick Ends Losing Streak as Atlanta Falls, 28-23

It took a second chance to prove it, but Tate Randle of the Indianapolis Colts discovered Sunday that “miracles do happen.”

Randle blocked a Rick Donnelly punt that Eugene Daniel scooped up and returned 13 yards for a touchdown with 20 seconds remaining as the Colts snapped a 13-game losing streak with a 28-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons Sunday.

“It’s the greatest play I ever made,” Randle said.

“I can’t compare it to anything,” Daniel said of his game-winning score. “I now realize the game is not over till the final second. That’s what happened.”

Randle had been called for roughing the punter on the previous play, but the penalty was offset when Atlanta’s Aaron Brown was charged with a personal foul, forcing a replay of the down.

“After the first one, I was looking for a hole to crawl in,” Randle said. “I thought I got a piece of the ball and that it shouldn’t have been called roughing, but the officials didn’t see it that way.

“Luckily we got a second chance.”

The victory prevented the Colts from tying an NFL record for most consecutive losses at the start of a season and gave Ron Meyer a victory in his coaching debut at Indianapolis.

“Everything’s changed now,” Daniel said. “We’ve got a new coach and we’ve got a victory.”

Meyer, hired to replace the fired Rod Dowhower on Monday, said: “I’m glad the players finally had the experience of good things happening to them. It was great to win on the road after 13 straight gashes in the teeth.

“I’m happy they carried me along for the ride. It stopped a heck of a slide.”

The Falcons, in a furious final 20 seconds, reached the Indianapolis 12 before time ran out when Arthur Cox couldn’t hold onto Turk Schonert’s pass just outside the Colts one.

The Falcons, 6-7-1 and all but out of playoff contention, led 17-7 at halftime and 23-14 midway through the fourth period.

Schonert, who threw for two touchdowns for the Falcons, said: “We played Santa Claus. We said ‘here’s the game’ and they took it.

“The way the end went, it was embarrassing,” he said. “Professional teams trying for playoff berths don’t play like that.”

Schonert’s touchdown passes came in the first quarter, 32 yards to Keith Williams and 14 yards to Charlie Brown.

Ali Haji-Shiekh kicked three field goals--19, 45 and 26 yards--for the Falcons, the last giving Atlanta a 23-14 lead with 12:50 to play.

Gary Hogeboom, making his first appearance since going out with a shoulder injury in the second game this season, had two touchdown passes for the Colts, but also was intercepted three times.

Hogeboom’s scoring passes went for seven yards to Matt Bouza in the third quarter and two yards to Bill Brooks, getting the Colts within 23-21 with 7:11 left in the game.

Indianapolis’ other score came on Albert Bentley’s two-yard run in the first quarter that came after the Colts had recovered a fumble on the Atlanta 18.

Atlanta’s Gerald Riggs, who rushed for 136 yards in 30 attempts, left the game with four minutes to play with an injured right ankle.