Colts Back Up Claim for Playoff Consideration : AFC: Trudeau and Arbuckle connect for winning touchdown pass in 10-6 victory over Jets.

The Indianapolis Colts demonstrated Sunday that they have plenty in reserve for a run at the playoffs.

Quarterback Jack Trudeau replaced starter Jeff George and connected with backup tight end Charles Arbuckle for a 23-yard touchdown pass play with 2:29 to play, giving the Colts a 10-6 victory over the New York Jets.

“I was shocked. I didn’t expect it to happen,” Trudeau said of replacing George, who missed the last three games with a broken hand. “But we’re trying to win with 47 guys and for 47 guys. Sometimes it takes everybody.”

The Colts (7-7) have won three consecutive games. They must win their final two games to have a shot at the playoffs.

“Hey, 7-7 feels great,” said Arbuckle, who had nine receptions in an upset of Buffalo last month. “A lot of people wrote us off.”

Colt Coach Ted Marchibroda said George will start this week against Phoenix.

Said George: “It’s better if I don’t say anything. I don’t want to talk today, this week. . . .”

Trudeau guided the Colts 71 yards in five plays for the victory. Arbuckle, who replaced Kerry Cash, caught his first NFL touchdown pass on a play over the middle that netted 41 yards on third down earlier in the drive.

Cash had seven receptions for 104 yards.

“We played crummy,” Jet Coach Bruce Coslet said. “I take nothing good out of this game.”

Until the winning drive, the Jets (4-10) got a strong effort from their defense, which was without three injured starters. But the Jets, who had five sacks, committed five turnovers during the second half.

“We’re our own enemy,” cornerback Mike Brim said. “Until we stop beating ourselves, we’re not going to be a very good football team.”

The Colts, who have defeated the Jets 10 times in their last 12 meetings, were penalized three times for pass interference and once for roughing the passer, helping the Jets take a 6-0 halftime lead on field goals of 35 and 19 yards by Cary Blanchard.

Indianapolis had only 85 yards in the first half. The Colts surpassed that in the third quarter with 109 yards and got a break when the Jets’ Brad Baxter tipped a pass into the air and Scott Radecic intercepted at the Colts’ 26.

Dean Biasucci ended a 68-yard, 10-play drive with a 31-yard field goal that pulled the Colts to within 6-3.

Baxter fumbled on the second play of the fourth quarter, giving Indianapolis the ball at the Jets’ 36. Again the defense rose up, forcing a punt.

One play later, the defense was back on the field after Mike Prior outjumped Rob Moore for Browning Nagle’s long pass at the Colts’ 34. The Jets held, but continued their charity when Rob Carpenter fumbled the punt and Anthony Johnson recovered at the Jets’ 18.