Colts Finish Turnaround With Flourish, 21-17

The Indianapolis Colts completed one of the best turnarounds in NFL history Sunday with their best comeback of the season.

Jack Trudeau passed for two touchdowns during the second half as the Colts overcame a 17-point deficit to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals, 21-17.

The Colts finished 9-7 after going 1-15 last year. It is only the fourth time in league history that a team has manufactured an eight-game improvement over the previous season.

“This game shows the way things have changed from last year,” said Trudeau, who completed 15 of 19 passes for 183 yards. “In the first half, we kind of played like we did last year. . . . Obviously, we didn’t come prepared to play in the first half.”

The Colts broke out of a first-half lethargy when Trudeau replaced injured Jeff George after halftime. Trudeau connected on touchdown passes of seven yards to Kerry Cash and 19 yards to Bill Brooks, and Rodney Culver ran 36 yards for the go-ahead touchdown during the fourth quarter.

“It’s like we woke up from the dead all at once,” Colt Coach Ted Marchibroda said of his team’s play during the second half.

The Bengals (5-11) wanted to win the game for offensive lineman Anthony Munoz, who brought his teammates to tears by announcing his retirement last week. The 13-year pro received tributes and a silver platter at halftime.

Munoz showed the Bengals what they will miss. The left tackle sprang Derrick Fenner for touchdown runs of 12 and 35 yards during the first half.

Trudeau started the second half in place of George, who suffered a concussion when he was sacked.

Trudeau completed five of six passes for 74 yards during an 87-yard touchdown drive that included a 29-yard completion to Jessie Hester.

Trudeau had completions of 28 and 22 yards during an 84-yard drive on the Colts’ next possession. He connected with Brooks along the right sideline with a 19-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 17-14 early in the fourth quarter.

Brooks’ scoring reception was the first by a Colt wide receiver since Oct. 4, a span of 12 games.

The Colts defense set up the winning points and knocked quarterback Don Hollas out of the game with 9:23 to play.

Hollas, starting for the injured David Klingler, was sandwiched by John Baylor and Tony Siragusa on a scramble. Hollas fumbled and Siragusa recovered at the Colts’ 44-yard line.

Four plays after the turnover, Culver scored on a draw play. Culver gained 92 yards in 14 carries.