PRO FOOTBALL ’95 : Interference Call Helps Bengals Top Colts, 24-21

The new-look Indianapolis offense was overpowered by Cincinnati’s plain old-fashioned defense in regulation and a huge pass-interference penalty in overtime.

A 34-yard call against Ray Buchanan set up Doug Pelfrey’s fifth field goal 2:36 into overtime as the Bengals beat the Colts, 24-21, on Sunday.

“You don’t know what I felt out there on the field after they made that call,” said Buchanan, who earned the nickname “Big Play Ray” last year with seven interceptions in the final seven games. “We needed a big play. Not to say we should have home-field advantage, but we should get a little bit more respect than that.

“This is not the same old Colts team. That’s why it hurt so much.”

Buchanan argued unsuccessfully he was playing the ball and inadvertently made contact.

The Bengals’ Bracy Walker was the one making the big plays, accounting for two of Cincinnati’s three interceptions off Craig Erickson.

“We noticed on film that Erickson likes looking at his primary receiver,” Walker said. “A lot of times, he doesn’t look at the secondary receivers. . . . We figured if we could catch him looking, we would break on him as soon as he threw the ball.

“I was looking at the man I was supposed to cover and then looking at Erickson and I just broke on the ball.”

Pelfrey, perfect on all five field-goal tries, said he had great protection. “I don’t have to worry about anything. All I have to do is kick the ball,” Pelfrey said.

The Colts sent the game into overtime with a five-yard touchdown pass from Jim Harbaugh to Flipper Anderson and a two-point conversion pass to Floyd Turner with three seconds left in regulation.

In the overtime, the Bengals drove 54 yards in six plays, but 34 of those yards came on the interference call on Buchanan, who hooked Carl Pickens’ arm as he tried for a catch at the Indianapolis 33. Four plays later, Pelfrey’s 47-yard field goal won the game.

“I thought Ray was looking back at the football,” Colt Coach Ted Marchibroda said. “I thought he was looking back. He was playing the ball and ran into the guy.”

The Colts’ Marshall Faulk was held to 49 yards rushing.