Colts Turn Into Finishers Against Chiefs

Only players as talented as Edgerrin James and Peyton Manning can afford to show up late for work.

Indianapolis’ star quarterback and All-Pro running back combined for only 34 yards in a miserable first quarter against Kansas City on Thursday night. But they were their old selves the rest of the way, leading the Colts to a 35-28 victory in a game that packed most of its excitement into the final 18 minutes.

“We were just trying to be real patient, trying to protect the ball against a good defense,” said Manning, who started three of nine for 15 yards but finished 19 of 30 for 201 yards and two touchdowns.

James had only 21 yards to show for his first 10 carries, then accounted for 81 in his next 17 as the Colts (3-3) snapped a three-game losing skid.

He went to the sideline because of a strained knee with 4:24 left and didn’t return.

“I felt some pain. I knew something wasn’t right,” said James, adding that he would have an MRI exam today.

“But the pain started going away so I knew it couldn’t be too bad and I was able to walk it off.”

The Chiefs (1-6) have lost four in a row and are 0-4 at home for the first time in 25 years.

“It’s frustrating,” defensive end Eric Hicks said. “I’m sad because we’re letting the fans down.”

Dominic Rhodes had an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the third quarter. Then, with 1:02 left and the Colts trying to run out the clock, Rhodes broke loose on a 77-yard touchdown run for a 35-21 lead with 4:45 to go.

Said Colt Coach Jim Mora, “As soon as he came to minicamp and off-season stuff, we thought we had a good football player. We thought we had somebody special for a guy that wasn’t even drafted.”

Manning’s 47-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Harrison put the Colts on top, 28-14, with 8:21 left. The Chiefs got within 28-21 on Larry Parker’s 11-yard touchdown reception and moved downfield for a third and 10 from the 11. But Idrees Bashir made the third interception of a Trent Green pass.

Mike Vanderjagt had two field goals for the Colts, who beat the Chiefs for the sixth time in a row.

Until Manning went six for six on a 63-yard touchdown drive in the final minutes of the lackluster first half, the Colts’ offense had produced two first downs and 41 total yards in five possessions.

“Thank God we won,” Mora said. “It doesn’t matter how. Just get more points than the other guy. We had a little trouble offensively in the first half.”

The Colts appeared to have the game wrapped up when Manning hit Marvin Harrison for a 47-yard touchdown and a 28-14 lead after Eric Warfield bit on a pump fake.

But Parker’s 11-yard touchdown catch made it 28-21 with 4:45 left, then Green drove the Chiefs to a first and 10 with 2:17 to go.

The Chiefs’ last touchdown came on Green’s five-yard pass to Parker with 1:02 remaining.

Originally scheduled for Sunday, the game was moved up so the NFL could avoid a possible conflict with the World Series.