Road-Tough Colts Rise in the South

Becoming road warriors may have helped the Indianapolis Colts find their way home -- at least once -- for the playoffs.

Edgerrin James ran for two touchdowns and Mike Vanderjagt kicked five field goals Sunday, and the Colts defeated Tennessee, 29-27, to sweep the defending division champion Titans, taking control of the AFC South with three games remaining.

The Colts (10-3) improved to 6-1 on the road, putting them on track for their first division title since winning the AFC East in 1999, and the chance to play host to at least a wild-card game.

They did it by scoring 19 consecutive points and forcing four fumbles, which they turned into nine points. They also held the ball for nearly 34 minutes.

“We had to win this game to have control of the division,” Coach Tony Dungy said. “Now we do. Now we don’t have to rely on any help from anyone else. If we win our games, we’ll be in good shape.”

In a game featuring would-be most-valuable-player quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Steve McNair, Manning easily outplayed McNair, even using his legs to scramble for two first downs. He ran for 20 yards and was 22 of 34 for 228 yards in setting a club record with his 93rd consecutive start.

“I’d like to think I’ve got enough toughness to play the position,” Manning said.

McNair sprained his right ankle in the second quarter and aggravated his already sore left calf, but he still nearly rallied the Titans (9-4) to a tie.

He threw two touchdown passes in the final 9:24 and even ran for a two-point conversion.

McNair cut the Titan deficit to 29-27 with 1:52 to go with his second touchdown pass, a two-yard toss to Derrick Mason. McNair tried to find Mason again on the two-point conversion, but end Dwight Freeney, held to one sack, tipped the ball and it fell incomplete.

Tennessee forced the Colts to punt with 50 seconds left, giving McNair plenty of time.But Justin McCareins fumbled after an 11-yard return, and Anthony Floyd recovered for the Colts.

McNair finished 22 of 38 for 235 yards.

“We control our own destiny as far as our playoff future, but the division title is out of our hands right now,” Coach Jeff Fisher said.

The Colts controlled the ball during a nearly 15-minute stretch in which they ran 34 consecutive plays, keeping the NFL’s best offense in time of possession off the field.