Jets beat Colts to end dream of unbeaten season

Posted by blog master Sunday, December 27, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana — Two triumphs shy of an unbeaten season, the Indianapolis Colts suffered their first National Football League loss on Sunday, falling 29-15 to the visiting New York Jets.

The Colts, who had already clinched a first-round bye and a home-field edge throughout the American Conference playoffs, pulled quarterback Peyton Manning and other starters with a 15-10 lead in the third quarter and paid the price.

Indianapolis was 14-0 and by beating the Jets and Buffalo next week would have become only the third team in NFL history to complete an unbeaten season, after the 2007 New York Giants went 16-0 and the 1972 Miami Dolphins went 14-0.

A 9-3 Colts' half-time lead was erased when New York's Brad Smith returned the second-half kickoff 106 yards for a touchdown, giving the Jets a 10-9 lead.

Donald Brown answered for the Colts on a one-yard touchdown run to give the Colts a 15-10 edge and with concerns over injuries to key players ahead of the playoffs, Indianapolis benched Manning and others with 20 minutes to go.

Having said a playoff run to a Super Bowl crown was more important than an unbeaten regular season, the Colts were true to their word and the Jets, in dire need of a victory to help their playoff chances, took full advantage.

The Jets defense forced a fumble from Curtis Painter, Manning's understudy, and New York's Marques Douglas recovered it for a touchdown that put the Jets ahead to stay.

Mark Sanchez connected with Dustin Keller on a two-point conversion pass to put the Jets ahead 18-15 and Jay Feely kicked a 43-yard field goal to put the visitors ahead 21-15 with 13:23 to play.

The clincher came with 5:38 remaining on a one-yard touchdown run by Thomas Jones and a Sanchez two-point conversion pass for the final margin.

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