Indianapolis Colts v. Cinncinati Bengals Game Notes - From Indy Colts

From NFLMedia.com and Colts

Making a nationally-televised appearance for the fourth time this season, the Indianapolis Colts, 10-3, host the Cincinnati Bengals, 8-5, on Monday, December 18 in the RCA Dome. Kickoff for the contest, broadcast coast-to-coast by ESPN and Westwood One, is 8:30 p.m. (EST).

The Colts and Bengals are meeting for the second straight season in a high-profile regular-season contest. Indianapolis, sporting a 9-0 mark, visited the 7-2 Bengals last November 20, taking a 45-37 shootout. The win gave the Colts a 13-8 edge in the league series. Both clubs enter Monday battling for playoff positioning. Indianapolis is coming off a 44-
17 loss last Sunday at Jacksonville. Cincinnati posted its fourth consecutive win with a 27-10 home verdict last Sunday over Oakland.

Indianapolis is 3-0 in nationally-televised games this season, takingSunday Night verdicts at the New York Giants (26-21 on September 10), at New England (27-20 on November 5) and versus Philadelphia (45-21 on November 26).

The Colts own the NFL's best regular-season record (87-38) since the start of the 1999 season, while being the only team to earn six playoff appearances in the last seven seasons. Indianapolis enters Monday's game as victors in 32 of its last 38 league games. Indianapolis' winning ways include a 23-6 record in AFC South play (including 12 wins in its last 14 divisional games), while the club has owned or shared the lead in 75 of 82 weeks of the division's existence.

Series Notes

The league series stands 13-8 in favor of the Colts, and 1-0 in favor of the Colts in post-season play. Indianapolis forged a 45-37 win at Cincinnati last November 20. Taking a 35-27 halftime lead with touchdowns on the first five possessions, the Colts earned an offensive shootout victory. QBPeyton Manning was 24-40-365, 3 TDs/1 int. passing to lead the Colts. WRReggie Wayne was 5-117, 1 TD, while TE/FB-Dallas Clark was 6-125, 1 TD and RB-Edgerrin James was 24-89, 2 TDs rushing. James tallied a rushing score in a 6th consecutive game as the Colts moved to 10-0. WR-Marvin Harrison was 5-42 to surpass 900 career receptions in his 149th game, the fastest pace in NFL history. Cincinnati produced 492 yards behind QBCarson Palmer (25-38-335, 2 TDs/1 int.).

Cincinnati rushed for 164 yards, while WR-Chad Johnson was 8-189, 1 TD receiving. The Colts posted a 28-21 victory over the Bengals on October 6, 2002 in the last regular-season series renewal in Indianapolis. In that contest, Indianapolis raced to a 21-0 first-half lead and never trailed. Manning was 21-34-224, 2 TDs/1 int. and tallied on an 11t rush to open scoring matters. Manning teamed with TEMarcus Pollard (3t) and Harrison (9-145, 1 TD, 3t) on first-half scoring plays, while James' (22-60, 1 TD) 3t fourth-quarter rush provided the winning points.

Cincinnati cut the deficit to 21-14 and 28-21, but DB-Idrees Bashir's last-minute interception of QB-Jon Kitna (31-43-244, 1 TD/3 ints.) sealed the outcome. DB-Walt Harris had two interceptions, while Cincinnati's RB-Corey Dillon (23-164, 2 TDs rushing) had a big day. The clubs met on October 24, 1999, with the Colts winning in the RCA Dome, 31-10. Cincinnati's last win in the league series came on November 9, 1997, 28-13 in Indianapolis. The Colts won the only playoff encounter between the clubs, 17-0 in Baltimore on December 26, 1970. The teams met annually in league play from 1992 through 1999.