INDIANAPOLIS — Peyton Manning warned this day was coming. Though few cared to listen.
As the Indianapolis Colts’ early-season hot streak continued, each win seemingly more clinical and efficient than the last, Manning remained a voice of reason.
Tougher days lie ahead, he cautioned. Even a team this talented can’t remain this dominant for long.
The San Francisco 49ers lived up to Manning’s words Sunday, forcing the Colts to the wire in an 18-14 victory. And Manning again said even stronger battles lie ahead.
“Certainly, it’s been a good start,” he said. “Coach (Jim) Caldwell knows we’re heading into the teeth of our schedule. That started today. We’re playing well, and we’re working hard. We’re going to continue to work hard and follow (Caldwell’s) lead.”
Caldwell became the first Colts head coach to win his first seven career games and the first to do it in the NFL since 1920. But the next five won’t get any easier.
Indianapolis hosts red-hot Houston next week before a big Sunday Night Football date with New England at Lucas Oil Stadium. A trip to Baltimore — which handed Denver its first loss of the season Sunday — follows before a rematch with the Texans in Houston.
The stretch closes at home against a struggling Tennessee team with nothing to lose and plenty of Colts’ hopes to spoil.
One big factor in Indianapolis’ favor is the play of its resurgent defense that forced two turnovers and held onto a four-point fourth-quarter lead Sunday.
“Our defense rose to the occasion when we needed it most,” Caldwell said. “We needed a couple of big stops (in the fourth quarter) to knock them out of field-goal range. That was huge. We were pleased with their effort. We may not have been perfect, but we found a way to win.”
Colts
Colts' road tougher ahead
Even a team this talented can't remain dominant for long
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Former Arabian prepares for Pac-12 championships, cheers Luck
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With the Indianapolis Colts transitioning to a 3-4 defense, Freeney is slated to move from the defensive end position he’s played for the past 11 years back a few steps to outside linebacker. -
Colts sign 15 undrafted free agents
Less than 48 hours after the conclusion of the 2012 NFL draft, Indianapolis Colts general manager Ryan Grigson finally found his cornerback.
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George Bremer: Critics, hold your horses
Colts fans with an uneasy feeling in their stomachs likely learned an important lesson this weekend. This process that the outside world calls rebuilding and the Colts internally term “Building the Monster” is not going to be an overnight success.
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Offense rules Colts 2012 draft
The Indianapolis Colts open and closed Ryan Grigson’s first draft by taking a quarterback.
In between, the team almost exclusively added playmakers to lineup alongside them. Eight of the Colts’ 10 picks were on the offensive side of the ball, including four of six picks on Saturday. - More Colts Headlines
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