Indy’s late defensive push saves the day
INDIANAPOLIS » The Indianapolis defense may have turned Aaron Rodgers into a believer Sunday.
After allowing three touchdown passes and 28 first- half points, the Colts gave up only three secondhalf points. They also forced a game- changing fumble less than a minute into overtime for a 34- 31 victory over Green Bay.
Rodrigo Blankenship won it with a 39- yard field goal with 7: 10 remaining.
Indy ( 7- 3) did it with an oldschool combination: The offense that played keep- away, a defense that came up with two three- andouts and a fourth- down stop late in the fourth quarter, and the key turnover in overtime.
Philip Rivers was 24 of 35 with 288 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in his 234th consecutive start, tying Eli Manning for the 10th- longest streak in league history. Jonathan Taylor had 22 carries for 90 yards in a wild game that included Green Bay scores in the final 10 seconds of each half; Indianapolis erasing a 14- point halftime deficit, then failing to seal the win because of five holding calls on its final drive in regulation.
Rodgers took full advantage of the second chance, hooking up with Marquez Valdes- Scantling on a 47yard pass play. That took the Packers from the 6- yard line to the Colts 47. Seven plays later, Mason Crosby tied the game at 31 with a 26- yard field goal with 3 seconds remaining.
Rodgers was 27 of 38 for 311 yards, three TD passes and one interception. Davante Adams had seven catches for 106 yards and one score, and Aaron Jones rushed for another.