INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts are the Evander Holyfields of NFL defenses. They are big enough to qualify for the heavyweight division and may be good enough to be considered a champion.
|  | | Detroit's David Sloan, right, dives for a 7-yard gain as he is tackled by Colts linebacker Cornelius Bennett. |
They just lack the knockout punch.
Sunday's 30-18 victory over the Detroit Lions was an example of the Colts' defense performing at its best. The Colts jumped to a 23-0 first-half lead, while the defense held Lions quarterback Charlie Batch to 34 net yards in the first half and 60 yards in total offense.
Still, Colts fans worried about a comeback. And sure enough, there were the Lions driving 52 yards with 2:32 remaining in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 23-18 on a Herman Moore 5-yard touchdown catch. A quick three-and-out by the Colts' offense gave the Lions the ball at their 20 with 1:59 left.
Rookie cornerback David Macklin made a game-saving interception by stepping in front of a slant pass intended for Johnnie Morton. But even then, the fans worried.
"We're not a dominating defense, and I don't think there is anybody in that locker room who would disagree," Colts coach Jim Mora said. "We've got to fight and scratch and claw for any success that we have. Our coaches do a great job of game-planning. We rope-a-dope them some."
Ah, yes, the old Muhammad Ali rope-a-dope. The Indianapolis Colts' version of rope-a-dope is the zone blitz, coordinated by Vic Fangio. Physically, the Colts can't dominate. It shows in their statistics. In their first seven games, they created only seven turnovers.
That's right, seven turnovers. Only the Arizona Cardinals entered Week 8 with fewer turnovers. The Lions entered with 21 and grabbed five more from the Colts.
"We're bringing people all of the time," Mora said. "We're bringing safeties, linebackers, everyone. And it's not just for pass pressure. It's also for stopping the run."
In fact, the Colts turn over defensive players more than they create fumbles and interceptions. But rope-a-dope works, and if the Colts can have the same efficiency down the stretch as they did against the Colts, they may sneak past an AFC Championship Game.
After all, the Vikings and Rams are the NFC's elite teams, but they suffered from the same weakness. The Vikings are having troubles each week stopping teams on third downs. The Rams can't stop offenses for three downs.
"Actually, I don't think our defense gets enough credit," quarterback Peyton Manning said. "I think they don't get the credit because they are in a division that has four great defenses -- the Dolphins, Bills, Jets and Patriots. I think we have lots of playmakers, and certainly coach Fangio gives a lot of different looks. I know going against them in two-a-days during the summer, they give you a lot of looks."
Fangio's defense did a good job of duping the Lions and quarterback Charlie Batch on Sunday. First, the defensive line had to compensate for the loss of their best tackle, Ellis Johnson, who is out following arthroscopic knee surgery. In his place was rookie Josh Williams, who was playing with his broken right thumb in a cast.
Defensive end Chad Bratzke is their only legitimate pass rusher, but his best work is done in the RCA Dome. Fifteeen of his 18 sacks in 20 games as a Colt have come at home.
Tyrone Poole intercepted a Batch pass, but it was only the second grabbed by a starting Colts cornerback all season. Poole and Jeff Burris combined for only five last season.
Because the Colts lack defensive playmakers, they have to confuse offenses rather than win the one-on-one battles.
"Throughout the eight games, physically we haven't been just getting pounded," Mora said. "When teams run the ball like a draw play or screens and stuff like that, it's not like people have been lining up and smash-mouthing it down our throats. We have hung in there good from the physical standpoint. Last year's defense, statistically, was kind of in the middle of the pack like 15th. That's kind of how we are right now."
Which should be a warning for opponents. If they don't want the Colts to be a perennial AFC champion, they better beat the Colts before general manager Bill Polian starts adding playmakers to the defense because you know he will.
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The defense has taken a lot of heat from the media, but it's a team game. We have to pick each other up. Today, the defense stepped up when the offense made mistakes. ” |
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— Chad Bratzke, Colts defensive end |
Over the past two seasons, he's been adding athletes, and they are good ones. Linebackers Mike Peterson and Marcus Washington have speed. Chad Cota is a hard-hitting safety. Williams came in clean to sack Batch for a safety. Macklin, another product of this year's draft, grabbed his first interception as the team's third cornerback.
"We do have a young defense, but they don't play young," Bratzke said. "When a veteran gets hurt, a young guy comes in to play. Josh came in and did a great job for Ellis Johnson. David Macklin had a big interception."
And the offense -- where most of the payroll is rightfully designated -- tested the defense with five turnovers. The defense only allowed seven points from those turnovers.
Two big stops came in the third quarter. Punt returner Terrence Wilkins fumbled a return that was recovered at the Colts' 20. Peterson forced a fumble from the hands of James Stewart that was recovered by the one-handed Williams at the Colts' 6.
Later in the period, punter Hunter Smith made the critical stop. He chased down Desmond Howard on what turned into an 80-yard punt return and stopped him at the Colts' 2. Indianapolis stopped them on three plays and made the Lions settle for a Jason Hanson field goal to cut the Colts' lead to 23-11.
"The defense has taken a lot of heat from the media, but it's a team game," Bratzke said. "We have to pick each other up. Today, the defense stepped up when the offense made mistakes. We have not been good on turnovers, but we are trying to get better. Today, we did."
Mora, a defensive coach, had to criticize himself for making a defense that caused four turnovers work a little more than it should. With 1:42 left in the game, James broke free for a 24-yard touchdown to ice the game at 30-18, but Mora blasted himself.
"It is a coaching error on my part, and we are going to have to practice it," Mora said. "Edgerrin should have dropped on that touchdown and he shouldn't have scored. He makes the first down and the game is over. We just run out the clock. That is not his fault. That is my fault."
Of course, any other AFC East coach would be happy with a 12-point lead with less than two minutes left. With the Colts, there is still that doubt.
John Clayton is the senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
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