NFL
Broncos break Colts, secure playoff berth

By Michael Marot
The Associated Press

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INDIANAPOLIS — Clinton Portis just knew his teammates would take Denver into the playoffs.

Quentin Griffin, Mike Anderson and Jake Plummer didn't disappoint.

With an injured Portis cheering from the sideline, Griffin ran for 136 yards, Anderson added 56 yards and a touchdown and Plummer ran for two scores as the Broncos pounded Indianapolis 31-17 last night.

"I think I'm playing for my job," Portis joked. "These guys went out and played great."

It was the Broncos' fourth straight victory and completed what seemed an improbable playoff run; just a month ago, they were 6-5. Denver (10-5) will make its first playoff appearance since 2000 and just its second since John Elway retired after the 1998 Super Bowl title season.

For the Colts (11-4), it was a gut-wrenching loss. They could have wrapped up the AFC South title at home and put themselves in position for a first-round bye.

Indianapolis still can win the division next week, with a win at Houston or a Tennessee loss, but will have to play in the first round because New England (13-2) will have a better overall record and Kansas City (12-3) is guaranteed of a better conference record.

If yesterday's game was any indication, the Colts could be in for another long day.

"We have to look at that because it looks like there's a good chance we could play these guys down the road," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "We're going to have to see how we can play them the next time."

Denver ran nearly twice as many plays as the Colts, 71-37, produced 227 yards on the ground and held the ball for 44:58 — even without Portis, the NFL's second-leading rusher with 1,591 yards. Portis was inactive after suffering a sprained right knee and ankle last week against Cleveland.

But he was a part of the action. Wearing orange shoes, orange-and-white gloves and a baseball cap, Portis constantly prodded his teammates.

Anderson, the 2000 offensive rookie of the year, was the Broncos' power runner, Griffin the speedster and Plummer the trickster as he scrambled effectively and gained yardage off quarterback draws.

"We were just going to try to change it up," coach Mike Shanahan said. "The second half, we had the lead, so we tried to control the clock some."

Griffin averaged nearly five yards on his 28 carries, Anderson continually ran through tackles and the Colts' defense couldn't get off the field.

Indianapolis' offense also struggled. It never had a sustained drive in the second half and spent most of the night watching.

While Peyton Manning became the first NFL quarterback to pass for 4,000 yards in five straight seasons, Marvin Harrison became the league's 21st player to top 10,000 yards receiving and kicker Mike Vanderjagt moved within one kick of tying Gary Anderson's record for most consecutive field goals, it was still one of the Colts' poorest performances of the season.

Manning completed just 12 of 23 passes for 146 yards and Harrison had six catches for 85 yards.

Copyright © 2003 The Seattle Times Company