Caldwell, in his first season as the Colts’ head coach, said many may view the production in the team’s running game this past season as solely reflective of the running backs, that the reason the Colts finished next-to-last last in the NFL in rushing yards should be a discussion in which only the runners should be included.

Which is something Caldwell has in common with his predecessor.

Because throughout this past season Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy often said whatever problems there were in the running offense stemmed from a number of areas.

And Caldwell hardly could agree more.

“You can’t always just pinpoint one position, one particular issue,” Caldwell said recently during an interview for this story on the team’s running backs, the second of a position-by-position series scheduled to run on Colts.com the rest of the month.

“Otherwise, it would be very easy to fix. Often times, there is a combination of things, that you’re just not consistent enough across the board. That’s the key.

“We have to get back to the point where we’re very, very consistent in our running game.”

The Colts, after ranking no worse than 19th in the NFL in rushing in eight of the last nine seasons, finished this past season 31st of 32 teams, rushing for an average of 79.6 yards per game.

Joseph Addai, after rushing for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons and making the Pro Bowl following the 2007 season, finished this past season with 544 yards and five touchdowns on 155 carries, a 3.5-yards-per-carry average. He started each of his 12 appearances.

“We certainly feel good about Joseph,” Caldwell said. “He’s a talented guy and he’s been a productive guy. We just anticipate that 2009 won’t be any different.”

Addai’s backup, Dominic Rhodes, rushed for 538 yards and six touchdowns on 152 carries. Rhodes, who spent 2001-06 with the Colts before spending a year with Oakland, re-signed with the Colts last offseason and provided solid depth and an energy level when Addai was out.

He became an unrestricted free agent in late February, but has yet to sign elsewhere.

Caldwell said a return was possible (of his return).

“Free agency is still obviously going on, so although he’s not on the roster, it doesn’t mean Dom’s gone,” Caldwell said. “There’s always that possibility.”

Throughout the latter weeks of last season, Colts President Bill Polian spoke highly of two other backs on the roster, rookies Chad Simpson and Lance Ball.

Simpson, who signed as a free agent shortly after the 2008 NFL Draft, started the season on the practice squad, then spent the final 11 regular-season games on the roster. He rushed for 45 yards on 15 carries. He finished the season with 15 kickoff returns for a 22.9-yard average.

“Chad Simpson certainly demonstrated that he has some skill and ability,” Caldwell said. “He didn’t get a chance to showcase it much, but he’s a hard-working, tough guy. Those of us who have seen it in practice certainly know what he’s capable of doing, so we’re anxious to see him get an opportunity if that opportunity should that arise.”

Ball, who spent time on St. Louis’ practice squad as well as that of the Colts last season, rushed for 83 yards on 13 carries in a 23-0 victory over Tennessee in the regular-season finale.

“We had an opportunity to see a little bit of him, obviously, in the Tennessee game,” Caldwell said. “He’s a very capable runner. He’s smart, tough. We’re also excited to see him come along and realize his potential as well.

“We think we have two good, young backs there in position to help us.”

The final back on the roster is Clifton Dawson, a third-year veteran from Harvard who played in 11 games as a rookie. He was placed on injured reserve early last November.

Caldwell said whoever the back, the responsibility of the running game falls on more than just the player lining up behind the quarterbacks. Dungy used to talk often of the importance of the running game in the Colts’ offense – that while it emphasized the pass with players such as nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Peyton Manning and three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Reggie Wayne, the ability to run enough to make that part of the offense a legitimate threat was key. The ability to run when necessary – in short-yardage situations and late in games – also was key, Dungy said.

The only other time in the last 10 seasons the Colts finished out of the Top 20 in rushing was 2002, when then-running back Edgerrin James was returning from a season-ending knee injury the previous season. The Colts that season finished 26th in the NFL in rushing. The offensive ranking was ninth, one of two times in the last decade the Colts have finished outside the Top 5 in the category.

The other time was this past season, and Caldwell said with an improved running game a priority, the improvement must come from more than one position.

“What does that take? I think it takes work in every single area, whether it’s in the way in which we handle our fundamentals from a blocking standpoint, or whether it’s a ball-carrying issue, or whether it’s an audible issue,” he said. “All of those things have to be considered, and that’s what we’re working hard on this offseason, getting ourselves in position so that we are as productive as we used to be in previous years in terms of the running game.

“Everybody kind of points at one individual, often times at one position. It’s certainly not the case. There are a lot of folks who have to do things right in order for us to be successful in terms of the running game.”

Hookscenter.com wire report.

Reid, a four-year veteran, joined the Colts as an undrafted free agent from the University of Minnesota following the 2005 NFL Draft. In his four seasons, Reid started two of 55 games, totaling 79 tackles, 47 solo, 2.5 sacks and two fumbles recovered.

In 2008, Reid played in all 16 regular-season games, finishing with 19 tackles and two sacks.

Reid also was known as a key contributor on special teams. He registered 62 special teams tackles with the Colts, while leading the club the past two seasons with 22 in 2007 and 18 in 2008. He was second on the team with 19 special teams tackles in 2006. In 2007, Reid was named AFC Special Teams Player-of-the-Week for his performance vs. Houston December 23.

Reid was one of seven Colts players to become unrestricted free agents February 27, joining defensive back Matt Giordano, linebacker Tyjuan Hagler, defensive back Keiwan Ratliff, running back Dominic Rhodes, punter Hunter Smith and defensive end Josh Thomas.

Hookscenter.com wire report.

The three-time Pro Bowl center who was expected to be one of the top centers on the free agent market suddenly changed plans Thursday, signing a three-year deal that will likely allow the 33-year-old retire to finish his career with the team that brought him into the league.

Saturday’s agent, Ralph Cindrich, would not disclose financial terms, but said the deal was completed just hours before free agents could start signing with new teams. Cindrich said Saturday will now be paid like one of the NFL’s top centers.

What changed things was the salary cap number. It was expected to be $123 million, but increased to $127 million Wednesday night, and that gave the Colts more flexibility to re-sign Saturday.

“It looked very dire,” Saturday told The Associated Press. “I had made up my mind that we were headed to free agency and until yesterday that was the plan. Then they came up with this deal. I’m extremely excited about continuing the journey and being part of this team.”

For the Colts, it was a rare bit of good news in a week filled with players lining up to test the open market.

On Wednesday, the Colts officially released record-setting receiver Marvin Harrison, saving them about $6 million in cap room. Last week, Thomas Mills, the agent for longtime punter Hunter Smith, said his client did not expect to sign before Thursday night’s deadline and would test the market.

Other veterans joined the club Thursday. Craig Domann, the agent for defensive end Josh Thomas, told The Associated Press his client would become a free agent, and The Indianapolis Star reported running back Dominic Rhodes would, too. The Associated Press left repeated messages for Rhodes’ agent, Todd France, at his office, on his cell phone and through e-mail.

Wednesday morning, it looked like Saturday would join them.

Instead, the Colts and three-time MVP Peyton Manning will have their longest-tenured starter on the offensive line back for three years.

“You never know how everything is going to go,” Saturday said. “Maybe you finish the three years and you’re done, or maybe you come back as a backup or whatever. But this leaves those options open.”

The Colts could still face significant changes.

Besides Harrison, Smith, Thomas and Rhodes, linebacker Tyjuan Hagler, defensive tackle Darrell Reid, cornerback Keiwan Ratliff and safety Matt Giordano all appear headed to free agency, too. All started at least one game in 2007 or 2008 with the Colts.

If the Colts can’t re-sign any of those players, it would be one of the largest exoduses in the 11-year tenure of team president Bill Polian.

What’s changed? New salary cap rules and a wave of lucrative deals have constrained Indy’s budget.

Since 2004, 10 players have signed deals worth at least $19 million – not counting Saturday’s new deal.

The bigger problem are rules changes that accelerate the charge for prorated bonuses when veterans are released. They also limit the base salary increases to 30 percent for players who sign new deals in 2009.

The combination has put the Colts in a salary cap pickle for the first time in the Polian era.

Polian has almost always preferred signing his own players rather than paying big bucks to players from other teams.

The most notable exceptions this decade were receiver Brandon Stokley, who left Baltimore to join the Colts, and former New England kicker Adam Vinatieri.

But last week, it appeared the Colts would be parting with some of their best-known players as they pondered using the franchise tag to keep cornerback Kelvin Hayden, their top offseason priority. When Hayden agreed to a five-year, $43 million contract last Thursday, the dominoes started falling Saturday’s direction.

The Colts offered Saturday a one-year deal, which he rejected. Negotiations were stalled until the Colts learned Wednesday night they had another $4 million to work with. So they went back to Saturday and offered him the longer deal he had been seeking.

It didn’t take long for Saturday, who began his career as an undrafted free agent in 1999 and started 138 games over the last nine years, to make his decision.

“The one-year deal wasn’t in his market value, and the one-year deal would have been catastrophic,” Cindrich said. “This one makes him one of the best-paid centers in the league and it’s all real money.”

Indy also offered one-year tenders to defensive tackle Daniel Muir and running back Lance Ball.

Muir, who was claimed off waivers last season and played in six games, received a $460,000 tender. Ball, who was signed to the practice squad in mid-October and rushed for 83 yards in the regular-season finale, received a $310,000 tender.

Hookscenter.com wire report.

On Monday, the two sides reached agreement on one thing: Harrison will be a free agent.

Agent Tom Condon told the Associated Press that Indianapolis has agreed to release the franchise’s all-time leading receiver, although an official announcement is not expected until Tuesday or Wednesday.

The decision comes one day after team president Bill Polian said he hoped to cut a deal that would keep Harrison in Indy. When Harrison said no, the Colts said farewell.

“Basically, we were not able to come to any kind of agreement, it was not contentious and the Colts have agreed to release him,” Condon said in a phone interview.

Team officials declined comment and a message was left by the Associated Press at the office of team owner Jim Irsay.

It’s not a surprising move because the Colts would save about $6 million, based on Harrison’s base salary. They would still be charged for prorated bonuses from the $66 million deal he signed in December 2004.

The Colts found it too expensive for a 36-year-old receiver coming off one of the least productive seasons of his career.

Harrison ranks second in NFL history with 1,102 receptions, and the move will disappoint many Colts fans, who embraced Harrison as a favorite. They referred to Harrison, Peyton Manning and Edgerrin James as “The Triplets,” and Harrison was one of the franchise’s most identifiable player in the last decade.

His penchant for toe-tapping catches along the sideline and incredible grabs in the middle of the field helped the Colts build one of the league’s most successful franchises in this decade.

But longtime teammates understood why Harrison wanted to become a free agent.

“I think whatever Marvin chooses to do for himself, he has to do,” center Jeff Saturday said Sunday night. “I love Marvin as a friend and as a teammate.”

Indianapolis took Harrison in the first round of the 1996 draft and when Manning arrived two years later, the tandem began a record-setting journey. 

They combined for more completions, yardage and touchdowns than any duo in league history.

Harrison made eight Pro Bowls, won a Super Bowl ring, and his 14,550 yards rank fourth on the NFL’s career list. He is No. 5 all-time with 128 TD catches and holds all major single-season and career receiving marks for the Colts.

Over the past two seasons, though, Harrison hasn’t been up to his usual standards.

He missed all but five games in 2007 because of injuries, underwent offseason knee surgery and then caught 60 passes in 2008 — far less than half of his NFL record 143 in 2002.

Philadelphia police also believe one of Harrison’s guns was used in an April shooting in his hometown. No charges were filed against Harrison, and the man who made the accusation was convicted on a misdemeanor charge of lying to police.

On the field, Manning has looked more frequently for three-time Pro Bowl selection Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez, a first-round pick in 2007.

Yet coaches and Polian insisted Harrison’s skills had not deteriorated.

“What I saw is a guy who is as quick as he’s been, with the same hands, and he has the ability he’s always had,” new coach Jim Caldwell said Thursday at the NFL’s annual scouting combine.

And Polian insisted he still wanted Harrison back in his familiar No. 88 jersey.

“Hopefully, we’ll find a way to work through that (the contract),” Polian said Sunday. “I don’t know if we will, but we hope to.”

They couldn’t.

Now Harrison will look for work elsewhere. Some have speculated that he would like to play with his hometown Eagles and former college teammate Donovan McNabb.

The Colts will have a vastly different look next season.

Former coach Tony Dungy retired in January and was replaced by Caldwell. Caldwell has hired new defensive and special teams coordinators and three of the four longest-tenured players on the roster are heading to free agency, which opens Friday.

Saturday said Sunday night he intended to test the market despite getting an offer from the Colts late last week. Punter Hunter Smith’s agent, Thomas Mills, said last week Indy would not try to re-sign Smith before free agency began.

And now Harrison will join them on the open market.

Hookscenter.com wire report.

Earlier Sunday, Colts president Bill Polian told reporters at the NFL’s annual scouting combine that the team was trying to rework Harrison’s deal to lower his salary cap number from approximately $13.4 million, the highest number of any receiver in the NFL.

But a person familiar with the negotiations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team has not made an announcement, said Harrison “probably would not be interested in” taking a pay cut.

If Harrison decides against a redoing his contract, the only other options for the Colts would be to keep Harrison at his cap number or to release him.

Harrison has been one of the Colts’ most identifiable players since their move to Indianapolis. He ranks No. 2 in the NFL in career receptions (1,102) and holds all of the franchise’s major career and season receiving records.

He is also 36 years old, coming off one of the least productive seasons of his career — he missed all but five games in 2007 — and with the Colts in a salary cap crunch, Polian may not be able to keep Harrison at his current price.

Next year’s cap is expected to be $123 million.

“The new cap rules, that’s not something we planned for,” Polian said. “As a result, we have some issues with veterans, including Marvin. Hopefully, we’ll find a way to work through that. I don’t know if we will, but we hope to.”

Since being drafted by the Colts in 1996, Harrison has been a model of consistency.

He’s made eight Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl ring. His 14,550 yards rank fourth on the NFL’s career list and he’s No. 5 with 128 TD catches. Harrison and Peyton Manning also teamed to produce the most proficient passing tandem in league history.

But Manning has increasingly thrown more passes to Reggie Wayne, who has made the last three Pro Bowls, while Anthony Gonzalez, Indy’s first-round draft pick in 2007, has made a push for more playing time.

Polian and coach Jim Caldwell have repeatedly said they do not believe Harrison’s skills are deteriorating.

“What I saw is a guy who is as quick as he’s been, with the same hands and he has the ability he’s always had,” Caldwell said Thursday.

Philadelphia police also believe one of Harrison’s guns was used in a shooting in his hometown last summer. No charges were filed against Harrison, and the man who made the accusation is now headed to trial for lying to police.

Harrison isn’t the only veteran the Colts could lose this week.

Three-time Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday will become an unrestricted free agent Friday if the Colts cannot work out a deal before then.

Saturday has started 138 games in nine seasons and is responsible for making blocking calls along the line.

Those two, along with Manning, are the longest-tenured players on the Colts roster, and Polian would like to get deals done with both even though it seems increasingly unlikely in Harrison’s case.

Saturday’s agent, Ralph Cindrich said Sunday night, that Saturday is preparing to test free agency although Polian has made an offer to the center.

“We’ve not made any decisions yet, we’re still talking and we’ve made an offer,” Polian said. “He’s mulling that over, and we’ll see where that goes.”

The problem for Indianapolis is salary cap space.

On Thursday, the Colts signed cornerback Kelvin Hayden to a new five-year, $43 million deal, the team’s latest jackpot winner. Since 2004, Manning, Harrison, Wayne, Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, Ryan Diem, Bob Sanders, Dallas Clark and Ryan Lilja have all signed contracts worth at least $19 million.

Polian does not believe those deals have put Indy in the money pinch; the new salary cap rules have.

Clearly, though, Harrison’s six-year $66 million deal, with $22 million in bonuses, signed in December 2004 is now proving too costly and if Harrison doesn’t accept a pay cut, he may be looking for work in another city.

“I don’t want to characterize the discussions,” Polian said of the negotiations with Harrison. “But we are impacted by the salary cap for the first time in 11 years.”

Hookscenter.com wire report.

In an e-mail to The Indianapolis Star late Saturday, Ralph Cindrich said “discussions and events this past week” confirmed the team will allow Saturday to “test the free agent market,” which opens Friday.

Saturday, 33 and a three-time Pro Bowl selection, is one of eight Colts who will become unrestricted free agents at the end of the week.

Depending upon interest shown by other teams, “there is a possibility he could return to the Colts,” Cindrich added.

Saturday has been the cornerstone of the Colts’ offensive line and quarterback Peyton Manning’s center since 2000.

With Saturday starting 138 regular-season games the past nine seasons — he missed six games with injuries, including four last season — Manning has worked behind one of the league’s most efficient offensive lines. The unit allowed a league-low 178 sacks during that stretch, tying a club record by yielding only 14 last season.

The decision not to attempt to re-sign Saturday isn’t a surprise, especially on the heels of the Colts locking up cornerback Kelvin Hayden with a five-year, $43 million contract last week.

Hookscenter.com wire report.

Two turnovers, short fields and playing against a worn down, short-handed Colts defense wasn’t the answer, either.

Peyton Manning led the Colts on two fourth-quarter scoring drives, delivering another blow to Detroit’s psyche with a 31-21 victory Sunday and keeping the Lions on track for a winless season.

“No one wants to be part of that. No one wants to have their name involved with that,” quarterback Dan Orlovsky said. “It’s tough to swallow, everybody says we stink. We don’t have much debate with that.”

Indianapolis (10-4) might quibble with that now, but nobody can argue the dreadful numbers.

Detroit (0-14) has lost 15 straight and 21 of 22. The Lions are two defeats away becoming the first NFL team to finish 0-16.

The Lions have been close, losing five times by eight points or fewer. It would have been six if Adam Vinatierii hadn’t made a last-minute field goal Sunday, but close isn’t good enough.

Manning was 28-of-37 for 318 yards and one touchdown, and although the Lions did a respectable job defending receivers, they allowed tight end Dallas Clark to roam free.

Clark finished with 12 receptions, a single-game franchise record for tight ends, 142 yards and one acrobatic touchdown catch. He broke his single-season record for receptions by a tight end and set a career high with 684 yards.

“I don’t think you can ever have the perfect game,” Clark said. “That’s what you love about this game, it keeps you driven.”

The Colts fumbled four times, had a potential scoring drive derailed by a holding penalty and the defense struggled to get off the field in the second half.

Yet they clicked when it mattered most.

Indy (10-4) has won seven straight, earned double-digit victories for a seventh straight season, and can clinch a seventh straight playoff spot with a win Thursday at Jacksonville.

“We weren’t as sharp as we’d like to be. We couldn’t make the plays we needed to put the game away, but it’s something we expected,” coach Tony Dungy said. “You obviously can’t mishandle two punts and give them short fields. Those are situations that usually get you beat.”

Except against Detroit.

While the miscues made the game more competitive than expected, the Lions couldn’t capitalize.

They settled for field goals after twice starting drives inside the Colts 40, and couldn’t stop Manning.

Dominic Rhodes, who replaced Joseph Addai (shoulder) in the lineup, ran 20 times for 86 yards and two TDs including the winner with 8:39 left. Rookie Chad Simpson scored the first touchdown of his career, and Reggie Wayne caught seven passes for 104 yards.

And against a defense missing three starters — safety Bob Sanders, middle linebacker Gary Brackett and defensive tackle Keyunta Dawson — Orlovsky hooked up with Calvin Johnson nine times for 110 yards and one score. Orlovsky took over for Daunte Culpepper, who couldn’t throw Sunday because of a right shoulder injury.

“We’re getting better,” coach Rod Marinelli said. “We’ve got to keep working hard, find a way to win. If I could do anything different to get a win, whether it’s our first game or 50th game, I would do it.”

After falling into a 21-10 halftime deficit, the Lions fought back.

Keiwan Ratliff fumbled a punt early in the third quarter, setting up Jason Hanson’s 31-yard field goal. Kevin Smith followed that by looping around the left side for a 1-yard TD run with 12:52 left in the game. Orlovsky tied it at 21 with a 2-point conversion pass to Casey FitzSimmons.

It was all Manning after that.

He methodically marched the Colts 88 yards, finally giving to Rhodes for a 1-yard TD run and a 28-21 lead, and he closed it out by grinding out nearly all of the final 5 minutes before Vinatieri’s 30-yard kick sealed it with 39 seconds left.

“I thought we played good enough to win,” Lions cornerback Travis Fisher said. “I’m just trying to get a win. Who care’s about being close? Who cares about any of the other things? The only pressure on us is we need to get a win, period.”

Hookscenter.com wire report.

Peyton Manning threw for three touchdowns, Dominic Rhodes ran for one and cornerback Kelvin Hayden’s interception return produced another as the Colts routed Cincinnati 35-3 on Sunday.

It was a stark contrast from the past month when Indy became just the third team in league history to win five consecutive games by six points or fewer. No. 6 had a completely different look.

Manning’s uncanny mixture of methodical drives and quick-hitting plays were too much for Cincinnati’s beleaguered defense, and after failing to score an offensive touchdown last week at Cleveland, Manning led the Colts on three TD drives of 69 yards or longer.

Indy’s most lopsided win of the season also kept it in position for one of the AFC’s two wild-card spots. The Colts (9-4) host winless Detroit next week.

For Cincinnati (1-11-1), the scenario looked familiar, too.

Manning completed 26 of 32 for 277 yards, matching his season high for touchdown passes. Cincinnati lost four turnovers — one stopped a potential scoring drive, one set up a Colts score, the third was returned for a touchdown and the last ended the game. Ryan Fitzpatrick was sacked four times, and although Cincinnati stayed close for a quarter, the Bengals eventually broke down.

Shayne Graham produced the only Cincinnati points for the second straight week and the Bengals have been outscored 96-16 in their latest three-game losing streak. They haven’t scored a touchdown in 11 quarters and have lost six straight to the Colts.

Indy wasted no time in getting started.

On their second possession, Manning repeatedly hurt the Bengals for big yardage before handing off to Rhodes, who ran right, broke one tackle and virtually walked into the end zone for a 7-0 lead.

Graham’s 19-yard field goal midway through the second quarter cut the lead to 7-3.

Then everything unraveled for Cincinnati.

Hayden jumped Jerome Simpson’s route, picked off Fitzpatrick’s pass and ran it back to the Bengals 15 with 1:01 left in the half. Chris Henry’s penalty for unnecessary roughness moved the ball to the Cincinnati 7, and two plays later Manning connected with Marvin Harrison on a 5-yard TD pass to make it 14-3 at the half.

Manning was only warming up.

He started the second half with a 15-play drive that lasted 8:45 and ended with a 2-yard TD pass to Anthony Gonzalez for a 21-3 lead. The next time Indy got the ball, Manning found Harrison for a 67-yard catch-and-run that set up Manning’s third TD pass, a 4-yarder to Dallas Clark to make it 28-3.

And Hayden’s 85-yard interception return sealed it with 5:02 to play.

Fitzpatrick was 18-of-26 for 170 yards and T.J. Houshmandzadeh caught eight passes for 75 yards to lead the Bengals.

Hookscenter.com wire report.

Seeking their sixth consecutive victory, the Colts meet the woeful Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Indianapolis (8-4) has reached the playoffs each season since 2002. The Colts also have won each of the last five AFC South titles and the franchise’s second Super Bowl title in 2006.

But they hardly resembled a championship-caliber squad through the first two months of the season, losing four of their first seven and two of three at their new home. That rough stretch was capped by a 31-21 defeat at South-leading Tennessee on Oct. 27.

Indianapolis hasn’t lost since and put together a perfect November, winning all five games by a combined 20 points. Last Sunday, the Colts trailed 6-3 at halftime before defensive end Robert Mathis returned a fumble for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of a 10-6 victory at Cleveland.

Indianapolis wasn’t able to chip away at its three-game deficit on Tennessee, but still heads into Week 14 tied with the inside track for one of the two wild-card spots. The Colts are tied with Baltimore for fifth overall in the AFC and own the head-to-head tiebreaker after beating the Ravens on Oct. 12.

“(Every) game feels like it’s ‘win and advance,’ or ‘lose and be eliminated,’” quarterback Peyton Manning told the Colts’ official Web site. “We’ve put ourselves in a decent position. We just can’t afford to give one back or get behind.”

Indianapolis has a chance to keep things going with a favorable December schedule. Following the Bengals, the Colts’ next two opponents – Detroit and Jacksonville – are a combined 4-20 entering this weekend. They’ll wrap up the season on Dec. 28 at home against the Titans.

Before looking ahead to that matchup, however, Indianapolis must first beat Cincinnati (1-10-1). The Colts have won 10 of the last 13 meetings, and have defeated the Bengals by an average of 13.4 points while winning the last five matchups.

Indianapolis, winners of four straight at home over Cincinnati including 34-16 in 2006 in the most recent matchup, knows it can’t become complacent.

“Especially at this point in the season, you take records out of the equation,” Manning said. “You’re playing to try to improve every single week, and hopefully, by improving, that results in you winning the game. That’s the idea, that you have to try to get better this week and we’re playing a tough team.”

Manning has completed 63.9 percent of his passes (108-for-169) for 1,365 yards and 14 touchdowns in winning all five career games versus Cincinnati.

The two-time league MVP, though, went 15-for-21 for a season-low 125 yards on Sunday as the Colts were held without an offensive TD in a regular-season game for the first time since Sept. 7, 2003.

The offense managed just 215 yards, so Indianapolis instead relied on its defense. It surrendered a season-low 193 yards to Cleveland, and has allowed 17.6 points per contest during the five-game winning streak.

But the unit has been without reigning defensive player of the year Bob Sanders, who has missed three straight games with an ailing right knee. Middle linebacker Gary Brackett is expected to miss at least two games with a broken bone in his leg.

Even though Indianapolis’ defense won’t be at full strength, it might not make a difference against a Cincinnati offense that has mustered league-worst averages in both yardage (251.8) and points (12.6).

Last Sunday, the Bengals totaled 155 yards and managed a season low in points in a 34-3 home defeat to Baltimore.

“When you get your head kicked in like that, there’s not much to say,” said Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, whose team has lost two straight since tying Philadelphia on Nov. 16. “This team won’t have to go through another season like this. Nor will the fans.”

Ryan Fitzpatrick went 12-for-31 for 124 yards and fumbled twice before giving way late to third-stringer Jordan Palmer, who had one of his two pass attempts intercepted and returned for a touchdown.

Fitzpatrick has six TDs, seven interceptions and eight fumbles while starting eight consecutive games in place of injured Pro Bowler Carson Palmer. Fitzpatrick has never faced the Colts.

Meanwhile, receivers T.J. Houshmandzadeh (810 yards, four touchdowns) and Chad Ocho Cinco (428 yards, four touchdowns) combined for eight receptions and 109 yards versus Cleveland. The duo has compiled 410 receiving yards and one touchdown in three games against Indianapolis.

As the offense looks to regroup, so does the defense. Though Cincinnati has held teams to 356.8 yards per contest this season, it allowed a season-high 451 against Baltimore.

The Bengals are 0-6 on the road this season, and 2-14 there since Dec. 18, 2006.

Hookscenter.com wire report.

Defensive end Robert Mathis scooped up Derek Anderson’s fumble and rumbled 39 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter as the Colts stayed in the thick of the AFC playoff chase by winning their fifth straight, an ugly 10-6 decision over the snake-bitten Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Mathis’ big play helped bail out Manning and Indy’s high-octane offense, which failed to score a TD and never got humming with its usual efficiency.

Still, the Colts (8-4) got a 30-yard field goal from Adam Vinatieri and improved to 5-0 in November, a month-long run that has allowed them to recover from a 3-4 start.

The Browns (4-8) lost their fourth straight at home and may have lost quarterback Derek Anderson and tight end Kellen Winslow for an extended period.

Anderson, starting in place of the injured Brady Quinn, injured his left leg in the final two minutes. He was dropping back to pass when offensive tackle Kevin Shaffer fell on him while being knocked backward by a charging Mathis. Anderson tried to get up, but couldn’t and had to be helped to the sideline.

Ken Dorsey, Cleveland’s third stringer who hadn’t played all season, came in for the final three plays and was intercepted on the Browns’ last snap.

Winslow went out on the first play of the third quarter with an ankle injury and didn’t return.

Those losses won’t help coach Romeo Crennel, who may be down to his final days for the Browns, who are 1-6 at home and haven’t scored in nearly 135 minutes.

Manning finished 15-for-21 for 125 yards and was unable to find the same holes in Cleveland’s secondary that Houston’s Sage Rosenfels, Denver’s Jay Cutler and Baltimore’s Joe Flacco exploited in recent weeks. The Colts had only 215 total yards, ran just 50 plays and had the ball for less than 28 minutes.

But they won, and that’s all that matters this time of year.

Anderson, who went 16 of 26 for 110 yards in his first start since being benched for Quinn, was setting up to throw on third down when he was hit from behind by Dwight Freeney, who bull rushed tackle Joe Thomas into his quarterback. The ball squirted loose, Mathis picked it up and lumbered in for the game’s first and only TD.

Crennel’s future could hang on the way the Browns finish this season. There are already rumors about the club’s interest in former Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher, but Browns owner Randy Lerner said earlier this week that he won’t make a decision on Crennel or general manager Phil Savage until after the season.

Lerner denied he has made contact with Cowher, who played linebacker for the Browns for three seasons and was an assistant coach with Cleveland from 1985-88.

The Colts came in as the NFL’s most efficient team inside their opponent’s 20-yard line, scoring a touchdown on 72 percent of their visits and coming away with points 94 percent of the time.

But they failed to get a TD on two drives deep into Cleveland territory in the first half.

Manning fumbled trying to sneak in from the 1-yard line just before halftime. On fourth-and-goal, Manning seemed to be on his way across the goal line, but when he reached out with the ball it was knocked away by Browns safety Brodney Pool. Colts tight end Dallas Clark pounced on the ball in the end zone, but only the fumbling player is allowed to recover it for a score.

Anderson completed his first seven passes — only one longer than 5 yards — and had the Browns on the Colts 9 following a 16-yard slant pass to Braylon Edwards.

But Cleveland’s longest scoring drive of the season bogged down and Phil Dawson kicked his second field goal to make it 6-3.

Hookscenter.com wire report.