Running Game Shines for Indianapolis Colts in Week Eight Win

Much ballyhoo has been made about Indianapolis Colts rookie running back, Vick Ballard, making an amazing game-winning touchdown dive to seal the 19-13 overtime victory against the Tennessee Titans. Ballard’s overtime score may have been the play of the year for the Colts so far, but the entire squad of running backs showed up on Sunday, helping to put up a season-high 171 rushing yards, and giving the 2012-13 Colts their first back-to-back wins.

The Colts are only rushing for 107 yards per game right now, but have still out-gained their seven opponents on the ground by 152 total yards. Four players ran the ball on Sunday, averaging five yards per rush, with a total of 34 carries. Ballard’s diving score after a quick screen pass may have won the game, but the only other touchdown for the Colts came on a 4th quarter goal-line rush, by second-year running back, Delone Carter. Coming back from knee surgery two weeks ago, running back Donald Brown led the team, with 80 yards on 14 carries. Even Andrew Luck got into the mix, rushing for 28 yards of his own.

A low-scoring, time-consuming victory is exactly what this young team would like to do. The Colts aren’t going to win many shootouts, but if they can keep the ball on the ground and control the clock, then this team could continue to surprise the NFL this season.