Cover-2: Orlovsky, Colts get their first victory
There were a lot of happy faces in Indianapolis on Sunday, but none more elated than Dan Orlovsky. For the first time in 10 career starts, Orlovsky finished the game with the traditional kneel down as the Colts avoided the ignominy of a run at a winless season by beating Tennessee, 27-13.
There were a lot of happy faces in Indianapolis on Sunday, but none more elated than Dan Orlovsky.
For the first time in 10 career starts, Orlovsky finished the game with the traditional kneel down as the Colts avoided the ignominy of a run at a winless season by beating Tennessee, 27-13.
The Colts, now 1-13, no longer are a threat to join the 2008 Detroit Lions as the only teams to go 0-16.
Orlovsky was on that team, too. On Sunday he threw a touchdown pass then threw a key block on an 80-yard TD run as Indianapolis won for the first time since Jan. 2, coincidentally also over Tennessee.
Colts vice chairman Bill Polian made a rare postgame appearance to refute reports that injured quarterback Peyton Manning would attempt to play in the final two games.
He said Manning will practice but will not play.
Chasing records
A 412-yard passing day gave New Orleans' Drew Brees 4,780 yards for the season, leaving him 304 away from Dan Marino's one season record set in 1984.
Cincinnati's A.J. Green has 1,006 yards receiving, three shy of Cris Collinsworth's franchise rookie record set in 1981.
Coaching carousel
The Dolphins' victory at Buffalo gave former Temple safety Todd Bowles a win in his first game as a head coach (replacing the fired Tony Sparano). It was Buffalo's seventh straight loss after a 5-2 start.
St. Louis has lost five in a row and coach Steve Spagnuolo is 10-36 winding down his third season.
Maryland coach Randy Edsal is a dark horse candidate for the Jacksonville job, even though he's coming off a 2-10 season. Edsall coached Jaguars defensive backs for four seasons under Tom Coughlin and is respected by members of the front office. He also was Orlovsky's coach at Connecticut.
Weird stat
The Bucs gave up 69 consecutive points in fewer than five quarters the last two games - the final 41 against Jacksonville last Sunday and the first 28 by Dallas on Saturday night.
Rules changes afoot
The NFL is expected to look at expanding the ban on launching and helmet hits, said Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay, the co-chairman of the league's competition committee.
McKay says the idea of banning launching altogether was discussed last year, when owners voted to eliminate the technique against receivers.
Injuries
Packers offensive lineman Derek Sherrod suffered a broken right leg when Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali rolled onto him in the fourth quarter on Sunday.
Final irony
With Detroit beating Oakland, 28-27, the Eagles are officially out of the wild card race.
This article contains information from the Associated Press.