Colts End Eight-Year Drought Warren Fills In For Faulk, Helps Indianapolis Reach Playoffs

When ailing Marshall Faulk left the game, Lamont Warren took over and didn’t miss a beat.

Warren had career highs with 90 yards rushing and 67 yards receiving as the Indianapolis Colts beat New England 10-7 Saturday night to earn their first playoff berth since 1987.

Faulk, last year’s NFL offensive rookie of the year, went to the sideline early in the second quarter after aggravating his bruised knee.

“That’s been my job all year, just whenever Marshall needs relief to be ready to go in,” said Warren, a sixth-round draft pick in 1994. “Since I was a kid, I’ve dreamed of this moment - a big game, going in, filling some big shoes like Marshall and keeping the team rolling.”

Jim Harbaugh, the NFL’s top-rated quarterback, celebrated his 32nd birthday with 225 yards and a touchdown pass, and Cary Blanchard kicked a 30-yard field goal in the final period as the Colts (9-7) gained a wild-card berth at San Diego or Buffalo, depending on the outcome of today’s games.

But Warren was the key to the Colts’ offense.

“Running back is an important position,” he said. “The tailback gives the game momentum, kind of tells the story of the game.

“I kept asking Marshall, ‘You’re not going back in? You’re sure?’ He kept saying ‘Yeah, I’m done, I’m done.’ So as soon as I got into the flow of the game, I felt pretty comfortable.”

Colts coach Ted Marchibroda said Faulk’s knee was sore all week. “He said he was ready to go, but it became too painful during the course of the game. So it will be day-to-day with him,” Marchibroda said.

Harbaugh became the first Colts QB to finish with a 100-plus quarterback rating since Bert Jones in 1976.

Harbaugh was 20 for 30 for the game, including 14 for 19 for 171 yards after the break.

The Patriots (6-10) were eliminated from a possible playoff berth a week earlier, but they refused to go quietly into the off-season.

Curtis Martin ran for 103 yards, setting a New England season rushing record, and a 31-yard touchdown pass from Drew Bledsoe to rookie Hason Graham gave the Patriots a 7-0 lead at halftime. Harbaugh tied it on a 13-yard TD pass to Floyd Turner in the third quarter, but even after Blanchard’s go-ahead field goal with 5:51 to go, the Patriots weren’t finished.

A 22-yard run by Martin brought New England to the Indianapolis 15 before Bledsoe was sacked by Tony Bennett. Then Matt Bahr missed a 51-yard field goal attempt, his third miss from 50-plus yards in the game.

Colts 10, Patriots 7

New England 0 7 0 0 - 7

Indianapolis 0 0 7 3 - 10

Second quarter

NE-Graham 31 pass from Bledsoe (Bahr kick), 13:06.

Third quarter

Ind-Turner 13 pass from Harbaugh (Blanchard kick), 12:01.

Fourth quarter

Ind-FG Blanchard 30, 9:09.

A-54,685.

NE Ind First downs 15 19 Rushes-yards 26-110 31-127 Passing 169 195 Punt Returns 3-21 3-38 Kickoff Returns 3-95 2-30 Interceptions Ret. 0-0 3-12 Comp-Att-Int 17-37-3 20-30-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 1-17 6-30 Punts 4-45 6-36 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-1 Penalties-Yards 6-40 1-10 Time of Possession 25:16 34:44

Individual statistics

RUSHINGNew England, Martin 24-103, Meggett 1-4, Gash 1-3. Indianapolis, Warren 22-90, Faulk 5-19, Harbaugh 3-17, Humphrey 1-1.

PASSINGNew England, Bledsoe 17-37-3-186. Indianapolis, Harbaugh 20-30-0-225.

RECEIVINGNew England, Coates 4-56, Martin 3-24, Lee 3-23, Graham 2-45, Gash 2-17, Meggett 2-8, Brisby 1-13. Indianapolis, Warren 6-67, Dilger 5-74, Turner 3-33, Dawkins 3-32, Faulk 2-13, Humphrey 1-6.

MISSED FIELD GOALSNew England, Bahr 54, 55, 50. Indianapolis, Blanchard, 44, 35.