Colts still trying to finish off opponents

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ The Indianapolis Colts aren't forcing enough turnovers, shutting down opponents or winning as often as expected. <br><br>Now, the Colts, picked in the preseason as a Super Bowl

Tuesday, November 28th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ The Indianapolis Colts aren't forcing enough turnovers, shutting down opponents or winning as often as expected.

Now, the Colts, picked in the preseason as a Super Bowl contender, find themselves in a difficult predicament _ win or forget the postseason.

``It's not over, we're still in it,'' coach Jim Mora said Monday. ``That's what I told these guys, that it's not over.''

It isn't, of course, with four weeks remaining in the season.

But Indianapolis (7-5) also knows it has no margin for error. The Colts made certain of that Sunday when they lost 17-14 at the RCA Dome to division-leading Miami.

Now, with the Colts two games behind the Dolphins in the AFC East with four games to play, including one in Miami, Mora must find a quick fix for his team's troubles.

``I don't think you find a way to win every game,'' he said. ``Finding a way to win is a funny term because it's making a critical play at a critical time. That's what determines a game, what happens.''

What's happened with greater frequency, however, is that the Colts have been unable to make those plays _ or deliver a knockout punch.

Holding a 14-10 lead with 2:56 to go Sunday, the Colts marched to the Miami 30 and into position for a field goal that would seemingly sew up the game.

Instead, Peyton Manning threw an interception and nine plays later, the Dolphins had the lead and the victory.

``Offensively, we had seven penalties and we didn't score enough points,'' Mora said. ``We had opportunities to (score) and didn't. The last drive was not good and defensively on the last drive, we didn't make a play and we didn't come closing to making a play.''

That problem is hardly new to Indianapolis.

In Week 2, the Colts charged to a 21-0 lead, then wound up losing 38-31 to Oakland.

In Week 8, the Colts built a 23-0 halftime lead before staving off a furious Detroit rally in which a late touchdown gave Indianapolis a 30-18 victory.

In Week 10, Indianapolis led 20-0 in the third quarter, then hung on for a 23-15 victory against the New York Jets.

And then came Sunday.

``This is the same thing,'' said defensive end Mark Thomas. ``I guarantee you the guys in the other locker rooms, the guys are saying it doesn't matter how far we're down, we can come back against these guys.''

What's wrong?

``That's the question of the year, right there,'' Thomas said. ``You don't ever want to let them think, for even a second, that they have a chance to come back. You want to slam the door on them. But we just don't come out with that kind of intensity.''

The results have shown.

Indianapolis has now lost three of its last four games, its worst stretch since November 1998. Its next game, on the road against the Jets, also poses a potential problem. New York is 8-4 and also driving for a playoff berth.

The Colts need to change their approach, Thomas insists.

``We need to have that go-for-the-throat mentality when the game's on the line,'' he said. ``You have to keep executing and hit them and hit them and hit them and when they get back up, you have to hit them again and not give them a chance.''