For weeks, the winless Colts have claimed to be close to a
breakthrough.

They look closer to a breakdown.

The Colts were routed 31-7 at home against Atlanta in a loss
that was more disappointing than most of the other eight. Even with
Peyton Manning out indefinitely after neck surgery, the collapse is
shocking for a franchise that expects to compete for a trip to the
Super Bowl every year.

“I haven’t had nightmares like that in a long time,” coach Jim
Caldwell said when asked if he ever dreamed the Colts could go 0-9.
“It’s not something that you anticipate is going to happen.

Indy (0-9) had been competitive at home this season. The Colts
were within two points in the second half against Cleveland,
Pittsburgh needed a late field goal to win and Kansas City had to
overcome a 24-7 deficit at Lucas Oil Stadium.

This game wasn’t close in any way. It was the Colts’ worst home
loss since a 31-3 defeat to Seattle on Sept. 14, 1997, the year
before Manning arrived. Indy was held to 186 yards _ just the
second time since the start of the 1998 season the team had failed
to gain at least 200 yards of total offense. The Colts only entered
Atlanta territory on two possessions, and one of those drives ended
when Curtis Painter threw an interception to ex-Colt Kelvin Hayden,
a painful reminder of the good old days.

“We just have to be sharper, better on the details than today,”
Painter said. “Missed a few throws that I normally would have made.
Just didn’t play well enough to win today. We will come back this
week and again try and get those details straight and work hard
this week.”

Miami’s win at Kansas City left the Colts as the only team in
the NFL without a victory.

“The thing that we have to do is we have to look at our
situation and be honest with it, with everybody,” Caldwell said.
“The fact that there are some things that we didn’t do well, that’s
why we didn’t win. We kind of look at those situations where we
turn it over, and where we aren’t effective in terms of our
execution.”

Jerraud Powers provided Indy’s only highlight, a juggling
interception he caught at the Falcons 6 before returning it for
Indy’s only score. That cut Atlanta’s lead to 21-7.

But Indy’s stagnant offense never got close to scoring
again.

“That was a big play,” Caldwell said. “Anytime you can get a
pick six, that’s huge. But we just couldn’t follow it up, we
couldn’t back it up, we couldn’t come back and answer with another
score to close the gap a little bit and make it 21-14. So, yeah, it
was a bit of a spark, but we couldn’t put another, good sequence
where we could get a scoring drive or another interception or
turnover of some sort to get us going again.”

Manning still hasn’t practiced since having neck surgery Sept.
8, and now the Colts could be without their top two tight ends.
Dallas Clark (lower leg) and Brody Eldridge (hand) both left the
game early. Caldwell provided no updates after the game.

The Colts have been outscored 75-14 in the first half of the
last three games and 120-24 overall in that stretch. They have lost
five straight home games for the first time since 2001 and could
fall to 0-10 for the first time since 1997.

Atlanta (5-3) won its third straight to keep pace with NFC
South-leading New Orleans, and it looked easy. Atlanta’s Matt Ryan
passed for 275 yards and three touchdowns, and the Falcons ran 41
times for 163 yards.

Julio Jones finished with three catches for a season-high 131
yards and two TDs, and had two carries for 33 yards. His first
touchdown was a spectacular diving grab between three defenders for
a 50-yard score. His second touchdown was an 80-yarder.

“That was a good win for our football team,” Ryan said. “I
thought all three phases played well today. We did it for 60
minutes. That’s something that we’ve been trying to do throughout
the year.”

NOTES: Atlanta is 2-13 against the Colts and earned its first
road win in the series, which began in 1966. … The Colts had a
video tribute for Hayden between the first and second quarters.
Hayden scored a TD on the game-sealing interception in the Colts’
Super Bowl win over Chicago. Hayden was cut before training camp
opened. … Falcons CB William Moore left briefly in the first half
with a thigh injury. … Donald Brown ran 16 times for 70 yards for
Indy. … Powers’ interception was Indy’s first forced turnover in
six games.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons have signed offensive tackle Will Svitek, who has been a top backup for two seasons, and punter Ken Parrish.

Svitek appeared in every game last season as a backup. He was a sixth-round pick by Kansas City in 2005, then signed with Atlanta in 2009. He started two games that season.

Svitek could compete for a starting job if the Falcons do not re-sign free agent starting right tackle Tyson Clabo.

Parrish, from East Stroudsburg University, has spent time with the 49ers, Eagles and Jets. Most recently, he played for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League.

Falcons punter Michael Koenen is a free agent.

March 03, 2011

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons have signed offensive tackle Will Svitek, who has been a top backup for two seasons, and punter Ken Parrish.

Svitek appeared in every game last season as a backup. He was a sixth-round pick by Kansas City in 2005, then signed with Atlanta in 2009.

He started two games that season.

Svitek could compete for a starting job if the Falcons do not re-sign free agent starting right tackle Tyson Clabo.

Parrish, from East Stroudsburg University, has spent time with the 49ers, Eagles and Jets. Most recently, he played for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League.

Falcons punter Michael Koenen is a free agent.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP)—The Atlanta Falcons have signed offensive tackle Will Svitek(notes), who has been a top backup for two seasons, and punter Ken Parrish.

Svitek appeared in every game last season as a backup. He was a sixth-round pick by Kansas City in 2005, then signed with Atlanta in 2009. He started two games that season.

Svitek could compete for a starting job if the Falcons do not re-sign free agent starting right tackle Tyson Clabo(notes).

Parrish, from East Stroudsburg University, has spent time with the 49ers, Eagles and Jets. Most recently, he played for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League.

Falcons punter Michael Koenen(notes) is a free agent.

SEATTLE – Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez has added another NFL record to his resume with his 12th straight season of 60 or more receptions.

Gonzalez had four catches Sunday against Seattle to give him 62 for the season. Gonzalez previously shared the mark with Jerry Rice.

Gonzalez says bettering a record that Rice held is a major accomplishment and one of the career accolades that he’ll remember. He says it also reminds him how lucky he’s been to stay healthy and productive for so long.

Gonzalez is in his second season with the Falcons. His most receptions came in 2004 with Kansas City when he had 102. Last year, Gonzalez had 83 catches with Atlanta.