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TAMPA - The streak lives. Barely. But with a 2-2 start, the season is beginning to look shaky and the Bucs are chasing 5-0 Carolina in the NFC South.
With 6:14 left in regulation in the Bucs' 38-35 loss Monday night to Indianapolis, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning had done what Philadelphia's Donovan McNabb, Carolina's Jake Delhomme and Atlanta's Doug Johnson couldn't - avoid the clutches of Simeon Rice, Warren Sapp and Co.
Then, on second down deep in his territory, Manning was chased down and flattened by defensive end Ellis Wyms on the Colts 3-yard line, the 64th consecutive game the Bucs have sacked a quarterback.
That moved Tampa Bay within four of the league record of 68 set by America's Team, the 1976-80 Dallas Cowboys.
As if to crown Wyms' feat, Sapp zeroed in on Manning, who threw a desperation pass that cornerback Ronde Barber intercepted and returned 29 yards for a 35-14 lead and what seemed to be no more than an insurance touchdown.
But the Bucs couldn't get close to Manning the rest of the quarter and his assault, including his second touchdown pass of the game to wide receiver Marvin Harrison, helped force overtime.
Tim Wansley, who replaced cornerback Brian Kelly after Kelly went out early with a strained left pectoral muscle, was burned for both Harrison touchdowns.
The two TDs were the 63rd and 64th Manning-to-Harrison scores in their five-plus seasons together, passing the franchise record (and moving into fourth in the NFL) by Baltimore Hall of Famers Johnny Unitas and Raymond Berry from 1955-67.
Third among TD tandems are Buffalo's Jim Kelly and Andre Reed with 65. Steve Young and Jerry Rice of the 49ers lead with 85.
THEY PLAYED: Bucs running back Mike Alstott, bothered for several weeks by a neck strain, was listed as probable on Saturday, meaning there was a 75 percent chance he would play.
Monday morning he was downgraded to questionable, meaning he was no better than 50-50.
No problem. After visiting a specialist Monday in Pittsburgh at the team's suggestion, Alstott was cleared to play. He started and on second down of the first Bucs possession caught a Brad Johnson pass for 8 yards. On third down he bulled over the middle for a first down.
Michael Pittman spent Sunday night hospitalized for what the Bucs said was discomfort, possibly a stomach ailment or virus, but he was released Monday morning and was in for the Bucs' first possession.
Colts running back Edgerrin James was out for the second straight game with an injury sustained against Jacksonville.
Alstott has scored the only two Bucs rushing touchdowns compared with eight through the air: three to Keenan McCardell, two to Joe Jurevicius and one apiece by Pittman, Reggie Barlow and, yes, Warren Sapp.
BAD NEWS, GOOD NEWS: McCardell caught his second touchdown of the season, the longest of his career and the Bucs' longest play of the season, on a 74-yard pass from Johnson.
It appeared to be a busted play set up to cover about 15 yards. With Johnson under pressure, McCardell kept going and ran away from middle linebacker Rob Morris.
FROM BAD TO GOOD: McCardell's second touchdown came on an even worse busted play, an interception thrown by Johnson. Rookie strong safety Mike Doss picked it off and ran but Bucs center John Wade knocked the ball loose. It bounced right to McCardell, who scooped it up and sprinted 58 yards for the score, protected by a convoy of Bucs. McCardell got his third, a 15-yarder, with 1:14 left in the third quarter.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. OCTOBER: Tony Dungy turned 48 Monday. October has been a good month for the Colts (and former Bucs) coach; he's 16-4 in October.
Dungy also was coaching his fourth game against a defending Super Bowl champion in Raymond James Stadium. The first three were with the Bucs: the Broncos in 1999, Rams in 2000 and Ravens in 2001. He is 4-0 in those games.
EXTRA POINTS: When the Bucs went to the nickel (five defensive backs), they brought in free safety Jermaine Phillips and moved Dwight Smith to cornerback, where he played last season. ... Early in the third quarter Rice pulled down Colts running back Ricky Williams and was whistled for a 15-yard facemask penalty. Whether or not the officials peeked at a replay on the scoreboard that showed Williams being grabbed at the collar, they reversed the call. ... Colts linebacker Jim Nelson left with a broken left collarbone. ... Manning's father, Archie, played in the NFL; so did the fathers of Colts receiver Aaron Moorehead (Emery) and defensive end Raheem Brock (Zachary Dixon).