Elias Carries Colts By Hawks

Keith Elias will be watching Edgerrin James carry the ball most of the season, but he got the key carry this time.

In the final exhibition game Thursday night, Elias carried 10 times for 28 yards and scored the winning touchdown on a 1-yard run with five seconds remaining, giving the Indianapolis Colts a 31-28 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

But once the regular season begins next week, he'll spend most of the time on the sideline while James, the first running back taken in this year's draft, gets the ball.

James, who joined the Colts late after a contract holdout, rushed 12 times for 61 yards.

"At one point, you have to turn it up a notch. When the regular season rolls around, that's when it counts. I just go out and try to make plays," James said.

Todd Peterson's fifth field goal and second of the fourth quarter put Seattle (1-3) up 28-23 with 1:36 to go, but third-string quarterback Kelly Holcomb rallied Indianapolis (3-1) in a seven-play drive. Officials ruled DeAunte Brown interfered with receiver Terrence Wilkins on a long incomplete pass, giving the Colts the ball at the 1-yard line. Elias ran in for the touchdown on the next play, then he took the ball in again for a 2-point conversion for the final points.

The Colts' comeback spoiled a strong effort by Seattle backup quarterback Glenn Foley, who was obtained from the New York Jets. Foley passed for 248 yards and one touchdown and set up another TD run by Michael Black that put Seattle ahead 22-17 late in the third quarter.

"I have confidence in myself, but it's based on how the guys around me do. They played well tonight," Foley said. "The offensive line did a great job and the receivers got open. When that happens, I feel I'm going to get the ball to the right guy."

"We have the makings of a pretty good team here. We have to eliminate the mistakes, the penalties and the turnovers," he said.

Seattle was called for 14 penalties for 122 yards, including 27 yards on the decisive pass interference against Brown. The Colts had just three penalties for 12 yards.

"It was a very sloppily played game on our part, too many penalties, fumbles, things like that. We were very sloppy," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said.

"We're going to look at the film. I would think in the fourth preseason game a lot of guys are playing for their lives. We were not going to play our first groups very long, but still, anytime you suit up, you've got to be ready to play and play well."

Early in the final period, the Seahawks took a 25-17 lead on a 21-yard field goal by Peterson before the Colts came back on a 24-yard pass from Holcomb to Kaipo McGuire. After a failed two-point conversion, Peterson finished Seattle's scoring with a 28-yard field goal with 1:36 to go.

"The second half was interesting. It wasn't pretty for either team," Mora said.

"One of our goals was to play the run better, and I felt in the first half when our No. 1 guys were in there we played the run well. That was encouraging to me. But we did not play very good pass defense."

Foley was 19-for-27 for the game. Brock Huard, a third-round draft pick out of Washington, replaced Foley midway through the fourth quarter and was incomplete on his two attempts.

Peyton Manning was 9-for-12 for 173 yards, including touchdown passes of 38 and 69 yards to Marvin Harrison, while Holcomb, who relieved backup Steve Walsh late in the game, was 7-for-10 for 97 yards.

"This year, at least in the preseason, we've had a running game and the play action pass has been there," Manning said.

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