Late addition Smith provides Colts key highlight

In the span of a week, Taj Smith went from unemployed to virtually unblocked at a pivotal point Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

His dash through the right side of Dallas punter Mat McBriar's protection resulted in Smith smothering McBriar's punt attempt for a touchdown that temporarily gave the Indianapolis Colts a 28-27 lead. The stadium, a mausoleum earlier when the Cowboys held a 17-0 lead, rocked.

"I was having fun out there, a lot of fun," said Smith, his personal enjoyment tempered by the Colts' 38-35 overtime loss.

The Colts were in need of a jolt with just over 13 minutes remaining. They trailed 27-21, but the defense had forced a three-and-out. The fourth down punt barely left McBriar's foot.

In film study during the week, Smith noticed McBriar's "wing man" on the right side of his protection "was kind of lackadaisical. I just went all out and gave him an up-and-under move."

Smith appeared to get both hands on the football and was able to chase it inside the Dallas 10-yard line. He was credited with a 2-yard return for a TD.

It was the Colts' first blocked punt since one by Michael Coe at Baltimore in 2007 and the first returned for a touchdown since Albert Bentley's against San Francisco on Sept. 10, 1989.

The blocked punt was only part of Smith's big afternoon. He also forced a Bryan McCann fumble on a kickoff with 29 seconds remaining that the Cowboys were able to cover. Had they not, the Colts would have been in position for a potential game-winning field goal in regulation.

Smith also drew a holding penalty that negated Dez Bryant's kickoff return to the Colts 16-yard line in the fourth quarter.

Not bad for a guy who was out of work earlier in the week. Smith, who was waived/injured in preseason, was re-signed by the Colts on Tuesday.

"(Last Sunday) I was home watching games, eating Sunday dinner," he said.
Costly penalty

Eric Foster heard his number called and was informed of the penalty but still wasn't certain what he did to deserve it.

On a 24-yard field goal attempt by Dallas' David Buehler with 3:34 remaining, Foster was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, more specifically "leverage." He initially jumped off the ground but then appeared to use Dallas linemen Alex Barron and Andre Gurode for additional impetus.

"All I know is I tried to jump over the guard," Foster said. "I did it the first time the same way and it was OK. Obviously this time they called it."

That's probably because the officials were on alert. Barron said Dallas told the officials to watch for Foster on Buehler's 24-yarder, adding they made certain Foster would be hard to miss.

"We gave him a little 'flipper' to try to get him higher so they would see him," Barron said.

The play's impact was huge. Instead of taking a 31-28 lead on Buehler's field goal, Dallas grabbed a 35-28 lead on Jon Kitna's 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jason Witten.

Had the field goal stood, the Colts would have gone ahead 35-31 on Javarris James' 2-yard run with 29 seconds to play rather than simply tying the score.
Medical update

The Colts lost starting cornerback Jerraud Powers in the first half with what appeared to be a serious injury to his right arm. The Colts already were without their other starting cornerback, Kelvin Hayden (neck).

Running back Mike Hart, who missed four games with a sprained left ankle, appeared to aggravate the injury in the third quarter. He came up lame on a play and did not return.

Dallas lost rookie wide receiver/kick returner Bryant with a fractured ankle in the fourth quarter.
More from Wayne

Reggie Wayne's big game -- 14 catches, 200 yards, one touchdown -- enabled him to move up various team and league charts.

His 34-yard touchdown pass from QB Peyton Manning was their 66th as a tandem, giving them sole possession of fourth place on the NFL's career list.

The touchdown was Wayne's 68th overall, moving him into a second place tie with Raymond Berry on the Colts' career list. Marvin Harrison is No. 1 (128).
More shuffling

The Colts continued to look for answers on the offensive line.

After starting the same five the past three games, they replaced rookie right guard Jeff Linkenbach with Mike Pollak. Pollak had started the first eight games before losing his job to Linkenbach. Jamey Richard split time with Kyle DeVan at left guard.