INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -Bob Sanders watched his Indianapolis Colts teammates get run over for five weeks. The Pro Bowl safety couldn't bear seeing it again.

So, he lobbied for a chance to play against New England on Sunday night.

After convincing team doctors and coach Tony Dungy he could play with a solid pregame workout, Sanders helped Indianapolis produce one of its best defensive performances of the season in one of its most critical games.

``I was pretty sure he wasn't going to play, and he was pretty adamant that he could,'' coach Tony Dungy said Monday. ``So I let him run with the trainers before the game to see if he could go. We waited until about 10 minutes before we had to send in the inactive list.''

Sanders' return was more than just an inspirational ploy.

He gave Indianapolis' leaky run defense the backbone it had been missing in previous games when Tennessee, Denver and Washington overpowered the Colts on the ground.

While New England (6-2) still finished with 148 yards rushing and scored two first-half touchdowns, Sanders stabilized a defense that also limited the Patriots to only two field goals over the last two-plus quarters and forced an uncharacteristic five New England turnovers.

Sanders was one of the big differences. He finished with 10 tackles, ended New England's last first-half drive with an interception near the goal line and provided stronger run support.

It was just what the unbeaten Colts (8-0) needed.

``He really gives us a lot of energy and the defense is really designed with him in mind,'' Dungy said. ``When you're giving up 3- or 4-yard gains instead of 5- or 6-yard gains, that makes a big difference.''

Teammates such as middle linebacker Gary Brackett have said all season that when Sanders delivers his trademark hits, it's a cue for them to follow.

But instead of following Sanders' lead during the first half of the season, the Colts waited eagerly for him to return from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

Sanders hurt the knee in practice after a Week 2 win over Houston and spent the next five weeks trying to get it back into playing shape. He appeared to twice have setbacks - including late last week - when soreness in the knee prevented him from practicing on consecutive days.

Last Friday, Dungy said it was doubtful Sanders would play against New England - yet another frustration in a season filled with them for Sanders.

``It's been tough,'' a dejected Sanders said after Friday's practice. ``I definitely want to be out there playing, but we've got to be smart with it.''

By Sunday, Sanders' patience was running thin.

Although Sanders said he could go, Dungy acknowledged he was hesitant partly because he'd only completed three practices in the past month. The Colts, whose run defense was allowing a league-worst 168 yards per game, had little to lose.

Sanders burst onto the national scene last year in a highly anticipated Monday night game against Pittsburgh when he shot through gaps like a missile and quickly extinguished any hope the Steelers had of running over the Colts' defense. Sanders had nine tackles, seven solo, as the Steelers ran for only 86 yards.

The Colts expected more big things from Sanders this year. Now that he's back on the field, teammates are responding. On Sunday night, Colts players swarmed to the ball in a style more reminiscent of last season , and many credited Sanders for the change.

``He's exciting, he's explosive,'' Pro Bowl linebacker Cato June told a local television station after Sunday's game. ``He's hitting them in the mouth every time and you've got to like seeing that back on the field.''

The lingering question is whether Sanders can stay healthy long enough to make a difference.

In 2 1/2 seasons with the Colts, the 5-foot-8, 206-pound safety has played in only 23 of 40 games.

Now that he's back, Dungy believes Sanders will change the defense - as the Patriots discovered Sunday night.

``I think we'll improve as the season goes on with Bob Sanders playing and Booger McFarland playing,'' Dungy said. ``That will help us out. But we've still got to do some things better.''

Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.