INDIANAPOLIS - For nine years, Reggie Wayne has practiced the route for a halfback pass. And for nine years, he had nothing to show for the effort.

So, wouldn't you know it, the Indianapolis Colts decided to try it at a pivotal moment when Wayne's fighting through a groin injury.

Joseph Addai's pass sailed high. It sailed long. Wayne stretched - and stretched everything - to catch it.

“He made me test that groin out a little bit,” Wayne said. “The thing about Joe, he was a high school quarterback. Every time we do that play in practice, I'm always saying, ‘I don't know if you got it in you.' He threw a spiral to the pylon like he's supposed to. I couldn't drop that one. If I had dropped that one, he'd have messed with me forever.”

Addai's 22-yard touchdown pass to Wayne was the winning score in the Colts' 18-14 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

On a day when Peyton Manning threw for the quietest 347 yards ever, the Colts needed a trick play to pull out a win.

That's not desperate, in case you're wondering.

That's inspired.

There are going to be games like this if the Colts are to make a Super Bowl run. Grinders, they like to call them. Games where nothing comes easily, offensive timing gets knocked off balance by defensive pressure, and big defensive plays (paging Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney!) are essential.

Addai-to-Wayne was a trick play, yes, one that had been last called in 2006 and failed. More importantly, it was a winning play when it counted most.

The 49ers (3-4) are on the verge of being a good team, if they're not already. Frank Gore still brings the goods, as evidenced by his 64-yard touchdown burst up the middle. Michael Crabtree will one day be a superstar receiver. Isaac Bruce is still quality. Alex Smith could yet turn into an NFL quarterback.

But the Colts still managed to win on a day when their third-efficiency (8-of-19) was rather inefficient and when the offense seemed a notch off-kilter. Indianapolis (7-0) plays at home against AFC South rival Houston (5-3) next Sunday.

Games going down to the wire where the perfect play at the perfect time is essential generally make for anxiety-ridden fans. The Lucas Oil Stadium crowd couldn't cheer with certainty until the offense ran out the clock in the final seconds. But those tight games also make for championship teams.

“You feel good about yourself in those close games,” Addai said. “You have those games where you win really big and those are good games, but it means something in a close game. We didn't think about the scoreboard, we went out and performed.”

While it was nice to see Addai toss the left-handed scoring pass, it was more gratifying for the Colts to see Wayne on the receiving end. Wayne suffered a groin injury in the Colts' win over the Rams a week earlier, and was questionable to even suit up for the 49ers game.

Wayne finished with a career-best 12 catches for 147 yards and that replay-worthy touchdown.

“Tuesday, I didn't think I was going to play,” Wayne said. “Wednesday, I didn't think I was going to play. I stayed on treatment around the clock, and I was able to come out there and make some things happen.”

San Francisco scored first on Gore's big run, and the Colts trailed for three quarters. They found the red zone, but couldn't find the end zone. Indy settled for four field goals by Matt Stover, who likes to slice them so close to the inside of the uprights you can hear the crowd nervously exhale. The 49ers led 14-12 at the end of three quarters.

After the Colts finally took the lead on Addai's pass, the defense stopped the final two 49ers drives with sacks by Mathis and Freeney. Freeney's sack was his eighth of the season, and eighth consecutive game with a sack, tying Mathis' club record.

“Our defense came up big and got a bead on them,” Colts coach Jim Caldwell said. “They're a tough team to handle when you look at all the weapons they have. … Our defense rose to the occasion when we needed it most. They made some beautiful stops all day long. It might not have been perfect, but we found a way to win.”

The game marked the first time Manning has gone without throwing a touchdown pass since a 10-6 win at Cleveland last November. But he finished the game off with an 11-play drive in the last 5:45, twice hitting Clark for first downs, as the Colts refused to allow the 49ers another possession.

For San Francisco, it was as frustrating as a near-win could be.

“We have to learn how to finish those games,” coach Mike Singletary said.

For the Colts, it was a reminder they can still find different ways to win games.

For the rest of the NFL, it served notice that the Colts still have a few new tricks up their sleeves.