+7
Our Colts blog, Stampede Blue, is giving Pierre Garçon the game ball, but insists on giving defensive coordinator Larry Coyer plenty of credit as well. Coyer's defense, after all, surrendered only three points to the Ravens the entire game.
I have to say that one person is getting left out in all the posts and commentary. That person is LARRY COYER! He IS the reason the Colts defense was able to play a game like we Colts fans have never seen. His schemes were well designed and superbly executed. That is the mark of a great coach. Plans are key, but transferring that knowledge to the players and getting them to execute is paramount for coaches. Coyer has been successful at that all season.
As I write this, I flash on a play not 30 seconds into the third quarter. Baltimore got the kickoff to start the 2nd half and (I think) had gained a first down. The Colts then showed an alignment I had never seen before. I think it was 2 or 3 linemen down with a LB and a CB up to the line showing blitz. The alignment cause the "Unibrow from Delaware" to get confused and call timeout. Coming out of the largest adjustment period that a team has, our defense confused the opposing offense. Just one example of the way Coyer has changed our mentality and the way our defense is viewed around the league.
For more on Saturday's game, as well as a look ahead to next weekend's AFC Championship game, head on over to Stampede Blue.
For more, check out our Colts blog, Stampede Blue, and our Ravens blog, Baltimore Beatdown.
Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) – Peyton Manning threw for a pair of touchdowns and the Colts took advantage of four Baltimore turnovers and numerous penalties to shut down the Ravens, 20-3, to advance to the AFC championship game.
The top-seeded Colts will be at home next Sunday against the winner of the contest between the New York Jets and San Diego Chargers.
Manning connected on 30-of-44 passes for 246 yards and was picked off once, while Reggie Wayne had eight receptions for 63 yards and a score.
Indianapolis was on its way to a possible 16-0 record in the regular season before pulling its starters in the second half of a December 27 home loss to the Jets. The Colts were then throttled in Buffalo in the final week of the season, but secured a playoff win for the first time after a bye in the Manning era.
Prior to Saturday, the Colts were 0-3 in their playoff opener after earning a bye, falling in 1999 (19-16 to the Titans), 2005 (21-18 to the Steelers), and 2007 (28-24 to the Chargers).
Austin Collie had a TD catch for Indianapolis, which beat the Ravens for an eighth straight time, including playoffs.
Joe Flacco finished 20-of-35 for 189 yards with a pair of interceptions for the Ravens, who were coming off a resounding 33-14 wild card victory at New England.
Baltimore’s Ed Reed had a pair of interceptions negated, one by a penalty and another via fumble.
— Via Sports Network
Stampede Blue is tempting the NFL Playoff Gods by going ahead and predicting the Colts path to the Super Bowl. One game at a time? Meh. If you’re confident you’re going to win, go ahead and say it. Don’t let being wrong in previous years deter you, fortune favors the bold. So will the Colts win this week? And who will they face next week?
The Colts play the Ravens this weekend, and just as they did in the 2006 playoffs, the Colts will defeat them. Our beloved blue ponies will then move on to the AFC Championship Game where they will face… the Jets.
Yes, I said it: The Jets.
Since the Chargers have destroyed my predictions the last two years, I figured I’d give them another opportunity to make me look even more foolish.
Finishing it out, they see the Colts over the Cardinals in the Super Bowl.
Video: Some Colt love, from their Super Bowl victory.
Sure the Baltimore Ravens are playing the Indianapolis Colts in one of this weekend’s playoff games, but Baltimore Beatdown suggests watching the game within the game. Peyton Manning is the unquestioned leader of the Colts, Ray Lewis is the unquestioned leader of the Ravens. One’s on offense, the other on defense. Which means we get to watch two future Hall-of-Famers battle it out on the gridiron. No matter how it plays out, you can expect the best from two of the best ever.
Their abilities to watch game tape and be prepared are unparalleled in the game today. Watching their “game within the game” as they square off with each other is as enjoyable and fascinating as the game itself. If you’ve watched the games for years or even if you’ve never seem the two of them on the field at the same time, concentrate on what goes on before the snap as much as what happens once the ball is hiked. You’ll find a new found respect for both guys, as well as additional understanding of what an intense game this is.
Video: Since this post came from a Ravens perspective, here’s a little treat for Baltimore fans.
While the Colts have had a lot of success against the Ravens, it’s other ghosts of playoffs past that have their fans worried. Back in 2005, the Colts were similarly undefeated late in the season, dropped a few games towards the end, and after the bye got upset by the #6-seed Steelers in a crazy playoff game. But this 2009 Colts team is not the same, as Stampede Blue points out after receiving a tip in a Raheem Brock tweet that basically says the team got rid of bad players from that 2005 defense.
Since 2005, gone are Colts starters Mike Doss, Nick Harper, Corey Simon, Cato June, David Thornton, Jason David, and Montae Reagor. The current starters for these players respective positions are Antoine Bethea, Antonio Johnson, Clint Session, Philip Wheeler, Jerraud Powers, and Daniel Muir. Like in 2005, the 2009 Colts clinched their playoff seed early and rested starters down the stretch. Unlike 2005, the horrible distraction of James Dungy’s suicide is not hovering over the 2009 team, though it is understandable is players like Pierre Garcon have their minds on family and friends in Haiti.
Not only are there similarities in Colts teams, but the guys at Stampede Blue find similarities between the 2005 Steelers and the 2009 Ravens.
In addition, this 2009 Ravens team bare a scary resemblance to the 2005 Steelers team that entered the the playoffs as the #6 seed and defeated the #1 seeded Colts at the RCA Dome in a game that featured a famous Jerome Bettis fumble, a Ben Roethlisberger tackle, and a Mike Vanderjagt missed field goal. To this day, that playoff loss stings more than any other even though the opponent was obviously worthy enough to beat the Colts that year (the 2005 Steelers went on to win the Super Bowl).
Video: Highlights from the Colts-Steelers playoff game back in 2005.
The Baltimore Ravens fanbase is tired of losing to the Colts. They want revenge for a string of failures against the Peyton Mannings, including some playoff losses. Sure, advancing in the playoffs can be a strong motivating factor, but admit it, beating a team that has owned you recently can put a giddy-up in your step. The Ravens will take all the push they can get.
The playoff game in 2006 ended in a 15-6 loss to the Colts and included a goal line interception thrown by the late Steve McNair. The 2007 and 2008 games were blowouts by scores of 44-20 and 31-3, respectively. Of course, most fans are still regurgitating the 17-15 loss in November of this year’s regular season.
So now, getting the same sort of revenge that we took on the New England Patriots is just what this fairy tale season needs to continue.
Video: Manning after that 15-6 win in the playoffs, talking about the game and Ravens fans giving him the middle finger.
In an effort to get closer to the truth about what will happen this weekend during the NFL Divisional Round Playoffs, we talked to bloggers representing all eight teams still left in the chase. For each participant, we asked the same batch of questions. This is the preview for Baltimore and Indianapolis.
8:15 PM ET, January 16, 2010
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
CBS
Give us a couple of reasons the Ravens will win on Saturday.
The Ravens are playing their best football of the year and everyone knows it's how you finish. Defensively, we are returning to that hard hitting chaotic dominance of the past and have re-focused the offense to the overwhelming running game. The limiting of mistakes and costly penalties has also helped this team overcome it's biggest obstacle - themselves.
One guy from the opposition you would add to the Ravens.
Gee, is it a cop out to obviously say "Manning?" Could you believe the team we'd have with one of the best QB's in history with this running attack much less the defense? Other than Manning, I'd love to see a great pass rusher to help the defense even more, or perhaps a great receiving target in TE Dallas Clark.
Who is the Ravens MVP?
Without a doubt, it's been the 2nd year RB, Ray Rice. Ravens fans knew Rice was special after seeing him in a limited role last season but since then he's added 10-15 pounds of muscle and is not only quick and elusive running or receiving, but tough to bring down by one guy on first contact.
Who is the X-Factor?
I'm going to put this title on QB Joe Flacco. Flacco didn't need to step up big time this past weekend because the running game took over. However, he did have a key 3rd down completion and a 7 yard run for a first down on the final TD drive, and has the arm to throw the ball. However, if he has to air it out 40 times, it will be bad news.
Scouting report on the Colts.
Same as everyone else. Manning works like a robot, scanning the defense looking for the weak link every time he steps up to the line. They aren't run focused and don't care as they have a ton of targets short (D. Clark) or long (R. Wayne). They play fast defense starting with their pass rush and usually feed off of other teams' mistakes while only making a few themselves.
Give us a prediction.
The Ravens are looking for revenge and own the best road playoff record in league history so playing up in Indy will not faze them, especially since they say "defense travels well." I've seen all too often how a rested team is not in sync or consistent as the one who is playing week after week for it's life at a high level. For Indy, this will be their first meaningful game in a month and that's the difference they will be talking about all off season that will begin for Indy late Saturday night as the Ravens continue their playoff road trip to Miami, 28-20.
Give us a couple of reasons the Colts will win on Saturday.
One reason is the four time NFL MVP, Peyton Manning. Traditionally, he has played very well against the Ravens, and there is mutual respect between Ravens defenders like Ed Reed and Manning. Another reason is the Colts are hungry and are angry at how the final two games of the season played out. Several players were upset that starters were pulled from the Jets game in Week Sixteen, forfeiting a potential undefeated season. For nearly a month, the Colts have not played a game the coaching staff or management have deemed as "meaningful." Players are looking to tear someone apart, and the Ravens just happen to be in their way.
One guy from the opposition you would add to the Colts.
Ed Reed; absolutely no question about it. With 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Bob Sanders out for the season, having a similar All-World safety like Ed Reed would ease my nerves about the Colts safety position as the move forward in the playoffs. While Melvin Bullitt has done a remarkable job filling in for Sanders, Melvin Bullitt is not Ed Reed.
Who is the Colts MVP?
Peyton Manning. He is the most valuable player in the NFL and the NFL's best quarterback. He lead an NFL record seven fourth quarter comebacks this season, passed for 33 TDs, and helped his team win an NFL record 23 straight regular season games.
Who is the X-Factor?
Rookie running back Donald Brown. Seemingly silly injuries have slowed him this season, but when he has been on the field he has shown tremendous flashes of speed, toughness, and big play ability. In the 2006 playoffs, the Colts were able to defeat the Ravens by running the football and controlling the clock in the fourth quarter. They utilized then-Colts back Dominic Rhodes to chew up yardage and ice the game. Donald Brown will need to fill a similar role for the Colts to succeed against a Ravens team in 2009 that is better than the 2006 Ravens.
Scouting report on the Ravens.
Tough, physical team with a very strong running game. Their defense is suspect against the pass, and their passing game is poor due to injuries to the quarterback and a lack of skill position players at receiver. Their special teams coverage units seem strong, and they are very well coached. As they have shown, great coaching and preparation can mask weaknesses and enhance strengths. The 2009 Ravens are very similar to the 2005 Steelers who, by the way, were a #6 seed in the AFC playoffs and knocked off the then-#1 seeded Colts that season.
Give us a prediction.
While the 2009 Ravens are a much better team than the Ravens who last faced the Colts in the playoffs, the 2009 Colts have proven to be a resilient, dedicated bunch who can play hard, fast, and physical with any team in the league. The game will likely come down to which quarterback will solve the other team's defense and make plays to win the game. With that, Peyton Manning is your guy and the Colts defeat the Ravens 27-14.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
Scoreboard data copyright © 2012 by STATS LLC. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC is strictly prohibited.
OpenCalais - Powered by Thomson Reuters
•
Odds Shark 
Ravens Blog: Woes Continue Against Colts
Following the Ravens' 20-3 playoff loss to the Colts, our Ravens blog, Baltimore Beatdown, is ready to blame everybody in the organization.
Ouch. BB goes on to highlight Ravens quarterbacks' almost complete ineffectiveness against Indianapolis in recent history:
Welcome to the offseason, Ravens fans. To tide yourselves through the coming months, be sure to keep up with Baltimore Beatdown.
Jan 17 12:57p by Jon Bois - 0 comments