I make no bones about it. I am a Pats Pulpit vulture (I find that analogy slightly more apt than troll). I come here when the Pats lose (although that wasn't as true when the Colts were plus one Manning - because life as a football fan was far less depressing). And I am back. But I come in peace. I know what it feels like to lose a Super Bowl that was legacy defining (I guess you all knew what it felt like as well). I know what it is like when nothing goes your way in a game. For us, it was Garcon's huge drop on what would have been a 30+ yard pass up 10-3. Or Kendra's lap-dog husband muffing that onside kick. Or our coach asking our ancient kicker to attempt a 51 yard field goal. For us Colts fans, because of the events of the following 24 months since February 2010, that game hurts more and more. I don't want the Pats to win another Super Bowl in this era (maybe one around 2030 will be fine), but I hope that you feel worse about the game today than you will in February 2014 (and also that your QB is not having a public pr game with an over-his-head owner).

As for the game. It was one of the most even Super Bowl's I have ever seen, and a game where I think every unit played well. The Pats defense tightened in the red zone like they always do. The Giants defense held the Patriots to only short gains, and once the rush got going in the middle of the 3rd quarter, they effectively held the Patriots at bay. Both offenses had their moments, with the Giants starting hot and rarely having a bad drive (just too many that petered out even before field goal range), while the Pats for two straight drives looked like a machine on offense. This was a Super Bowl, but after all the hype and the buildup it was just a game of football. A good one. A beautiful one.

I like defense. By rule, this made me hate the ridiculous offensive numbers that the 2011 football season produced. That opinion might have changed had my favorite quarterback been able to get it on the fun, but it still hurt me to see three teams score 500 points, and three QBs throw for 5,000 yards and two of them smash Marino's record. I mean, nothing better exemplified this ridiculous season like Matthew Stafford throwing for 5,000 yards and 40 tds and being statistically no better than the 4th best QB in the NFL in 2011. Nothing then made me happier than the last three games of the 2011 NFL season. No team scored more than 23. No QB threw for more than 316 yards, and that QB needed 61 passes to do so. More incredibly, no team topped 400 yards of total offense. I loved it. I might have hated the outcome of the AFC Title Game, but it was good to know that defense still mattered.

And nowhere was this more true than in Super Bowl XLVI. One team scored 19 offensive points, and the other scored 17. This was probably the best game the modern pass-happy NFL can give you. Each yard was hard to come by. Eli Manning had to hit some really tight windows. Tom Brady was pressured, and when he wasn't, nothing was open downfield. The defenses weren't perfect, but a 9-6 game would have been boring. The defenses were good enough. The offenses were good enough. In all honesty, both teams were good enough. One team just got a little more breaks.

This wasn't Super Bowl XLII. That was one of the greatest teams having a bad game against a good team having a great game. This was different. This was two teams that by this point of the season were both about equal, and both played about equal, but one team just made one more play. This is the type of game that the NFL is all about. The fact that it was a Super Bowl made it all the more special. To me, this was the best, most evenly played, Super Bowl since the Rams evaded overtime by a yard. This was pure football. And honestly, it made me feel for the Pats for the first time ever.

I obviously felt nothing but glee after the last playoff game the Pats played in Indy. I felt nothing but more glee about seeing 18-0 go down in flames in the most amazing way possible. I even lapped up every bit of that beatdown the Ravens handed to them two years ago. But this, I actually felt bad. It might have been that haunting look at Robert Kraft react to the hail mary bouncing on the ground, and realizing that the season that helped him escape his personal tragedy was over. It humanized Kraft. Seeing Wes Welker, a man that I've never liked ever since his "F**k you" that he yelled after catching the game-icing pass in Super Bowl 41.5, reduced to tears because he dropped what was, in my mind, a damn hard pass humanized him. (I should say that to you all these guys have always been human, but to a Pats hater, not so much). I actually felt bad for even Brady, who I think was hurt in some way by that sack by Tuck in the 3rd quarter, as he was quite mediocre after that. He was playing lights out in the biggest game, but was undone by his body (again, I'm assuming he was injured in some way). I hate the fact that this game made me feel bad about hating the Pats so much.

This was a great exhibition of football played well. It wasn't just great offense, just great defense, it was good everything. It was the definition of a good, close, tight, well-played football game. And, if the end result is it makes me reconsider my hatred of a team that doesn't do anything but win and get silly levels of praise from people living from 7 years ago (see: "You can't bet against Belichick with two weeks to prepare"), then I'll take it. That's a fine side effective of a beautiful game.

This is basically to debate the idea that Brady is such a "clutch playoff QB" when compared to Manning and showing that it pretty much comes down to the difference between Adam Vinatieri and Mike Vanderjagt.

Clutch Drives come down to Three scenarios.

1.) 4th Quarter Tie Game

2.) 4th Quarter, down by 3 (so a field goal could tie the game - less pressure on the QB).

3.) 4th Quarter, down by 4-8 (so a TD is necessary to take the lead or tie - more pressure on the QB).

(For the list, I did not include Manning's drive to end the regulation of the 2008 Wild Card Game, because he had :20 and 1 timeout. In Super Bowl XLII, Brady had :35 and 3 timeouts, enough time to get a FG).

Here are the Manning drives (game by game)

The 1999 Divisional against the Titans, 2002 Wild Card against the Jets, 2003 Wild Card and Divisional, 2004 Wild Card, 2006 Wild Card, Divisional and Super Bowl, 2009 Divisional and Title Game did not have drives that applied (Manning was 8-2 in those games)

2000 Wild Card @ Miamia

• Tied at 14-14, Manning drives for a Field Goal (type 1)
  
• Tied at 17-17, Manning drives for a Field Goal, but VANDERJAGT MISSES (type 1)
  

2003 AFC Title Game @ New England

• Down 21-14, Manning turns it over on downs (NFL later admitted they missed holding calls on New England on 3rd and 4th down, but given the game, doubtful Colts would have scored anyway). (type 3)
  

2005 Divisional vs Pittsburgh

• Down 21-18, Manning turns over on downs (type 2)
  
• Down 21-18, Manning drives for a Field Goal, but VANDERJAGT MISSES (type 2)
  

2006 AFC Title Game

• Down 28-21, Manning drives for a TD (type 3)
• Down 31-28, Manning drives for a FG (type 2)
• Tied 31-31, Manning goes 3 & out (type 1)
• Down 34-31, Manning throws 3 incompletions (type 2)
• Down 34-31, Manning drives for a TD (type 2)

2007 AFC Divisional vs San Diego

• Down 21-17, Manning drives for a TD (type 3)
• Down 28-24, Manning turns over on downs in red zone (type 3)
• Down 28-24, Manning turns over on downs in red zone (type 3)
  

2008 Wild Card @ San Diego

• Tied 14-14, Manning drives for a FG (type 1)

2009 Super Bowl XLIV

• Down 24-17, Manning throws pick-6 (type 3)

On type 1 drives, Manning was 2-4, all ending in field goals with one of the failed drives due to a missed field goal.

On type 2 drives, Manning was 2-5, with one FG and one TD, with one of the failed drives due to a missed field goal.

On type 3 drives, Manning was 2-6.

Total, Manning was 6-15, but with a better kicker would have been 8-15.

Brady

Brady did not have any drives that fit in the 2001 AFC Title Game (was hurt), 2003 AFC Title Game, 2004 Divisional and Title Game and Super Bowl, 2005 Wild Card and Divisional Game, 2006 Wild Card game, 2007 Divisional and Title Game and 2009 Wild Card game.

2001 Divisional vs Oakland

• Down 13-10, Brady goes 3 & Out (type 2)
• Down 13-10. Brady drives for a FG (This is the tuck rule drive) (type 2)
• Tied 13-13, Brady drives for a FG (type 1)

2001 Super Bowl XXXVI

• Tied 17-17, Brady drives for a FG (type 1)

2003 AFC Divisional vs Tennessee

• Tied 14-14, Brady drive ends in a punt (type 1)
• Tied 14-14, Brady drives for a FG (type 1)

2003 Super Bowl XXXVIII

• Down 22-21, Brady drives for a TD (type 2)
• Tied 29-29, Brady drives for a FG (type 1)

2006 Divisional @ San Diego

• Down 14-13, Brady drive ends in punt (type 2)
• Down 21-13, Brady drive ends in Interception (type 3)
• Down 21-13, Brady drives for a TD (type 3)
• Tied 21-21, Brady drives for a FG (type 1)

Those are counted as 2 different drives in the play-by-play, which I think is an acceptable way to judge Brady's drives. The original did end in a pick, but he should get credit for getting the TD after Brown forced hte fumble.

2006 AFC Title @ Indianapolis

• Tied 28-28, Brady goes 3 & Out (type 1)
  
• Tied 28-28, Brady drives for a FG (type 1)
• Tied 31-31, Brady drives for a FG (type 1)
• Down 38-34, Brady throws interception (type 3)

2007 Super Bowl XLII

• Down 10-7, Brady drive ends in a punt (Type 2)
• Down 10-7, Brady drives for a TD (type 2)
• Down 17-14, Brady drives ends in turnover on downs (Type 2)

On type 1 drives, Brady was 7-9, all seven drives ending in field goals (kicker never missed a kick)

On type 2 drives, Brady was 3-7, with two field goals and one TD (kicker never missed a kick)

On type 3 drives, Brady was 1-3, with one TD.

In total, Brady was 11-19 in those drives.

Brady had more opportunities (19 vs 15), and converted them at a higher rate (57.8% vs 42.9%). However, there lies the difference. If Vanderjagt hits those kicks, not only do the Colts win the 2000 Game (although I doubt they would have gone further, as they would have gone to Tennessee next, and the 2000 Colts weren't all that good), but Manning gets another opportunity in the 2005 Divisional game to win (and the Colts were by FAR the best team in the 2005 regular season until James Dungy's suicide).

If Vanderjagt hits both of his kicks, Manning's percentage goes up to 55.6% (8 out of 15). Basically, Manning did his job (put together a successful drive) at least the same rate as Brady did, but Manning's kicker messed up while Vinatieri (or Gostkowski) never did. The other factor is that Manning has been more successful when starting the drive trailing (4/11 vs 4/10). Again, this is basically a negligible difference.

There is really no evidence that Brady has been more clutch other than the fact that Brady's kickers have not missed a large playoff 4th quarter kick, while Manning's have. Vanderjagt probably cost only a win in 2000, but likely cost Manning a great chance at a Super Bowl in 2005.

Also, there were drives where the team was down by 2 scores in games they ultimately won (The Tuck Rule game and teh Bettis Fumble game) Leaving them out actually hurts Manning who was 2-2 in the Bettis Fumble game, and Brady was 1-1 in hte Tuck Rule game.

Then there is the great interception. The pick-6 to end the Super Bowl. I can't really fault Manning for the fact that the intercetpions was actually returned for a TD. There are many studies showing that the length of an interception return is entirely random. No, Brady has not thrown a pick-6 in the playoffs (something Manning has done twice, with the other being Samuel's in the 2006 Title Game). Of course, Brady has three times thrown an interception into the other team's end zone (in other words, while in the red zone). Manning threw picks that put points on the board, (random), Brady threw picks that directly took points off the board (not random).

Brady's first was in the 2003 AFC Title Game against the Colts, when up 21-7, he could have iced the game, but the pick in the Colts End Zone, after the play started from inside the Colts 10 yard line, gave the Colts life. The second was in the 2005 loss to Denver, when, again, from a play inside the 10 yard line, Brady threw a 99-yard almost pick six, that was a 14-point swing (in effect, worse than anything Manning has ever done since there was no proof that the two pick-6 drives were going to be points anyway). The Pats could have at worst made it 10-9, or taken the lead at 13-10. Instead, the Broncos made in 17-6, effectively ending the game. The final one was in Super Bowl XXXVIII, when up 21-16, Brady lofted a pick into the Panther's end zone. Two plays later, the Panthers took the lead on Muhammad's TD. The Pats could have iced the game.

The difference is that no one remembers those Brady picks since in two cases, the Pats won the game anyway. In fact, if Brady didn't throw that INT to Reggie Howard in the Super Bowl, the Pats could have won easily and not even needed Brady's good performance on the ensuing drives and Vinatieri's kick.

The difference in playoff performance in close games essentially comes down to two missed field goals by Mike Vanderjagt, and four hit field goals by Vinatieri (the tuck rule first field goal, Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII and the 2003 Divisional). The other factor is that Manning won most of his playoff games by enough that the 4th quarters were never that close. He was good enough (or in the case of the 2006 Divisional in Baltimore the defense was good enough) in quarters 1-3 to make the 4th quarter less important. Manning is better in the clutch in the regular season. That said, there is really no evidence that Brady really was more "clutch" in the postseason.

I am doing a list of the top-100 NFL players, in my opinion of course, for my blog, and here is my initial copy. I just wanted to see what type of reaction it gets, and who better to test it out on than the most knowledgeable set of fans I know.

I did try to not overdo the QBs and skill position guys. I even got it to 50 offense, 50 defense. I also knocked players if they are old and unlikely to keep up their pace (Brett Favre), or if they are coming off major injuries (Welker, Daniels, Odom, Kampman, others). Also, I tried to do this as unbiased as possible, and the Colts still got the most players on the top-100, with 8.

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The Rio de Indianapaulo Colts Starting 22 and Major Backups

QB

Peyton Manning – Peytao

Curtis Painter – Curtosta

RB

Joseph Addai – Jostao

Donald Brown – Donaldo (too easy)

WR

Reggie Wayne – Gio Wano

Pierre Garcon – Regarco

Anthony Gonzalez – Toni Gonzalo

Austin Collie – Caulo Austina

TE

Dallas Clark - Clarkson

Brody Eldridge - Eldrito

T

Charlie Johnson – Carlo Jonsao

Ryan Diem – Rio Dimara

Tony Ugoh – Gotano

G

Kyle DeVan – Cavando

Jacques McClendon - Clendoncao

Andy Alleman – Alamano

C

Jeff Saturday – Saturna

DE

Dwight Freeney – Frienho

Robert Mathis – Roberto Matino

Jerry Hughes – Hugo Jeria

Eric Foster – Fostao

DT

Daniel Muir – Dani Murinho

Antonio Johnson – Toni Jonsao

Fili Moala – Filtola

Mitch King – Mistos Reyos

OLB

Clint Session – Clinton

Philip Wheeler – Wielros

Vuna Tuihalamaka - Mavakara

MLB

Gary Brackett – Gerson

Pat Angerer – Pato Angino

CB

Kelvin Hayden – Hadinho

Jerraud Powers – Jero Poalo

Jacob Lacey – Lacanta

Ray Fisher – Riu Ficero

S

Bob Sanders – Sandrao

Antoine Bethea – Antonio Bateo

Melvin Bullitt – Bualeta

K/P

Adam Vinatieri – Vidantera

Pat McAfee – Pato Afinho

Coaches/GM/Owner

Jim Caldwell – Jual Caldas

Tom Moore – Mourinho

Clyde Christensen – Cristenos

Larry Coyer – Coyencua

Bill Polian – Paulenta

Jim Irsay – Jual Irsanta

This is from my blog (loungingpass.blogspot.com). Jake's last  KYCH about how we should all cherish Peyton Manning while we have him was so true. In that nature, I give you my decade retrospective of Manning. Yes, he's third on my list of greatest atheletes of the 2000s. Sadly, I decided my ranking before last Thanksgiving, or he would have hopped over Tiger Woods. Anyway, Enjoy, Peyton Manning 2000-2009.

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After my caption foray for that picture of Manning waving his pimp hand strong, I decided to expand mine, and give you Manning's new rap - "The Real Peyton Manning".

Do it to the tune of "The Real Slim Shady" and it makes sense.

Also, I realize that the "cats" and "welcome mats" stanza is quite reprehensible.

Hope you enjoy it!!

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Not sure if this has been posted, but the Head Referee will be Scott Green. The rest of the crew will be made up of the top rated officials at that position, so Green will not be working with his usual crew.

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This is from my blog loungingpass.blogspot.com, where I write mainly about football, and during pieces like this I try to be as unbiased as I can. Sure, there are sentiments here that are probably pronged by me being a Pat-Hater, but I tried to stay pretty partisan. I hope you at least find it a good read, if not agree with it (as I expect most won't).

It covers the Pats thorough transformation from the Dynasty to the Post-Dynasty, and that the dynasty has been dead all along. I originally wrote it after the loss to Baltimore, but I never posted it becuase I feared its being verbally raped by Pats fans. Now, I feel like an appropriate amount of time has passed, and their are similar things written here, so I thought now is the best time.

I exaggerated the ending for effect. In no way do I see the Pats making the Super Bowl with Brady again and impossibility, but one that is definitely in question.

It's long, but that is my writing style. Sorry bout that.

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This is from my blog (www.loungingpass.blogspot.com), and I thought you would all enjoy the article. It is a bit long, but that is my writing style, so I can't really help it. It is generally a piece that just looks at the odd transformation of the Colts to the evil Russians and the Jets as the 1980 Hockey Team. It is not written for Colts fans (as I make note of Charlie Johnson unknown-ness), but is written from the perspective of a Colts fan (me, obviously). Anyway, hope you enjoy it.

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For years we have heard that dome teams cannot win in the playoffs. Then, right before the start of the postseason, the geniuses at CHFF release a study that says that dome teams are even losing at home at a higher than normal rate, that dome teams have intrinsic disadvantages over non-dome teams.

Well, CHFF and all the other supporters of "cold-weather manly" football can stuff snow in their agape mouths.

Dome teams are a clean 5-0 in the playoffs at home (Round 1: Dallas and ARZ win, Round 2: Minnesota, New Orleans and Indy win). Non-dome teams that are at home are 0-3 (Round 1; Cincy and NE lose; these are also "cold" outdoor teams. Round 2: San Diego loses).

My thinking, with the advent of new stadiums that cater to the rich and quiet, crowd noise has really lessened in outdoor venues. Outside of Baltimore and Seattle, in my opinion, the only true home-field advantages lie in domes. I am grateful that the Colts play in the Luke. It might just be the best thing going for them as home field outdoors becomes more and more irrelevant.

Bobman asked, so I will give. Since the 2002 realignment, when the Championship games were moved to 3 and 6:30, the home teams in the first game have a better record than the second game.

                    First Game:                                                                                    Second Game

2002 - Tampa 27 @ Philly 10                                                               Titans 24 @ Raiders 41 

2003 - Indianapolis 14 @ New England 24                                      Panthers 14 @ Eagles 3

2004 - Atlanta 10 @ Philly 27                                                                Patriots 41 @ Steelers 27

2005 - Pittsburgh 34 @ Denver 17                                                      Panthers 14 @ Seahawks 34 

2006 - Saints 14 @ Bears 39                                                               Patriots 34 @ Colts 38

2007 - Chargers 12 @ Patriots 21                                                       Giants 23 @ Packers 20

2008 - Eagles 25 @ Cardinals 32                                                       Ravens 14 @ Steelers 23

Overall, the first game home team is 5-2 and the second game home team is 6-1. Also, AFC Home Teams are 5-2, while the NFC Home team is 4-3. Not really anything worthwhile, like last Saturday's scheduling advantage. The real reason I wanted to do this is to look at all the weird matchups. Anyone forget that the Falcons once played in the title game? Or the Broncos, or that legendary Packers vs Seahawks tilt? Either way, home teams do better in the title game round (9-5), than in the divisional round, which is the opposite of pre-alignment. Either way, these stats won't mean much. The Colts will have to just go out and beat somebody.

Ever since realignment in 2002, the teams that have won the byes are more vulnerable than ever, but that same realignment also signalled the entering of a Saturday Night game. The Saturday Night game is the game that has been bestowed to the Colts, a marked change from 2005, and 2007 when they got the Sunday morning game. There is a drastic difference between the two games.

Home teams are 6-1 in the Saturday Night game, with the only loss being Arizona beating Carolina last year. However, home teams are only 3-4 in the Sunday Early game. Now, this can be seen as a coincedence due to small sample size, yet I feel like there is a marked difference between the two.

The Saturday Night game is usually the most amped-up crowd of the weekend. First, it is a night game, which are always more crazy. Then, becuase of the long-wait, tailgates are longer, more beer is imbibed, more food digested, more people ready to just scream. Night Games in any week seem to usually go to the home team at a higher rate than normal games. Now, for the Sunday Morning game, the home team always seems to be lackadaisacal. There is a laziness that sets in when you are at home, playing early on a Sunday. The Sunday early game has seen the away team win four times in the last six years, with only the 2004 Vikings @ Eagles game be anything close to a comfortable home win.

I just feel happy that the Colts have finally not been given the disastrous Sunday Early slot, which saw them lose a sluggish performance to the Steelers, and that wacky game to San Diego. I'm perfectly fine with the Saturday Night.

I first made this fanpost back in the offseason. It is essentially a review of some of the more intersting parts of the 2006 AFC Divisional Game against the Ravens.

Now, that game really has no impact this year. In my opinion, the Colts are better now than they were then, and the Ravens are worse now than in 2006. However, the game may still be pretty similar, albeit in the comfort of the Luke instead of that madhouse that is M&T Bank Stadium.

Anyway, enjoy. And, hopefully this year's game is as good, if not better, and with the same result at the end.

I'll preface my post by saying this. The Ravens hold a special place in m heart. I am not old enough to remember the Baltimore Colts, so it has nothing to do with that. It is more because I love defensive football, and other than Pittsburgh, no franchise seems to relish that type of football than Baltimore. Or course, if they play the Colts or Raiders, I'll want that D to start to play like a seive, but I keep them as a team that I have no problems if they do well, unless at expense of my two teams.

This was a great game, even though it was low scoring, and it really had some interest points when looking back on it. I'll start with a few Baltimore notes, as they did contribute to the quality of this game.

Baltimore

1.) That Raven's team was really, really good. It seems easy to forget, especially sinced the msm fed us some story about a "Raven resurgence" this past year, that they were 13-3 in 2006. They had the best defense in the league, allowing just 201 points (22 less than the '08 Steelers, for a comparison). They were absolutely loaded on defense. They had Pryce, Gregg and a young Ngata at DL, Scott, Suggs, Lewis and a pre-Belichick-career-killing Adalius Thomas, and then four good DBs in McAllister, Rolle, Landry and Reed. This was no punk team, and that is why I was not surprised when they had a "resurgence" last year.

2.) Ed Reed is a bad, bad man. He was, unquestionably, the best player on the field that night. He was everywhere. He had two picks, on plays where he looked totally receiver-like in the way he adjusted, and elevated for the ball. He had a huge hit on Dallas Clark (people also tend to forget that Ed used to be a hellacious hitter, as good as Troy or Bob are now), and two other near picks. He then had one play where Manning was essentially throwing a desperate lob, one that almost seemed like he was throwing it away, and Ed rushed over, did like a 40' vertical and grabbed it. It was out of bounds, but is was an amazing play. This is another guy that msm seemed to make people believe only became a great one this year. First off, his best year was 2004, when he played SS (like Troy, and better than Troy, or Bob too), and he has been sick for seven years now. The guy is a surefire hall of famer, and for proof, he should just send people this game tape.

3.) M&T Bank Stadium is a bueaty, and has a great atmosphere, especially at night. This one I felt before watching the game, but it only enhanced it. For whatever reason, maybe the angle of the stands, it feels like the players are playing in a canyon floor, with mountainous walls surrounding them. They feel as they are on top of the players, making for a very loud, intimidating, yet intimate setting. At night, the fan reaction, and this feeling only improve. If only they wore thier black uni's. It is RCA Dome/Qwest Field loud, and more open-air then Qwest. It is, as for the new stadiums go, one of a kind.

That's enough Ravening. I had to remind myself that this is not Baltimore Beatdown. On to the Colts points.

Indianapolis

1.) I have never seen Peyton look so flustered/confused and altogether bad. It's not his fault. That Ravens D was amazing. Had we lost, I would have been interested to see what they did to Brady, and then if they made Rex Grossman crap his pants. Back to Peyton, he just was totally lost. This was a worse kind of lost than he looked in the NE playoff games circa 2003-04. He threw the two picks, had two other sure picks tipped by Ray Lewis. He had a couple of throws where I literraly felt like screaming "where the hell are you throwing." Rex Ryan had his number that day. It speaks more to Peyton that on a day when he was constantly pressured (if you have the tape, when the Ravens are on D, play this game: Try to pick which guys are rushing on D, it is nearly impossible), he came up with the throws when he needed to.

2.) The Idea to quick-snap on 3rd Down was awful. Much noise was made later on of Peyton's idea to quick snap on third downs, and the success it gave them. There was absolutely no success. It did do one good, of constantly confusing the rushers. On one play, after Peyton quick snapped, three guys "rushed" but only one came, the other two just stood there dumbfounded. Sadly, that play was a microcosm of the idea, as Peyton threw his second pick to Mr. Reed. Both picks, in fact, came on quick-snaps. What is more amazing, is in Peter Kings article in SI the following week, he hailed this idea as brilliant. I guess Peter was to busy googling Tom Brady.

3.) There were two passes to Dallas Clark, that may have been two of the best Peyton has thrown ever. The firstcame on a play where he was about to be clobbered by Adalius Thomas (for those who don't remember, before he went to NE, Thomas was a feared pass rusher), he let one go 20 yards downfield. It nestled perfectly into the fingers of Dallas Clark, right before he got clobbered b Ed Reed. The next was even more memorable. Clark was completely covered, and I mean completely, like mos QB's would have gotten yelled at if they attempted it. Somehow Peyton fitted it in, which led to the game clinching field goal by Adam. It was absolutely sick.

4.) The Colts grew up that night. They may have tried to become a smash mouth team before, but they did that night. They played against the best D in the league, and played a smashmouth drive to perfection. With 7:42, they were clinging to a 12-6 lead. They churned all but 23 seconds off the clock. It was Addai, it was Rhodes, it was the O-Line manhandling the best D in football. They threw it ONCE on that drive. It was brilliant. The Colts forever changed their image that night.

That was a great game, especially for a defensive football fan. The Colts defense played great, pressuring McNair throughout the second half, forcing four turnovers, and holding them to 244 yards. The Ravens defense played nearly as well, forcing Manning into un-Manning like plays, but the Colts made the plays. As I said before, the Colts grew up that night. That was the game that springboarded them to a super bowl. What is more amazing, is out of my four Colts points, only two were positives, and they still won the game, pretty comfortable even. They were amazing in their resiliency. That was a damn good Ravens team. They were probably going to beat NE (or SD, who they beat earlier that year), and then they would have hammered Rexy to a pulp. However, Peyton and the boys got to them. I really think this is a vastly underrated game, and a vastly underrated one in terms of its importance.

I first made this fanpost back in the offseason. It is essentially a review of some of the more intersting parts of the 2006 AFC Divisional Game against the Ravens.

Now, that game really has no impact this year. In my opinion, the Colts are better now than they were then, and the Ravens are worse now than in 2006. However, the game may still be pretty similar, albeit in the comfort of the Luke instead of that madhouse that is M&T Bank Stadium.

Anyway, enjoy. And, hopefully this year's game is as good, if not better, and with the same result at the end.

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Using Yahoo! Playoff Generator, I have found out that regardless of any other game, the Ravens will play the Patriots in round one if they beat Oakland. If the Bengals win, then the BAL-NE game will be the 4-5 game, while if the Jets win, then it will be the 3-6 matchup.

So, assuming the Ravens win, look forward to the Ravens playing the most-likely Welker-less Pats in round one. Welker is a great guy, and I have respect for him, so I feel bad, but logically that will be a major blow to their chances, making a potential Ravens game really interesting.

Am I dissapointed? Sure 

Am I angry? You bet.

Am I surprised? No, not really.

Am I panicking? No.

This decision will not decide our season. This decision will not "enrage starters, make them lose hope" et al. No, let's remember who we are dealing with. We have a team that played 9 straight elimination games last year, depleted and all, and won every single one of them. We have a team that, when at full strength, was one quarter away from 15-0. We have a team that I trust can beat every team in the NFL. We have a class operation, with players who will not dwell on this for long. The 1998 Broncos lost two straight after a 13-0 start. They ran away with a Super Bowl. The 85 Bears lost to Miami, and ran away with a Super Bowl. If anything, those two teams had something to dwell on: The played EVERYONE and lost. We didn't. Honestly, is the shroud of invincibility gone? Yeah, fine it is. However, my feeling that this team is the best team in football, a team capable of beating anybody, anywhere, anytime, has not changed one bit. We saw Peyton play magnificent last Thursday, in a hostile environment, playing for everything. We saw this team make a miraculous, brilliant 4th quarter comeback against the Pats. We saw this team put the hammer down with a 14 play 8 minute TD drive against the Broncos. Let's not forget that team.

If anything, this will allow whatever 19-0 pressure to go away. I would say that a majority of us supported the rest theory, and even more of us said "I don't care if we rest, if we go 16-0. I just want a second Lombardi". Just because they did what we all thought they would do all along in a way that was surprising, if not maddening, let's not forget that we (including me) supported it. It was not pretty, seeing those boos rained down upon the Luke turf, but at least they were not rained on Peyton, Reggie or Dwight, they were at the coach and the GM. They can both handle it, I'm sure, as can a locker-room full of proffesionals. They came back from three straight devastating Super Bowl losses, and won a Super Bowl.

I'll finish with these two questions.

Would you rather have been the '06 Colts, who entered the postseason with a swiss-cheese run defense, finishing the year 3-4 (let's all try to permenantly delete all footage of the 44-17 game, please), or this team who has yet to lose when playing to win?

Would you rather be the Saints, losers of two straight at home, when they openly played to win, and lost, including one to decrepid Tampa Bay, or would you rather be the Colts?

I would take the '09 Colts in both.

We still have Manning, Wayne, Freeney, Clark, Mathis. We love this team Polian created, drafting unknowns from Who Knows Where U and plugging them in. We love how Caldwell has gotten this team focused and motivated for everygame. We love the way that Manning and the other leaders are class proffesionals, who can put everything aside and play the game. Sure they burned us in '05 and '07. But, we rested in 2004, and had a 31-3 halftime lead against the Broncos. Historically, teams have rested and done fine (last year's Steelers). It's not like playing for 16-0 helped the Pats in '07.

We all have loved this team for 14 weeks. They have done everything for us for this whole time. Are we really ready to throw it away now, to get a divorce, or seek team counseling? I'm not. I'm ready to fight through the inevitable medi firestorm, and lay low till Jan 16-17. Why? Cause we got 18 on our side, and let's never forget that.

He names Manning the player of the decade and the QB on his all-decade team. No other Colts are selected (he put Aaron Smith on it ahead of Freeney, which stunned me), except for Vinatieri, but that's probably for his deeds as a Patriot.

Bill Polian was given the GM of the decade.

Pats fans will be up in arms, but he gave the Pats best Franchise of the Decade, gave Pioli best personnel man (does he even know that Pioli is now running that wreck in KC) and even the 2007 Pats the best Team of the Decade, which I found especially humorous. I would have been fine if he gave it to the 2004 Pats, but giving it to a team that didn't win teh Super Bowl is hilarious. I would have waited for this season to end, because if either the Siants or Colts win the Super Bowl, I'm guessing they can make a case for team of the decade.

With the team humming along at 11-0, I just wanted to take a moment and look back at our last run at undefeated-ness.

Continue reading this post »

I used to like Whitlock's writing, but good God, look at this from his Weekly NFL Truths column:

Continue reading this post »

This is what I wrote for my blog (loungingpass.blogspot.com), but I'll put it here too, because I think you would all enjoy it. It's long, but that is just my writing style.

It starts out about the game, and then becomes a look at the shifting dynamic of the rivalry. Hope you enjoy it!

Continue reading this post »

All over the blogosphere, people rightly mathematically defended Belichick for going for it. Fine, the Math works.

Well, the Math also says that historically teams convert two-point conversions over 50% of the time, which makes that over the long run, teams would score more going for 2 every time than kicking an extra point. Say you miss one, but make the next two, there is a net gain of 1 point. Maybe there is a game where you don't get many, and lose, but there also may be a game where you hit all of them and make a close dogfight a relatively easier game.

So, the Math works, should teams always go for 2?

Here are my examples:

Colts Ones (now, Manning is amazing, so maybe he is just better)

• 2003 - Pats lead 31-10, give up 24 points in roughly 20 minutes, need Goal-Line stand to win
• 2006 - Pats lead 21-6, give up 32 second half points to lose
• 2009 - Pats lead 31-14 after second play of fourth quarter, defense gets scalpled to the tune of 21 points

Other examples

• 2001 - Against mediocre offensive Pittsburgh team, Pats give up 14 second half-points in Title game
• 2001 - In the Super Bowl, they blow 17-3 lead
• 2003 - In the Super Bowl, they blow 21-10 fourth quarter lead against the Panthers, and need last minute field goal to win
• 2004 - In Title Game, gives up 24 second half points to make a once 24-3 game interesting.
• 2007 - In the Super Bowl, they give up 14 fourth quarter points, allowing Giants to drive the field in the last two minutes to win game.

Now, sure he has also coached some brilliant defensive performances in his career, like holding the '04 Colts to 3, and making Peyton have nightmares in '03. But, the list of second-half defensive breakdowns are staggering.

This is almost perfect analysis. No surprise it comes from Walter. Although he was a Peyton hater for a long time, he actually looks at this game with objective eyes. Here it is:

New England Patriots (6-2) at Indianapolis Colts (8-0)
Line: Colts by 3. Total: 50.
Walt's Projected Line (Before Week 9): Colts -6.
Walt's Projected Line (After Week 9): Colts -6.
Sunday, 8:20 ET

The Game. Edge: Colts.
NFL Injuries: AFC Injuries | NFC Injuries

Last year, I kept you up to date with Bo-Bo's Fantasy Team (click the link for details). This year, I'm doing the same.

It's a miracle! It's a miracle! Bo-Bo wins two in a row! Bo-Bo wins two in a row! For the first time ever (I think), Bo-Bo hasn't followed up one of his rare wins with a loss.

Even though he started scrubs like Patrick Crayton, Laveranues Coles, Earl Bennett and John Carlson, Bo-Bo won 102-77. Here's his lineup and the points each player scored for him:

QB: Joe Flacco (0)
RB1: Michael Turner (31)
RB2: Frank Gore (21)
WR1: Earl Bennett (9)
WR2: Patrick Crayton (7)
WR3: Laveranues Coles (7)
TE: John Carlson (4)
K: David Akers (14)
DEF: Cowboys Defense (9)

Bo-Bo is now 3-6. His opponent should hang his head in shame and retire from fantasy football forever.

NEW ENGLAND OFFENSE: In his past three games, Tom Brady has thrown for 1,020 yards, 10 touchdowns and three picks. Looks pretty amazing, but I wouldn't be too impressed.

First of all, his three opponents, Tennessee, Tampa Bay and Miami, are a combined 6-18. All three of those defensive backfields are horrific. And despite those numbers, Brady really struggled to put together long drives against the Buccaneers and Dolphins. Sure, he hit the occasional long bomb to Randy Moss, but that's not really difficult to do against crap secondaries like those.

The last time Brady battled a real defense was back in Week 5 at Denver. Brady was 19-of-33 for 215 yards, giving him a meager completion percentage (57.6) and YPA (6.5).

I think we'll see that Brady here. Despite what he has done in the past three weeks, he's still not 100 percent. And don't fall into the trap of thinking that the Colts won't be able to stop the pass because of all of the injuries to their secondary; the three guys who are out - Bob Sanders, Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden - have barely played this year. It's been Indianapolis' young corners (Jerraud Powers, Jacob Lacey and Tim Jennings) and strong safety Melvin Bullitt who have really stepped up.

Sanders, Jackson and Hayden have only SIX combined starts this year. Six! Anyone who is picking against the Colts because of their secondary "woes" clearly hasn't been paying attention to them all year.

Indianapolis' rush defense has really improved since that Monday night disaster at Miami, and Laurence Maroney sucks anyway, so Brady is going to have to throw a ton. Sure, he'll put together some scoring drives, but I think he'll struggle for the most part. The Colts defense is really underrated.

INDIANAPOLIS OFFENSE: While Brady has been pedestrian when he hasn't feasted off the crap teams of the NFL, Peyton Manning has been playing out of his mind this year. This, in my opinion, is Manning's best season as a pro, especially when you consider that he's getting it done with all of these young players.

A large part to any quarterback's success is his offensive line. Manning barely gets sacked as it is, so I don't see how New England will apply any sort of pressure on him. On the year, the Patriots have only 15 sacks. If they can't get to Manning, this year's prospective MVP is going to torch their secondary.

Speaking of which, New England's pass defense is really overrated right now, which is a bit ironic considering how underrated Indianapolis' secondary is. The Patriots have risen to eighth in pass defense, but look at whom they've played recently: The Dolphins don't attack with downfield strikes; the Buccaneers had Josh Johnson under center and he sucks; and the Titans had a drunk Kerry Collins in a snow game. Before these three aerially challenged foes, New England was 14th versus the pass and had just allowed 330 yards to Kyle Orton. Yes, the same Kyle Orton who throws like a 12-year-old girl!

While Brady and the Patriots will put some scoring drives together, I believe Manning and the Colts will have much more success in that department. Sure, Bill Belichick is going to throw the kitchen sink at Manning, but these teams play each other every year. Manning has seen it all. He struggled early in his career versus New England, but the last four times he has gone against Belichick, he's a combined 84-of-139, 1,154 yards, six touchdowns and three picks. That's an impressive YPA of 8.3.

It's also worth noting that the Colts are 3-1 in those four contests.

RECAP: This has been a long write-up, so I'm going to make this recap simple. This line is off by three points (should be Colts -6 based on talent). The Colts have the better offense and the better defense. I'll be completely shocked if they lose this game.


The Psychology. Edge: None.
Brady vs. Manning. No extra motivation on either side.


The Vegas. Edge: Colts.
Early action on the Colts. The public now likes the Patriots. I thought this would be 50-50.

Percentage of money on New England: 71% (31,000 bets)


The Trends. Edge: Patriots.

PROPS TO WALTERFOOTBALL.COM!!!!