To help pass time this off-season, I have reviewed the Colts regular season games from 2009. With this second look at how the team played, a few thoughts have occurred to me which were not obvious during the initial viewing, and I thought it a good opportunity to rethink some of my previously held opinions of the team I love. So, with your kind indulgence, as I view a game at a time I will be sharing my impressions.

Personal Note: This is not, and was never intended to be, an objective, unbiased review of an NFL contest. It is instead a glimpse into the emotional ride experienced by the average Colts fan at game time. My Homerism switch is engaged and turned up to eleven. With that in mind, I invite you to join me as we relive the highs and lows of the 2009 Indianapolis Colts season.

Today's Game: Week 17 - Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills

Setting the Stage

• The Colts enter the final game of the regular season with a league-leading record of 14-1. Quarterback Peyton Manning is second in the league with 4,405 passing yards, and wide receiver Reggie Wayne is tied for third in the league with 1,243 yards receiving. Pierre Garçon is nursing a sore shoulder and does not play. Defensive end Dwight Freeney, kicker Adam Vinatieri, linebacker Clint Session, defensive end Robert Mathis, defensive back Jerraud Powers, and running back Chad Simpson are out with various injuries. Defensive end Ervin Baldwin, defensive tackle Eric Foster, corner back Tim Jennings, safety Aaron Francisco, and defensive end Raheem Brock get the start. Sam Giguère makes his first appearance for the Colts returning kickoffs. Several of the Colts were selected for the Pro Bowl prior to this game; among them are Reggie to his fourth, Peyton to his tenth (ties Colts great Johnny Unitas), and tight end Dallas Clark to his first. Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick leads the 5-10 Bills, who boast a defense with 26 interceptions on the year (tied for second).
• The Field: Frozen solid on a near-whiteout, wintry New York day at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, NY. Temperature is 14 degrees with northwest winds gusting to 40 mph. That is a wind chill temperature of minus one, folks. I swear I just saw a polar bear wearing a parka in the stands.
• The Crowd: Sparse and subdued. The stands are half-empty. Or is that half-full? Either way, they are wrapped head-to-toe in cold weather gear and act like they are still recovering from the holidays.

• The Network Coverage: Bill Macatee and Steve Beuerlein of CBS. Beuerlein speculates that most of the Colts players, having had time to consider the decision, agree that resting the starters was the better approach. He also points out that the Colts' main goal is to escape this final game without injury.

Key Plays First Quarter:

• Bills go three-and-out. Man, field conditions are atrocious. Players can barely change direction, and everyone is moving at half-speed. Already, this is shaping up to be a long, slow game.

• Interception. After a short completion to Reggie Wayne, Peyton's next two passes display the futility of a Ferrari-esque team trying to play on ice. Tight end Jacob Tamme falls trying to make his cut, and the pass is easy pickings for the Buffalo defense. Manning starts one of three with an interception.
• Whoa! Defensive back Antoine Bethea with a huge hit on wide receiver Terrell Owens. Linebacker Phillip Wheeler leaps to swat the ball away just as Bethea is leveling Owens. T.O. lays on the frozen turf for a handful of tense seconds but appears to be OK. Considering the field conditions, I hope this does not become a trend.
• Touchdown, Buffalo. Running back Fred Jackson with the reception in the end zone. It is only the second touchdown given up by Indianapolis after a turnover, all season, and only the second Buffalo touchdown in their last 32 drives. Bills take the early 7-0 lead.
• Touchdown, Colts. Manning is targeting Clark and Wayne, one after the other, and it is becoming obvious he is trying to get them to the 100 reception milestone. Clark with five receptions on the drive, Wayne with five targets, three receptions. On second-and-goal from the one, running back Mike Hart follows offensive guard Ryan Lilja in for the score, and the game is tied, 7-7.

Second Quarter:

• Wayne and Clark get their 100 catches, and the pair -- and Manning -- leaves the field for good. For those who would prefer not to suffer through the remaining carnage, I will quickly summarize then meet you at the end... it sucks when the first string is not on the field. It sucks worse when the field conditions are so poor that players are slipping and sliding all over the place. Hey Buffalo, not sure if you have noticed, but it tends to freeze in January where you are. Put a roof on that stadium.
• Defensive back Jamie Silva with a great read and reaction to bat away a sure first-down. We are going to miss this guy in 2010. Then, Aaron Francisco slices through to stop the RB cold. That could have been a long run, but Aaron made a nice play and tackle. Buffalo is driving when Baldwin and Brock get penetration and stop the running back in the backfield to force a punt. Play is generally sloppy due to the field conditions, but I have to give props for the effort. There is some good hitting going on.
• And here comes second-string quarterback Curtis Painter! And there goes Curtis Painter. Let's review what happened, shall we? Running back Donald Brown for a loss of two, Brown for a gain of two, and Painter with a throw into double-coverage that has a better chance of being intercepted than completed. Colts punt. Well, that was special.
• Touchdown, Buffalo. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick finds wide receiver Lee Evans in the flat for the 21 yard touchdown. Defensive back Kelvin Hayden had decent coverage and dives for the ball but could not break up the play. Buffalo goes back on top 14-7.
• Sam Giguère takes the kickoff at the 6, finds a small opening, and takes it to the 37. Good field position for a change and the hope that Sam is a breakout returner begins in the hearts of Indy fans everywhere.
• And here comes Curtis Painter! And there goes Curtis Painter. Let's review what happened, shall we? Mike Hart turns a three-yard loss into a one-yard gain while slipping and sliding and carefully picking what might have possibly been a running lane, and a 21-yard completion to Jacob Tamme to move the Colts into the Bills territory. Then, an incompletion targeting wide receiver Austin Collie over the middle, and a fumble which is recovered by the Bills. On the fumble, offensive guard Mike Pollak totally misses his assignment, and Hart chop blocks the rushing defensive tackle. Meanwhile, Painter seems to expect Hart to take the hand-off and attempts to tuck the ball and run after realizing that Hart is on the ground. The running part Painter does OK, the tucking... yeah, not-so-much. He was untouched, but the ball slips from his hands and three or four blue-shirted Bills players pounce on it. Well, that too was special.

• Note: During that last Colts series, the umpire goes down hard. He is blindsided by a sliding Bills player and has his feet taken out from under him, hitting his head on the frozen turf. Man, that had to hurt. First Owens, and now the umpire. Seeing this guy taken out like this reinforces the decision to change the umpire's position in 2010. Whether or not the Colts offense is hurt by the change remains to be seen, but I can certainly understand the motivation behind the new rule. Play is stopped for several minutes while they check him out at mid-field. How many fingers? Eleven? OK, you are good.

• Bills touchdown. Fitzpatrick hits Owens in the same spot he hit Evans on their last possession. Hayden again with the coverage. It is now 21-7, Buffalo. Giguère muffs the resulting kickoff and has to hustle to swat the ball out of the end zone to avoid giving up a touchdown. But let's just move on, shall we?
• And here comes Curtis Painter! And there goes Curtis Painter. Again. Can we deal with another summary? I promise it will be short. The only play on this series results in an interception. Protection is good, and Collie is wide open in the middle of the field, but the pass is overthrown... a lot. Bills' ball yet again. But let's not dwell on the negatives. Let's just move on, shall we?
• Bills add a field goal. Buffalo moves the ball pretty well, but penalties force them to settle for the field goal. Haha... On the resulting 36-yard-Sam Giguère-return, the mic picks up a screaming Jeff Saturday(?) - "Nice cut, Big Sammy. I see ya, baby!" Colts ball with seven seconds on the clock and three time-outs.
• And here comes Curtis Painter! This time, there are a few boos. Thankfully, with only seven seconds to work with, expectations are not high, and watching him under-throw an open Collie on the first play and take a sack on the second is not too upsetting or surprising. The first half is over! Finally. There should be a reward for watching this.

Third Quarter:

• Bills add a field goal on their first possession of the second-half. Let's call this one "The Fred Jackson Show" - Jackson over left tackle for 3, Jackson over left tackle for 2, Jackson over left tackle (and the entire Indy defense) for 22, Jackson over right guard for 12, Jackson over right tackle for 4, and Jackson over right guard for 1. Throw in one incompletion (Hayden with good coverage on Owens), and kicker Ryan Lindell puts the Bills up by 20 early in the third. Jackson accumulates 44 rushing yards on this drive. The Colts have zero yards rushing for the entire game. I know the field is bad guys, but it is bad for the other team too, ya know?
• Hart for 15! Finally, some positive yardage and something to cheer about. Offensive tackle Tony Ugoh shoves his defender aside and leads Hart down-field. Great down-field blocking by Tamme, Giguère, and Jamey Richard plus a final Ugoh clear-out of two defenders moves the Colts near mid-field. Unfortunately, that is as far as they get. A run-for-a-loss plus two incompletions (Painter with a bad throw on one and bad use of the pocket on the other), and Pat McAfee is back on to punt. The Colts earn 33 total third-quarter yards. Ugh.

• And another Bills field goal. Jackson left, Jackson right, Jackson up the middle. It is not until Buffalo reaches the red zone that the Colts defense can stop him; two runs for minus one yard, by the way. Buffalo now leads 30-7, having scored 23 unanswered points. Fred Jackson hits 212 yards on the afternoon, 1000 yards on the season.

Fourth Quarter:

• With a 15-yard reception, Terrell Owens moves past Tim Brown into third place on the career receiving yards list with 14,951. I do not always agree with his antics, but I have to respect the talent and longevity.
• Ouch! Wide receiver Hank Baskett turns and leaps in an attempt to make a reception, falls backward with a defender on top of him, and slams his head onto the frozen field. That is three now. The sound is actually sickening, even on TV. He lays motionless for a few seconds, and there is real concern until he stirs, tries to get up, and eventually walks off under his own power. That was scary for a few seconds.
• The Bills control the remaining 3:37 of the game with three runs and three kneel-downs, and head home while the Colts head into the playoffs. End of game. End of regular season.

Overall Impressions

• The Offense: How do you judge a second- and third-string offense on a frozen and dangerously slippery field in blizzard conditions? How about "They did not play as well as the Bills"? They made a handful of nice plays, but they were far outweighed by poor ones. Overall, this was a D effort... no, that is not right. There was effort - there was no success.
• The Defense: See The Offense.
• Special Teams: See The Defense.

Random Thoughts:

• Sitting here thinking back over the 2009 season, I really believe this was the most painful game to recap. Watching our defense get carved up by Miami in Week 2 was bad. Falling behind New England so far and so fast in Week 10 was bad too and really hard to watch. And certainly witnessing the second-stringers give up the lead (and the game) against the Jets was downright painful. But this... between the brutal field conditions and the atrocious play by Curtis Painter and other backups had me constantly checking the clock, hoping... praying... wishing the game would soon be over. It was not... it went on, and on, and on.
• When asked what he was able to learn from the game, Coach Jim Caldwell said that he would not even review the game film. I wish I could have said the same. When Peyton Manning was asked about the game, he replied "It's not much fun to stand on the sideline as you see the score going the other way." Really, Peyton? Try watching as we fans do: peeking between your fingers and sick to your stomach, from your living room.
• Curtis Painter was awful. 'Nuff said.
• Watching Peyton throw successful alternating completions to Wayne and Clark against a defense that knew he was intent on getting them their 100 catches was really eye-opening. The Buffalo D could not stop them, because the first-string Colts offense is that good. But what really jumps out at me is how the pro-Buffalo crowd reacts to the completions, many of which were for loses or no gain. They seem to have no idea that Manning's goal is completions, not necessarily yards or first downs. After Clark records his 100th catch, a quick out for a loss of seven, the pro-Buffalo crowd cheers. But they miss the point entirely as both Clark and Manning retire to the sidelines having accomplished what they set out to do. All of this makes me wonder how often we dedicated and 'knowledgeable' Colts fans also completely miss the point when we blast the running game, for example, as ineffective and ready for the trash heap or complain loudly when the Colts draft (or cut) what we are positive is the wrong player. The Colts front office has proven, year after year, that they know much more about this whole football thing than we do. Maybe we should do more cheering and less complaining.
• Oh look! The Patriots lost.

Thanks for re-visiting the 2009 regular season with me. It was a season of ups and downs, thrills and heartbreak, and more than a few milestones, broken records, and remarkable achievements. When you think about it, 'remarkable achievement' pretty much defines the Manning era. I feel blessed to be around to witness it. Thanks for reading.

Colts lose 30-7 to end the season at 14-2. Next stop, the playoffs!

Total Run Yards:
Colts: 25 (yes, you read that right)
Bills: 248 (yup, that's right too)

Total Passing Yards:
Colts: 132 (95 of this was Peyton)
Bills: 155

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Manning: 14 of 18, 95 yards, 1 INT
Painter: 4 of 17, 39 yards, 1 INT
Clark: 7 receptions, 52 yards
Wayne: 5 receptions, 21 yards
Tamme: 1 reception, 21 yards
Hart (receiving): 2 receptions, 16 yards
Collie: 1 reception, 15 yards
Hart (rushing): 10 carries, 28 yards
Brown (rushing): 4 carries, -4 yards

To help pass time this off-season, I've reviewed the Colts' regular season games from 2009. With this second look at how the team played, a few thoughts have occured to me which were not obvious during the initial viewing, and I thought it a good opportunity to rethink some of my previously held opinions of the team I love. So, with your kind indulgence, as I view a game at a time I'll be sharing my impressions.

Personal Note: This is not, and was never intended to be, an objective, unbiased review of an NFL contest. It is instead a glimpse into the emotional ride experienced by the average Colt fan at game time. My Homerism switch is engaged and turned up to eleven. With that in mind, I invite you to join me as we re-live the highs and lows of the 2009 Indianapolis Colts season.

Today's Game: Week 16: New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts

Setting The Stage

• The Colts come into today's game undefeated, flirting with perfection, and assured of homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning leads the league in completion percentage (68.6%), yards (4213), and is tied for the most touchdown passes on the season (33). Sitting out for the Colts are Charlie Johnson (turf toe), Robert Mathis (quad) and Pierre Garçon (hand). Donald Brown returns after missing three games with a chest injury, and Dwight Freeney plays limited snaps. The New York Jets are quarterbacked by rookie Mark Sanchez, lead the league in rushing yards, and boast the number one overall defense.
• The Field: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. It's snowing outside, and the roof is closed.
• The Crowd: Supportive and well-mannered... for two and one-half quarters, that is. Then it gets ugly.

More, after the jump!

Continue reading this post »

To help pass time this off-season, I've reviewed the Colts' regular season games from 2009. With this second look at how the team played, a few thoughts have occured to me which were not obvious during the initial viewing, and I thought it a good opportunity to rethink some of my previously held opinions of the team I love. So, with your kind indulgence, as I view a game at a time I'll be sharing my impressions.

Personal Note: This is not, and was never intended to be, an objective, unbiased review of an NFL contest. It is instead a glimpse into the emotional ride experienced by the average Colt fan at game time. My Homerism switch is engaged and turned up to eleven. With that in mind, I invite you to join me as we re-live the highs and lows of the 2009 Indianapolis Colts season.

Today's Game: Week 15: Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars

Setting The Stage

• It's a few days before Christmas, and the Colts come into the game already having earned homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. Donald Brown is out, and Dwight Freeney is nursing a sore hamstring. The big question is 'will the Colts play their first string players?' Quarterback David Garrard leads the Jaguars who are 7-6. With a win, Jacksonville assures themselves a playoff spot.
• The Field: It's a cool, Thursday night in December at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida. The natural grass field looks to be in pretty good shape.
• The Crowd: Loud. Loud and annoying, to be honest. Drrruuuuuuuu... Every frickin' time Maurice Jones-Drew touches the ball. Yeah, it gets old really quick.

More, after the jump!

Continue reading this post »

To help pass time this off-season, I've reviewed the Colts' regular season games from 2009. With this second look at how the team played, a few thoughts have occured to me which were not obvious during the initial viewing, and I thought it a good opportunity to rethink some of my previously held opinions of the team I love. So, with your kind indulgence, as I view a game at a time I'll be sharing my impressions.

Personal Note: This is not, and was never intended to be, an objective, unbiased review of an NFL contest. It is instead a glimpse into the emotional ride experienced by the average Colt fan at game time. My Homerism switch is engaged and turned up to eleven. With that in mind, I invite you to join me as we re-live the highs and lows of the 2009 Indianapolis Colts season.

Today's Game: Week 14: Denver Brocos at Indianapolis Colts

Setting The Stage

• Indianapolis is undefeated, and Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning leads the NFL in completion percentage (70%) and total yards (3685). Donald Brown, Anthony Gonzalez, Bob Sanders, Tyjuan Hagler, and Adam Vinatieri are out. Denver boasts one of the best defenses in the league. They are tied for second in points allowed per game, and their talented secondary makes them especially good against the pass. Also, and their Pro Bowl defensive end, Elvis Dumervil, leads the NFL in sacks with 15. Denver is fighting for a wild card spot in the playoffs.
• The Field: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The roof is closed on a cloudy, late fall day.
• The Crowd: Loud, early on. They disappear entirely during a mid-game drought, but find their voice at the end.

More, after the jump!

Continue reading this post »

To help pass time this off-season, I've reviewed the Colts' regular season games from 2009. With this second look at how the team played, a few thoughts have occured to me which were not obvious during the initial viewing, and I thought it a good opportunity to rethink some of my previously held opinions of the team I love. So, with your kind indulgence, as I view a game at a time I'll be sharing my impressions.

Personal Note: This is not, and was never intended to be, an objective, unbiased review of an NFL contest. It is instead a glimpse into the emotional ride experienced by the average Colt fan at game time. My Homerism switch is engaged and turned up to eleven. With that in mind, I invite you to join me as we re-live the highs and lows of the 2009 Indianapolis Colts season.

Today's Game: Week 13: Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts

Setting The Stage

• Indianapolis comes into Week 13 at 11-0 and boasting the number one passing offense in the league. Quarterback Peyton Manning is having an MVP year throwing for a career high 70.4% completion rate. Vince Young and Chris Johnson lead the Titans who started the season 0-6 but have won their last five games. Tennessee was the last team to beat the Colts, back in October of 2008. Injuries for the Colts include Donald Brown - chest, Keyunta Dawson - knee, Charlie Johnson - foot, Adam Vinatieri - knee, and Anthony Gonzalez - knee. Tony Ugoh gets the start at left tackle, Mike Hart is brought up from the practice squad to replace Brown, and Kelvin Hayden returns after missing two games.
• The Field: Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. The roof is closed.
• The Crowd: Relatively quiet, to be honest. Several Titan fans must have made the trip because there's more cheering for the visiting team than during most Colt games. I suppose their volume kinda mirrors my emotions during the game; the Colts are playing so well, and I'm so confident they'll win, that there's really no reason to get excited. It's interesting; I remember when the Titans were a hated rival. Now? Not so much.

More, after the jump!

Continue reading this post »

To help pass time this off-season, I've reviewed the Colts' regular season games from 2009. With this second look at how the team played, a few thoughts have occured to me which were not obvious during the initial viewing, and I thought it a good opportunity to rethink some of my previously held opinions of the team I love. So, with your kind indulgence, as I view a game at a time I'll be sharing my impressions.

Personal Note: This is not, and was never intended to be, an objective, unbiased review of an NFL contest. It is instead a glimpse into the emotional ride experienced by the average Colt fan at game time. My Homerism switch is engaged and turned up to eleven. With that in mind, I invite you to join me as we re-live the highs and lows of the 2009 Indianapolis Colts season.

Today’s Game: Week 12: Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans

Setting The Stage

• It’s Thanksgiving weekend, and the Colts come into the game 10-0 on the season and 14-1 all-time against the Texans. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has 34 career touchdowns vs Houston, the most of any team. The Texans, at 5-5 and led by quarterback Matt Schaub and wide receiver Andre Johnson, sport the 30th ranked rushing offense, and are desperate for a shot at a wildcard berth. Dwight Freeney has an abdomen injury and didn’t make the trip, so Raheem Brock starts and Josh Thomas gets quite a bit of playing time. Manning has a sore glute, Kelvin Hayden is out again, and Charlie Johnson is playing with a bad foot.
• The Field: Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX. The roof is open on an overcast, 75 degree day.
• The Crowd: 70,990 in attendance. The crowd is pretty savvy; they know when to be loud and when to be quiet. One thing is obvious; they don’t like the Colts. Haha… sure, lady; your team is Number One.

More, after the jump!

Continue reading this post »

To help pass time this off-season, I've reviewed the Colts' regular season games from 2009. With this second look at how the team played, a few thoughts have occured to me which were not obvious during the initial viewing, and I thought it a good opportunity to rethink some of my previously held opinions of the team I love. So, with your kind indulgence, as I view a game at a time I'll be sharing my impressions.

Personal Note: This is not, and was never intended to be, an objective, unbiased review of an NFL contest. It is instead a glimpse into the emotional ride experienced by the average Colt fan at game time. My Homerism switch is engaged and turned up to eleven. With that in mind, I invite you to join me as we re-live the highs and lows of the 2009 Indianapolis Colts season.

Today’s Game: Week 11 - Indianapolis Pro Football Team at Baltimore Ravens

Setting The Stage

• The Colts come into the game undefeated at 9-0 and coming off a huge comeback win at home against the New England Patriots. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning leads the NFL with 20 passing touchdowns. Quarterback Joe Flacco and safety Ray Lewis lead the Ravens who hold a five and four record; having lost the last six meetings between the clubs. This is Colts kicker Matt Stover’s first visit to Baltimore since being released by the Ravens at the end of last year. Kelvin Hayden returns to the Colts lineup while Bob Sanders and Tyjuan Hagler are still inactive. Dwight Freeney, with a bad hip, sees limited playing time, and Pierre Garçon is hobbled with a bad ankle. With the win over NE, Colts coach Jim Caldwell became the first rookie coach in NFL history to win his first nine games.
• The Field: A sunny, 56 degree fall day at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland.
• The Crowd: Very loud, rude, and rowdy. Boos when Haloti Ngata is called for an obvious unnecessary roughness penalty after launching himself into the back of a prone Pierre Garçon. At every opportunity, they boo former Ravens' kicker Matt Stover.
• Dear Baltimore, Indy versus Ravens? Really? You know, at some point you just have to take a deep breath and let it go. Sincerely, teej

More, after the jump!

Continue reading this post »

To help pass time this off-season, I've reviewed the Colts' regular season games from 2009. With this second look at how the team played, a few thoughts have occured to me which were not obvious during the initial viewing, and I thought it a good opportunity to rethink some of my previously held opinions of the team I love. So, with your kind indulgence, as I view a game at a time I'll be sharing my impressions.

Personal Note: This is not, and was never intended to be, an objective, unbiased review of an NFL contest. It is instead a glimpse into the emotional ride experienced by the average Colt fan at game time. My Homerism switch is engaged and turned up to eleven. With that in mind, I invite you to join me as we re-live the highs and lows of the 2009 Indianapolis Colts season.

Today’s Game: Week 10 - New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts

Setting The Stage

• The Colts come into the game 8-0, one of two undefeated teams, and with a defense which leads the league in points allowed. Tom Brady and Randy Moss lead the Patriots into the game at 6-2 and lead the AFC North. Colts injuries include Bob Sanders, Tyjuan Hagler, Aaron Francisco, and Kelvin Hayden. Kyle DeVan starts his second game at right guard.
• The Field: It’s a Sunday night at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis IN. The roof is closed.
• The Crowd: Loud early, very subdued in the second and third quarters... yeah, I can see why. The fourth is a totally different story. They're rockin’ crazy at the end.

More, after the jump!

Continue reading this post »

To help pass time this off-season, I've reviewed the Colts' regular season games from 2009. With this second look at how the team played, a few thoughts have occured to me which were not obvious during the initial viewing, and I thought it a good opportunity to rethink some of my previously held opinions of the team I love. So, with your kind indulgence, as I view a game at a time I'll be sharing my impressions.

Personal Note: This is not, and was never intended to be, an objective, unbiased review of an NFL contest. It is instead a glimpse into the emotional ride experienced by the average Colt fan at game time. My Homerism switch is engaged and turned up to eleven. With that in mind, I invite you to join me as we re-live the highs and lows of the 2009 Indianapolis Colts season.

Today’s Game: Week 9 - Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts

Setting The Stage

• The Colts come into the game 7-0, one of two undefeated teams. Houston quarterback Matt Schaub and the Texans enter the game at 5-3 and boast one of the most productive offenses in the league along with a surprisingly stingy defense; one which has forced more three-and-outs than any other team thus far. Schaub leads the league in passing yards and touchdown passes, and Andre Johnson leads the league in receiving yards. Colts injuries include Bob Sanders, Tyjuan Hagler (out for the season), and Kelvin Hayden. Philip Wheeler gets the start for Hagler, and for the first time, Keven DeVan gets the start at right guard in place of Mike Pollak. To replace Hagler on the roster, Cody Glenn is called up from the practice squad.
• The Field: The roof is open on a 70 degree day at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis IN. It’s another blindingly sunny day with deep shadows in one corner; moving slowly toward mid-field as the game progresses.
• The Crowd: The announcers mention crowd noise several times today… both in terms of how loud it gets when the defense is on the field and how quiet it gets when the offense is out there. Savvy crowd... I mean, for a bunch of fat humps. Oh, wait...

More, after the jump!

Continue reading this post »

To help pass time this off-season, I've reviewed the Colts' regular season games from 2009. With this second look at how the team played, a few thoughts have occured to me which were not obvious during the initial viewing, and I thought it a good opportunity to rethink some of my previously held opinions of the team I love. So, with your kind indulgence, as I view a game at a time I'll be sharing my impressions.

Personal Note: This is not, and was never intended to be, an objective, unbiased review of an NFL contest. It is instead a glimpse into the emotional ride experienced by the average Colt fan at game time. My Homerism switch is engaged and turned up to eleven. With that in mind, I invite you to join me as we re-live the highs and lows of the 2009 Indianapolis Colts season.

Today’s Game: Week 8 - San Francisco 49ers at Indianapolis Colts

Setting The Stage

• The Colts return to Indianapolis with a record of 6-0 and the top ranked passing attack in the NFL. Alex Smith, the number one overall pick in 2005, and Frank Gore lead the San Francisco 49ers who, at 3-3, field a very good defense; one which is ranked #6 against the run. Donald Brown and T.J. Rushing are out with injuries. Reggie Wayne starts after missing practices all week, and once again, Mike Pollak and Kyle DeVan alternate series at right guard.
• The Field: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis IN. Roof is open on a blinding sunny day. Early in the game, for example, on a critical third-and-three at the San Francisco 15, Peyton throws toward Clark in the right corner of the end zone, but Clark never sees the ball due to the sun.
• The Crowd: Like the Colts’ offense in the first half, the crowd seems unfocused and subdued. But near the end, when the Colts are controlling the ball to secure the win, they stand and make some noise. After a quick snap gives the Colts an easy first-down, a 49ers lineman goes down with cramps. The crowd thinks he’s faking and boos loudly when he walks off under his own power.

More, after the jump!

Continue reading this post »

To help pass time this off-season, I've reviewed the Colts' regular season games from 2009. With this second look at how the team played, a few thoughts have occured to me which were not obvious during the initial viewing, and I thought it a good opportunity to rethink some of my previously held opinions of the team I love. So, with your kind indulgence, as I view a game at a time I'll be sharing my impressions.

Personal Note: This is not, and was never intended to be, an objective, unbiased review of an NFL contest. It is instead a glimpse into the emotional ride experienced by the average Colt fan at game time. My Homerism switch is engaged and turned up to eleven. With that in mind, I invite you to join me as we re-live the highs and lows of the 2009 Indianapolis Colts season.

Today’s Game: Week 7 - Indianapolis Colts at St. Louis Rams

Setting The Stage

• The Colts come off the bye week with a record of 5-0 and as one of four undefeated teams. Rams quarterback Marc Bulger and running back Steven Jackson lead the Rams who have lost 16 straight. Bob Sanders starts after missing the first 5 games with a knee injury. Charlie Johnson returns after missing the Titans game, and Matt Stover is signed to replace Adam Vinatieri, who had knee surgery. Kelvin Hayden returns, and Dan Muir gets the start, replacing Ed Johnson who was cut over the bye week. Chad Simpson returns and will field kickoffs. Mike Pollak starts and will once again alternate series with Kyle Devan.
• The Field: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
• The Crowd: It looks like a sell-out, and the crowd is loud early on and raised the volume when prompted by Laurenitis (rookie, Ohio state). St. Louis isn't that far from Indianapolis, so there are quite a few Colts fans, sporting blue.

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To help pass time this off-season, I've reviewed the Colts' regular season games from 2009. With this second look at how the team played, a few thoughts have occured to me which were not obvious during the initial viewing, and I thought it a good opportunity to rethink some of my previously held opinions of the team I love. So, with your kind indulgence, as I view a game at a time I'll be sharing my impressions.

Personal Note: This is not, and was never intended to be, an objective, unbiased review of an NFL contest. It is instead a glimpse into the emotional ride experienced by the average Colt fan at game time. My Homerism switch is engaged and turned up to eleven. With that in mind, I invite you to join me as we re-live the highs and lows of the 2009 Indianapolis Colts season.

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Today’s Game: Week 5 - Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans

Setting The Stage

• The Colts come into the week 5 Sunday night game at 4-0 and leading the AFC South. Kerry Collins and Chris Johnson lead the Titans who have struggled early and sit at 0-4. Charlie Johnson is out, so Tony Ugoh gets the start and will line up against Tennessee's Kyle Vanden Bosch. With Chad Simpson hurting, T.J. Rushing will handle kickoff and punt returns. Gary Brackett returns after missing two games, but Kelvin Hayden is sitting out another game. Peyton Manning is enjoying his best start ever as an NFL QB; 97 completions for a 70.8% completion percentage and 1,336 yards, in the first four games of a season. All are career highs. During his last three road games, his passer rating has been 140.7 (Jaguars), 133.9 (Dolphins), and 130.5 (Cardinals). He’s the only player in NFL history to earn a rating of 130+ in 3 consecutive road games (15 passes min). This is the first Colts/Titans game since the departure of Albert Haynesworth.
• The Field: LP Field, near the Cumberland River in Nashville, Tennessee, is an open-air stadium. It’s a clear night with temps in the mid-fifties.
• The Crowd: Those wacky Titan fans. If I didn't know better, I'd think they didn’t like us much. Actually, they don’t seem to like their own team much either. By the 3rd quarter, they’re chanting ‘We want Vince!’ They get him half-way through the 4th with the game out of hand and he throws 2 near-interceptions on his first series.

More, after the jump!

Continue reading this post »

To help pass time this off-season, I've reviewed the Colts' regular season games from 2009. With this second look at how the team played, a few thoughts have occured to me which were not obvious during the initial viewing, and I thought it a good opportunity to rethink some of my previously held opinions of the team I love. So, with your kind indulgence, as I view a game at a time I'll be sharing my impressions.

Personal Note: This is not, and was never intended to be, an objective, unbiased review of an NFL contest. It is instead a glimpse into the emotional ride experienced by the average Colt fan at game time. My Homerism switch is engaged and turned up to eleven. With that in mind, I invite you to join me as we re-live the highs and lows of the 2009 Indianapolis Colts season.

Today’s Game: Week 4 - Seattle Seahawks at Indianapolis Colts

Setting The Stage

• The Colts come into today’s game unbeaten, and with a record of 3-0, leading the AFC South. Seneca Wallace replaces the injured Matt Hasselbeck to lead the Seahawks in the attempt to even their record at 2-2. Raheem Brock starts in place of Dwight Freeney, who injured a quad late in last week's game against Arizona. Freeney does play, but in a limited role. Gary Brackett is still out as is Kelvin Hayden, so Freddie Keiaho and Tim Jennings start. Mike Pollak starts at right guard and, like last week, alternates series with Kyle DeVan. Coach Jim Caldwell paces the sideline (funny, but I don’t remember Tony Dungy ever pacing). Edgerrin James, who joined Seattle in 2009, makes his return to Indy and is greeted by applause from the crowd, and smiles and handshakes from former teammates. James, who was drafted by the Colts in 1999, still holds the franchise record in rushing yardage with 9226 (over Mitchell, Faulk, and Dickerson).
• The Crowd: A sell out, of course, but they seem a bit more subdued than normal. They do give Edge a nice hand whenever he touches the ball and a standing ovation during a fourth-quarter tribute.
• The Field: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana. The retractable roof is open, and banners hang proudly, with minimal shadows on a partly-cloudy, mid-fifties kind of day.

More, after the jump!

Continue reading this post »

To help pass time this off-season, I've reviewed the Colts' regular season games from 2009. With this second look at how the team played, a few thoughts have occured to me which were not obvious during the initial viewing, and I thought it a good opportunity to rethink some of my previously held opinions of the team I love. So, with your kind indulgence, as I view a game at a time I'll be sharing my impressions.

Personal Note: This is not, and was never intended to be, an objective, unbiased review of an NFL contest. It is instead a glimpse into the emotional ride experienced by the average Colt fan at game time. My Homerism switch is engaged and turned up to eleven. With that in mind, I invite you to join me as we re-live the highs and lows of the 2009 Indianapolis Colts season.

Today’s Game: Week 3 - Indianapolis Colts at Arizona Cardinals

Setting The Stage

• Six days after the defensive marathon that was Indianapolis at Miami, the Colts travel across the country to Arizona to face the Cardinals on Sunday night. Arizona enters the game 1-1 after beating Jacksonville; a game in which QB Kurt Warner completed 24 of 26 passes to set a new NFL record for completion percentage. Tonight marks only the second time Warner and Peyton Manning have faced each other. Kelvin Hayden and Gary Bracket are both out due to injuries. Freddie Keiaho and Jordan Senn rotate in for Brackett and get quite a bit of playing time late in the game. Jerraud Powers is back after missing last week. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who complained about Mike Pollak's play against Miami. Although he starts the game at RG,, Kyle Devan (added to the roster during the week) replaces him for the second offensive series. They seem to be alternating Pollak and Devan each series.
• The Crowd: Loud early on, but boy do they turn on their team when things start going badly. By the end, there’s more applause for the Colts than for the Cards, and more than a few boos.
• The Field: The Cardinals play at University of Phoenix stadium with its roll-away, real-grass field. Pretty cool in that they roll the field out into the open air during the day and back in for games.

More, after the jump!

Continue reading this post »

To help pass time this off-season, I've reviewed the Colts' regular season games from 2009. With this second look at how the team played, a few thoughts have occured to me which were not obvious during the initial viewing, and I thought it a good opportunity to rethink some of my previously held opinions of the team I love. So, with your kind indulgence, as I view a game at a time I'll be sharing my impressions.

Personal Note: This is not, and was never intended to be, an objective, unbiased review of an NFL contest. It is instead a glimpse into the emotional ride experienced by the average Colt fan at game time. My Homerism switch is engaged and turned up to eleven. With that in mind, I invite you to join me as we re-live the highs and lows of the 2009 Indianapolis Colts season.

Today’s Game: Week 2 - Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins

Setting The Stage

• The Colts come into the game at 1-0. Miami is 0-1 after losing a rather one-sided affair against the Falcons in Week 1. Pat McAfee replaces Shawn Andrus on kickoffs. Jerraud Powers is out with a groin injury, so Tim Jennings starts at CB. Bob Sanders is out, and Ed Johnson starts at DT after serving his one-game suspension.
• The Field: Landshark Stadium, Miami, Florida on a warm, humid Monday night. The field itself is embarrassingly ghetto with the baseball diamond cut into one end.
• The Crowd: Young, flashy, very loud, and not a fat hump in sight. Miami ownership has reached out to the vast Spanish community by bringing in minority celebrities to be part of the ownership group; Jennifer Lopez, Venis and Serena Williams, Mark Antony, and Emilio Estevez. A festive atmosphere on the 'Orange Carpet' each week. I swear I hear a vuvuzela... annoying things!

More, after the jump!

Continue reading this post »

To help pass time this off-season, I've reviewed the Colts' regular season games from 2009. With this second look at how the team played, a few thoughts have occured to me which were not obvious during the initial viewing, and I thought it a good opportunity to rethink some of my previously held opinions of the team I love. So, with your kind indulgence, as I view a game at a time I'll be sharing my impressions.

Personal Note: This is not, and was never intended to be, an objective, unbiased review of an NFL contest. It is instead a glimpse into the emotional ride experienced by the average Colt fan at game time. My Homerism switch is engaged and turned up to eleven. With that in mind, I invite you to join me as we re-live the highs and lows of the 2009 Indianapolis Colts season.

Today’s Game: Week 1 - Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts

Setting The Stage

• It's opening day. The Colts come into the 2009 season with an 8-4 lifetime record against the visiting Jaguars. Jim Caldwell takes the field as head coach of the Colts for the first time. Charlie Johnson starts at LT, Melvin Bullitt starts in place of Bob Sanders, and Eric Foster starts in place of Ed Johnson who is serving a one-game suspension.
• The Field: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana, on a sunny Fall day. Both end zones are in shadow while the majority of the field is bathed in bright sunlight.
• The Crowd: Rather subdued for most of the game, actually, considering this is the season opener. But they sure pick it up near the end. And I have to say, I love this sign!

More, after the jump!

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