PATS vs COLTS

[bushy 0]

Wow. Looks like the road to the Super Bowl will go through Indy. I have a feeling that New England will be playing the first weekend of the playoffs.

 

Indy can be thankful for the hubris of Belichick.

[PATSSOX 22]

Well that decision by BB didnt really lose the game for the PATS THe fumble by Maroney in the endzone and Brady INT in the endzone really lost the game. The score should have been 48-36 or 40-36 at min.

 

but great comeback by Peyton dam him and dam it

[three out of four 0]

The Pats need to figure out a way to run the ball - they have struggled on 3rd and 4th and short all year. Back in '03-'04 they used to go on those 8 minute clock-eating, demoralizing drives to put teams away. Now - they have to resort to passing on 3rd and 4th and short.

[WhiteWonder 2,734]

There are a lot of important matchups but the one that no one is talking about is Belichick vs Caldwell. This is a huge one in the Pats favor. I don't care that Caldwell has started his career 8-0. The Colts struggled to beat Jax, SF, and Hou at home.

 

PATS WIN 30-17

 

 

[HardTack 0]

And you're totally ignoring the fact that Brady was coming back from MAJOR KNEE SURGERY and has been rusty and they have been playing with a new secondary and LB corp.

 

When I watch the Colts I see the Chargers when Norv Turner took over. Ask any Chargers fan how that's going.

 

Again, you're not giving me anything in defense of Caldwell. Narrow WINS against mediocre teams is not convincing me that Caldwell is on par with BB.

 

 

And the Colts havent dealt with injuries?? You have to be kidding me. They have lost their SS (MVP a few years back), both starting DBs and a LB. For the Colts to do what they have done with rookie DBs and losing their best defensive player (when healthy), they have done remarkably well. And I don't think that knee surgery has anything to do with his arm or reads....Peyton came back from knee surgery right before the season started last year and still ended up with 12 wins for the year. Caldwell remained completely calm and collected and actually saved his TOs for the right times.

[HardTack 0]

 

 

+1

 

Exactly!

[three out of four 0]

Bill plays to win. If they convert and run out the clock then he is a genius for not giving the ball back to Payton. I still think it was more a matter of play calling. On 3rd down that rookie CB was just waiting for the quick out to Welker and almost had a pick 6.

 

I'll tip my hat to the Colts though. In a game like this, all that matters is the W. Colts will not have to travel to Foxboro in January. Of course with Denver falling apart, the Colts might have to play SD in the playoffs and don't forget about Pitt. Still not sure what to think of Cincy. The Pats will be right there at the end too, especially if Morris or Taylor can get healthy. Maroney needs to go.

[HardTack 0]

Well that decision by BB didnt really lose the game for the PATS THe fumble by Maroney in the endzone and Brady INT in the endzone really lost the game. The score should have been 48-36 or 40-36 at min.

 

but great comeback by Peyton dam him and dam it

 

 

A credit to the Colts defense for sure!

[three out of four 0]

And the Colts havent dealt with injuries?? You have to be kidding me. They have lost their SS (MVP a few years back), both starting DBs and a LB. For the Colts to do what they have done with rookie DBs and losing their best defensive player (when healthy), they have done remarkably well. And I don't think that knee surgery has anything to do with his arm or reads....Peyton came back from knee surgery right before the season started last year and still ended up with 12 wins for the year. Caldwell remained completely calm and collected and actually saved his TOs for the right times.

 

First of all, Welker and Brady called the timeouts, not BB. Second of all, every time they showed Caldwell he was just standing there like Art Shell.

 

As far as injuries go, the Pats started without Springs, Green and Warren on defense. Their most experienced DB and 2 starting linemen. Then their best pass rusher, TBC, went out and then his backup Ninkovich got hurt. Also, the Pats had Butler and Chung, both rookies, play almost the whole game. That's just on defense. They also lost their RG Neal in the second half. They were already missing Taylor, Morris and Light on offense before that. Furthermore, I never said that the colts haven't dealt with injuries. The Pats always have dealt with injuries better than any team.

 

And please don't compare Brady's knee injury to Peyton's infection last year. Brady missed a whole season - Manning didn't miss one game.

 

Don't go all Jets Fan on us and think you just won the SB.

[thecons 0]

1. 
    
   

colts D lost sanders and others for year. colts have young secondary guys. this is bad news for indy. brady and moss will torch the colts d. this could be a shootout, but the defense will decide the game. Pats win. the colts D is just falling apart now with injuries.

 

 

[markf 0]

As far as injuries go, the Pats started without Springs, Green and Warren on defense. Their most experienced DB and 2 starting linemen. Then their best pass rusher, TBC, went out and then his backup Ninkovich got hurt. Also, the Pats had Butler and Chung, both rookies, play almost the whole game. That's just on defense. They also lost their RG Neal in the second half. They were already missing Taylor, Morris and Light on offense before that. Furthermore, I never said that the colts haven't dealt with injuries. The Pats always have dealt with injuries better than any team.

 

Yeah what would the Colts know about losing starting DB's and having to replace them with Rookies.

 

Sheesh before you whip out your "we're hurt more" card why don't you do a little homework first.

[BirdBradyBobbyOrr 0]

The Pats gave that one away. Belichick made one of the worst calls I've ever seen. His defensive call against Plaxico during the Super Bowl was awful also.

 

Either way, Peyton is a beast. The Colts might go 16-0. I like our chances to win it all.

[9-Route 0]

 

[9-Route 0]

The Pats gave that one away. Belichick made one of the worst calls I've ever seen. His defensive call against Plaxico during the Super Bowl was awful also.

 

Either way, Peyton is a beast. The Colts might go 16-0. I like our chances to win it all.

 

not bad, birdbrain, not too bad at all.

 

pats gave it away----general consensus, pats fan or otherwise/anyone else.

 

belichick bad call----general consensus, pats fan or otherwise/anyone else; quizzical yet laughable yet respectable[?]

 

peyton is a beast---general consensus, not publicly, if at all, admitted by pats fans, but certainly among everyone else.

 

colts 16-0---possible, but not likely.

 

you like pats chances----short, sweet, truthful, and non-inflammatory.

 

 

see, again, why can't all your posts be like this???

 

[dude, i feel badly for u and patssux and all your friends----u guys talked up a lot of stuff before this one....i hope u got some hot sauce for that crow pie]

[HardTack 0]

First of all, Welker and Brady called the timeouts, not BB. Second of all, every time they showed Caldwell he was just standing there like Art Shell.

 

As far as injuries go, the Pats started without Springs, Green and Warren on defense. Their most experienced DB and 2 starting linemen. Then their best pass rusher, TBC, went out and then his backup Ninkovich got hurt. Also, the Pats had Butler and Chung, both rookies, play almost the whole game. That's just on defense. They also lost their RG Neal in the second half. They were already missing Taylor, Morris and Light on offense before that. Furthermore, I never said that the colts haven't dealt with injuries. The Pats always have dealt with injuries better than any team.

 

And please don't compare Brady's knee injury to Peyton's infection last year. Brady missed a whole season - Manning didn't miss one game.

 

Don't go all Jets Fan on us and think you just won the SB.

 

You are the one talking injuries....blaming that for the Pats loss....the Colts have had a plethora of injuries as well...that is why there are 53 players on the roster...plus a practice squad. So a team consists of 1-53...not 1-22. The Colts are also playing a rookie WR and a 2nd yr WR that had a total of 4 receptions last year with Gonzo out....and your 'always' dealt with injuries better than any other team....do you keep track of all other teams injuries to know what they go thru??..you are being very short sighted when you say that.

 

Peyton had 2 surgeries last year...one a week before the season started that would have kept most players on the sideline for 3-4 weeks. Brady has had over a year to recover(so don't blame the injury on his play)..and Manning didn't miss a game because he is a player (not that Brady isn't)...Manning got his jaw broken in a game and played through it....still didnt miss a game. I also said a few days ago that I feared the Pats and Pittsburgh more than any team in the NFL..nobody in the NFC scares me...not even the 9-0 Saints...they looked very mediocre today vs the Rams.

[three out of four 0]

....do you keep track of all other teams injuries to know what they go thru??..

 

I do - It's kinda important for fantasy football

 

I also know that the Pats hold the record for most games lost by starters for a division winner - and they are also second on that list - the '03 and '04 Pats

 

Not only did they win their division, but they won the SB both years

 

Bottom line, Colts have had a few injuries this year - Pats have them all over the roster - not using it as an excuse, just pointing out that what the Colts are going thru is not unusual

[BirdBradyBobbyOrr 0]

not bad, birdbrain, not too bad at all.

 

you like pats chances----short, sweet, truthful, and non-inflammatory.

see, again, why can't all your posts be like this???

 

Well a night to sleep on it and calm down and here are my thoughts.

 

First the Patriots should have won the game. But that's not how football goes. The best team wins the game. The Dolphins should have beat the Colts but they didn't. Because the best team wins. That said here are the factors that lead to our loss.

 

Laurence Maroney Fumble at the 1 yard line. That was an absolute killer. What a bad bad fumble. I am so sick of Maroney.

 

Phantom pass interference call. That deep pass when the Colts were down 13 was not pass interference. It was a terrible terrible call and allowed Indy to march without using a timeout. That said I am 100% sure that Brady/Moss would have got that call in New England. The league needs to fix the way they call pass interference.

 

Belichick's terrible call. I don't think I've seen many calls that were worse. I was screaming in my friends living room to punt it. I couldn't believe it and everyone I was with felt the same way. That was 6 of us that said punt with no votes saying "go for it'.

 

********

 

At this point the Patriots are starting to show a knack for losing close games. The SuperBowl, AFC Championship in Indy, the Jets game last year, last nights game. I can't blame Tom Brady for any of those losses and I have to blame the coaching.

 

SuperBowl, Brady didn't perform well but he drove them to the lead in the 4th Qtr and that's what really matters. The D and the coaching let us down there.

 

AFC Championship in Indy, the offense gave us a huge lead, the defense folded. O coordinator stopped running the ball. Ugh. Terrible coaching again. Terrible halftime adjustments.

 

Jets game last year. Brady was out and injured. Belichick coached a bad game.'

 

Last night, why go for it? Why!? It took them to the :13 second mark to score from the 30 yard line. We had this game if we punted it. WTF.

 

********

 

I think Indy is a lock for the AFC Championship game and I think it's going to be in Indy. Anyone from the AFC who wants to make the Super Bowl is going to have to go to Indy and earn it. Indy has to be the favorite to win it all because of the home playoff games.

 

What blows me away about Peyton is how freaking accurate he is. I think Brady makes better decisions, but I have never seen anyone as accurate as Peyton. He's been hitting people on the sideline and in the back of the endzone since he first got in the league.

 

I covered my bet last night as the Patriots were + 2.5 but I don't feel good about it at all.

 

Finally, that was a great game. I mean a really great game. There were some great games yesterday but that was the best one. Must have been fun to watch as a Colts fans or independent.

 

PS WORST ###### CALL EVER BILL! WORST ###### CALL EVER! WHY WHY WHY? Was it arrogance?

[mzf5c5 0]

I would like to know from the Pats fans here. What are your thoughts on Powers? I mean, I really like him, I think Sander's jersey is about to get replaced with a Powers one. But for a rookie, your thoughts on him, now that you have seen him in action against your team? Yes, he can still be burned, but did you see him last night! He had some great plays and did well covering Moss at times.

 

We get Gonzo back, who doesn't drop balls like Garcon, (Collie is still a rookie, so dropping balls is/can be expected, to a degree) and we get Hayden back, our team can be somewhat healthy again.

 

Still worried about our running game, even though we almost posted 100 yards with the three we had to use, due to injury. Simpson was quite a surprise, until he got hurt.

[RoadLizard 73]

Well a night to sleep on it and calm down and here are my thoughts.

 

First the Patriots should have won the game. But that's not how football goes. The best team wins the game. The Dolphins should have beat the Colts but they didn't. Because the best team wins. That said here are the factors that lead to our loss.

 

Laurence Maroney Fumble at the 1 yard line. That was an absolute killer. What a bad bad fumble. I am so sick of Maroney.

 

Phantom pass interference call. That deep pass when the Colts were down 13 was not pass interference. It was a terrible terrible call and allowed Indy to march without using a timeout. That said I am 100% sure that Brady/Moss would have got that call in New England. The league needs to fix the way they call pass interference.

 

Belichick's terrible call. I don't think I've seen many calls that were worse. I was screaming in my friends living room to punt it. I couldn't believe it and everyone I was with felt the same way. That was 6 of us that said punt with no votes saying "go for it'.

 

********

 

At this point the Patriots are starting to show a knack for losing close games. The SuperBowl, AFC Championship in Indy, the Jets game last year, last nights game. I can't blame Tom Brady for any of those losses and I have to blame the coaching.

 

SuperBowl, Brady didn't perform well but he drove them to the lead in the 4th Qtr and that's what really matters. The D and the coaching let us down there.

 

AFC Championship in Indy, the offense gave us a huge lead, the defense folded. O coordinator stopped running the ball. Ugh. Terrible coaching again. Terrible halftime adjustments.

 

Jets game last year. Brady was out and injured. Belichick coached a bad game.'

 

Last night, why go for it? Why!? It took them to the :13 second mark to score from the 30 yard line. We had this game if we punted it. WTF.

 

********

 

I think Indy is a lock for the AFC Championship game and I think it's going to be in Indy. Anyone from the AFC who wants to make the Super Bowl is going to have to go to Indy and earn it. Indy has to be the favorite to win it all because of the home playoff games.

 

What blows me away about Peyton is how freaking accurate he is. I think Brady makes better decisions, but I have never seen anyone as accurate as Peyton. He's been hitting people on the sideline and in the back of the endzone since he first got in the league.

 

I covered my bet last night as the Patriots were + 2.5 but I don't feel good about it at all.

 

Finally, that was a great game. I mean a really great game. There were some great games yesterday but that was the best one. Must have been fun to watch as a Colts fans or independent.

 

PS WORST ###### CALL EVER BILL! WORST ###### CALL EVER! WHY WHY WHY? Was it arrogance?

 

Good post, BBBB. I'll agree that the Pats seemed to be all over Indy for most of the game...but mistakes against good teams ALWAYS hurt you. Just like making mistakes against the Pats - they'll make you pay twice over. The Pats have to shrug this one off as Im sure they will. But, that defense cant feel good about itself right now.

 

The strange thing is that Belichick was likely going to have to trust the defense anyways so why not make them go 70 yards instead of 30 yards? Unless he figured that Indy would score quick and then Brady would drive them down for the game winning field goal. Either way, he was playing with fire last night.

 

The pass interference call was BS...but I agree that the Pats get that call too. And, the Colts might have scored anyways on that drive. Maroneys fumble was a killer.

 

I agree with Trent Dilfer - Belichick was giving Manning a little too much credit. And, if Belichick wanted to play aggressively, why not take a shot down the field with Moss on 3rd and two? That had a better chance of working than a quick dump to Faulk on 4th and two.

[BirdBradyBobbyOrr 0]

I would like to know from the Pats fans here. What are your thoughts on Powers? I mean, I really like him, I think Sander's jersey is about to get replaced with a Powers one. But for a rookie, your thoughts on him, now that you have seen him in action against your team? Yes, he can still be burned, but did you see him last night! He had some great plays and did well covering Moss at times.

 

We get Gonzo back, who doesn't drop balls like Garcon, (Collie is still a rookie, so dropping balls is/can be expected, to a degree) and we get Hayden back, our team can be somewhat healthy again.

 

Still worried about our running game, even though we almost posted 100 yards with the three we had to use, due to injury. Simpson was quite a surprise, until he got hurt.

 

I mean this is kind of a set up bro. If I tell you the facts you'll come back with how you won and we lost blah blah blah.

 

But you asked. I wasn't overly impressed. How could I be? The Pats threw all over the field and the safety was nowhere to help. 3 TD's 375 yards is not a very successful day for a defensive backfield. I think he did step up at the end of the game and made a few plays and I like his fearlessness. I give him and the whole Colts D credit for getting better as the game went on while the Pats, also young Defense got owned by Peyton late.

[BirdBradyBobbyOrr 0]

Good post, BBBB. I'll agree that the Pats seemed to be all over Indy for most of the game...but mistakes against good teams ALWAYS hurt you. Just like making mistakes against the Pats - they'll make you pay twice over. The Pats have to shrug this one off as Im sure they will. But, that defense cant feel good about itself right now.

 

The strange thing is that Belichick was likely going to have to trust the defense anyways so why not make them go 70 yards instead of 30 yards? Unless he figured that Indy would score quick and then Brady would drive them down for the game winning field goal. Either way, he was playing with fire last night.

 

The pass interference call was BS...but I agree that the Pats get that call too. And, the Colts might have scored anyways on that drive. Maroneys fumble was a killer.

 

I agree with Trent Dilfer - Belichick was giving Manning a little too much credit. And, if Belichick wanted to play aggressively, why not take a shot down the field with Moss on 3rd and two? That had a better chance of working than a quick dump to Faulk on 4th and two.

 

I agree if they don't get that 1st down you have to trust the D anyhow. I just don't understand the call.

 

PI was terrible. It gets worse everytime I see it. They need to come up with replay for PI or change the rules. I don't like it when we get those calls because I know it goes both ways. I want to win and lose by the rules not by some blind focking refs crappy calls.

 

Belichick gave Manning way too much credit yesterday. He should have made him drive the field.

 

I would have liked a dump to Faulk out of the backfield or even a QB sneak there. But a quick 1 yard pass puts all the advantages on the defensive side because they can get there early and not get flagged for it.

[WhiteWonder 2,734]

Bill plays to win. If they convert and run out the clock then he is a genius for not giving the ball back to Payton. I still think it was more a matter of play calling. On 3rd down that rookie CB was just waiting for the quick out to Welker and almost had a pick 6.

 

I'll tip my hat to the Colts though. In a game like this, all that matters is the W. Colts will not have to travel to Foxboro in January. Of course with Denver falling apart, the Colts might have to play SD in the playoffs and don't forget about Pitt. Still not sure what to think of Cincy. The Pats will be right there at the end too, especially if Morris or Taylor can get healthy. Maroney needs to go.

 

if you really think this was a smart coaching decision by Bill, you are an idiot of epic proportions.

 

Its 4th and 2 inside your own 30 yard line!!!!

 

you punt the ball into Colt terriotory and you trust your defense to keep them out of the endzone. There is no other play there.

 

Even Rodney Harrison called it one of the worst decisions ever.

[kmbryant09 1]

I mean this is kind of a set up bro. If I tell you the facts you'll come back with how you won and we lost blah blah blah.

 

But you asked. I wasn't overly impressed. How could I be? The Pats threw all over the field and the safety was nowhere to help. 3 TD's 375 yards is not a very successful day for a defensive backfield. I think he did step up at the end of the game and made a few plays and I like his fearlessness. I give him and the whole Colts D credit for getting better as the game went on while the Pats, also young Defense got owned by Peyton late.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Did you take note of where Powers and Lacey were throughout the game??? Look at the big plays:

-Moss' long TD: against zone coverage, ended up matched 1 on 1 with our S Bethea.

-Moss' 5 yard TD: JUST AS I SPELLED IT OUT - Jennings was on him, and gave him a 10 yard cushion from the 5 yard line, WTF??

-Welker's 3rd down conversions all came against linebackers or Bullitt, when we threw Powers on him, it nearly ended in a game-winning pick 6.

 

He made some plays, covered Moss extremely well most of the night, included twice in the red zone on slant-and-go's from Moss.

 

I agree our secondary played poorly, but it was as I expected and explained to you - it was our safeties and Jennings, not Powers and Lacey.

[mzf5c5 0]

I mean this is kind of a set up bro. If I tell you the facts you'll come back with how you won and we lost blah blah blah.

 

But you asked. I wasn't overly impressed. How could I be? The Pats threw all over the field and the safety was nowhere to help. 3 TD's 375 yards is not a very successful day for a defensive backfield. I think he did step up at the end of the game and made a few plays and I like his fearlessness. I give him and the whole Colts D credit for getting better as the game went on while the Pats, also young Defense got owned by Peyton late.

 

I am ok with you tell me how you feel about him. I know even the announcer and other poeple in the league, think he is playing at a higher level than a rookie right now. He is playing smart and good. Yes, 3 td's and 375 yards isn't very good for a secondary, but where he was at, most of those plays were done. He is a good player, I am really pleased.

 

I am just leaving this game as we won, Pats lost. And not even trying to discuss the decisions of the game. Or outcomes of different things. It was a good game to watch, the whole way through. I am thankful the Colts pulled out a win.

[9-Route 0]

nicely put, birdbrain. again, see how nicely u can play??? like i said earlier in the week when i was having fun jabbing at you and your faithful in these threads---this is usually a good game, and i simply hoped it would be a great game. it certainly was.

 

either side can talk about the positives and negatives of the game. for the pats, they definitely can feel great about their ability to hit their patented screen passes, move moss around and get him on the bomb, run their famous draw plays, and little contributions from others both running and receiving [faulk, scandrick]. they also protected the left side/freeney very well with vollmer[sp?]. but, as i've mentioned in discussions of the saints: who will make u pay for your errors? the saints past month has not been elite football as their opening month; yet, they survived mistakes and sporadic rhythm because their opponents to date could not make them pay for it. the colts are always a team that can make u pay for mistakes and not scoring TDs.

 

for the colts, we knew entering this game they had not played elite football, or even good football, their past 2 wins. we knew if they continued that trend, they would not win last night. much of the game, this was coming to fruition. however, despite the losses of coach dungy or marvin harrison, 18 always has u in the game. freeney may not have recorded a sack for a 9th straight game, but he was still fierce, and his buddy robert mathis [very underrated] was huge with pressures and plays. they were indeed squatting those short routes late, and stayed/survived in the game. the colts def take away that they beat a very good team when they were not playing elite football for an entire game. it is surely agreeable that the pats played better football for a longer time during this game.

 

as for the call, it's been dissected every which way this AM and last night. lack of defensive faith, overconfidence in offense, respect/fear of 18, playing the percentages---these can all apply. in the end, i like what cris carter and trent dilfer always talk about---old mo', as in momentum. i think belichick simply saw that the curve of the game and of both teams was going in opposite directions at that particular time---the pats had been hot but cooling off considerably while the colts had been cold but heating up quickly. there is certain validity [and probable accord by pats fans here who are zealots of brady] to the belichick sentiment of "rather than letting their HOF qb win this game, i will let mine do so."

[three out of four 0]

Even Rodney Harrison called it one of the worst decisions ever.

 

That was great - I thought he was going to start crying like TO. "That's my defense"