Some light shed on just how bad Indy was - FootballOutsiders

[Triumph]

32nd ranked special teams, 26th ranked defense and 7th ranked offense.

The Jets barely escaped with the W if not for a Colts meltdown at the end.

Life just got a whole lot tougher for the NY Jets no matter how their fans want to spin things. Unless the Pats come out beaten down like last post season (which I seriously doubt will happen given the bye week) NE will be facing off vs Baltimore or Pitt for the AFCC crown next week.

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Week 18 DVOA Ratings

 

[PatsChamp88]

32nd ranked special teams, 26th ranked defense and 7th ranked offense.

The Jets barely escaped with the W if not for a Colts meltdown at the end.

Life just got a whole lot tougher for the NY Jets no matter how their fans want to spin things. Unless the Pats come out beaten down like last post season (which I seriously doubt will happen given the bye week) NE will be facing off vs Baltimore or Pitt for the AFCC crown next week.

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Week 18 DVOA Ratings

One week at a time..

 

[coolworx]

One week at a time..

Yes, yes, yes... one week at a time for the players and the coaches.
You'll never see me refer to the Patriots as "we" - I ain't on the freakin team.

It's "My" team, in that I'm emotionally (but ultimately, vicariously) invested.

So I have no problem stating that I think the team I've rooted for since 1973 (5 years old), is going to kick the living shyt out of that mediocre menagerie of gum flappin' fools.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

What many have missed this season is the abrupt turn of the Colts from top contenders to also rans for the next decade. Yes, as long as future HOF Peyton Manning lines up the Colts will be a gameday threat but their prominence as dangerous contenders for the SB is on the wane, and no I don't mean Reggie. The run game is moribund needing both a complete revamp of the OL and new RBs. Complicate this by on field OC Peyton's reluctance to use the run game when appropriate.

Unlike the revamped Patriots whose once great D went into decline late 2007 thru 20009, the Colts have not upgraded. Given that BB has 6 picks in the top 76 players in the 2011 draft, some of which will morph into top 2012 picks, the Colts are dangerous as long as Manning plays but no longer the Defcon 3 threat of the 1st decade of the 21st century.

 

[coolworx]

What many have missed this season is the abrupt turn of the Colts from top contenders to also rans for the next decade. Yes, as long as future HOF Peyton Manning lines up the Colts will be a gameday threat but their prominence as dangerous contenders for the SB is on the wane, and no I don't mean Reggie. The run game is moribund needing both a complete revamp of the OL and new RBs. Complicate this by on field OC Peyton's reluctance to use the run game when appropriate.

Unlike the revamped Patriots whose once great D went into decline late 2007 thru 20009, the Colts have not upgraded. Given that BB has 6 picks in the top 76 players in the 2011 draft, some of which will morph into top 2012 picks, the Colts are dangerous as long as Manning plays but no longer the Defcon 3 threat of the 1st decade of the 21st century.

Not to mention they now have an idiot for a head coach.
Caldwell is no Dungy.

 

[averywhitehall]

32nd ranked special teams, 26th ranked defense and 7th ranked offense.

The Jets barely escaped with the W if not for a Colts meltdown at the end.

Life just got a whole lot tougher for the NY Jets no matter how their fans want to spin things. Unless the Pats come out beaten down like last post season (which I seriously doubt will happen given the bye week) NE will be facing off vs Baltimore or Pitt for the AFCC crown next week.

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Week 18 DVOA Ratings

You make a good point here about the Jets barely escaping the Colts.

The Jets actually should have had a much bigger (offensive) game than they actually did. Sanchez was throwing alley-oop passes to Yao Ming and not football passes to wide receivers. He missed a TD pass to Keller and overthrew another to Santonio Holmes. He had a live arm and no touch on the ball. He settled down in the second half and was able to move the team pretty well (albeit with a lot of running game help).

I doubt it's playoff jitters because of what he accomplished last year in the playoffs. It's either one of two things: His shoulder is worse than what is being told -or- the layoff he had between the Chicago game and the Colt game.

The last game vs. The Colts was the fourth time this season that Sanchez had more than a weeks' rest.

Regular season opener vs. The Ravens.
After the bye week vs. Green Bay.
10 day layoff before New England
A week of not throwing a pass before the game vs. The Colts.

He played poorly in all of those games.

No excuses though...he plays like this circa 4:30 EST on Sunday, Jets go home faster than Patriots fans forgot about Bill Belichick's Cleveland win/loss record.

 

[coolworx]

the Colts are dangerous as long as Manning plays but no longer the Defcon 3 threat of the 1st decade of the 21st century.

They still scare me more than the Jets, and I was glad to see them bounced out of the playoffs - even better that it was by their own hand (Caldwell's TO)

 

[FloridaPatsFan]

These stats do not surprise me.

My feelings on the Colts/Jets game were that the Colts defense and ST's are so decimated by injuries...If it wasn't for a few regulars out there...keeping the jets in check...a good offense would have picked them apart.

If the Pats play to the average level of play in the past 8 games...this game is going to be a blowout.

We might not put up 45 on them...but they are not going to score more than 10..maybe 13 on us.

 

[coolworx]

Sanchez was throwing alley-oop passes to Yao Ming and not football passes to wide receivers.

He threw high all night... and I've been watching the last few Jets game and he does that often. It's his left foot... he steps too far forward before the throw.

Maybe Rex can help him with controlling that foot.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Not to mention they now have an idiot for a head coach.
Caldwell is no Dungy.

Shoot me now for neglecting to mention the Elephant In The Room

Folks in the gameday thread went ballistic when I asked the cogent and rhetorical question "Just WHAT does Caldwell DO?"

 

[Patspsycho]

It was more than just stats- the game-planning on the Colts part was head-scratching. I did not see Wayne line up anywhere else than wide left and that just made Revis's job a whoel hell of a lot easier. Naturally Wayne ends up with only one catch.

Basically Jets were consistently in a deep cover 2 daring Manning to run and he did just that.

 

[FloridaPatsFan]

Shoot me now for neglecting to mention the Elephant In The Room

Folks in the gameday thread went ballistic when I asked the cogent and rhetorical question "Just WHAT does Caldwell DO?"

Everytime they show his face on TV during a football game......I keep thinking that the look on his face says: "Uh-oh, now theyre going to find out that I really don't know what the hell is going on".

 

[DEK80]

What many have missed this season is the abrupt turn of the Colts from top contenders to also rans for the next decade. Yes, as long as future HOF Peyton Manning lines up the Colts will be a gameday threat but their prominence as dangerous contenders for the SB is on the wane, and no I don't mean Reggie. The run game is moribund needing both a complete revamp of the OL and new RBs. Complicate this by on field OC Peyton's reluctance to use the run game when appropriate.

Unlike the revamped Patriots whose once great D went into decline late 2007 thru 20009, the Colts have not upgraded. Given that BB has 6 picks in the top 76 players in the 2011 draft, some of which will morph into top 2012 picks, the Colts are dangerous as long as Manning plays but no longer the Defcon 3 threat of the 1st decade of the 21st century.

I hate the Colts as much as the next guy, but to say they are now on the decline and will be "also rans for the next decade" is premature to say the least. For starters, how many more wins would they have had this year if Dallas Clark hadn't suffered a season ending injury? Aside from Manning, Wayne and Freeney, that guy is one of those pieces that is almost impossible to make up for. Better yet, how would last year's 10-6 Pats have fared for an entire season without Wes Welker? We all saw how we did in the playoffs without Wes but imagine if we had no Welker for the year? Anyway, for those of us with short memories, many of the so-called "experts" said the Pats run had come to a close and we weren't "elite" anymore heading into this season after last year's playoff debacle. It's amazing how one simple "home run" draft and free agency can turn around a franchise in a heartbeat. SO I wouldn't close the book on the Colts just yet. They definitely need a great draft and probably a new head coach but as long as #18 is slinging it they are not that far from getting back in the mix just like we did this year.

 

[terabthia2]

Shoot me now for neglecting to mention the Elephant In The Room

Folks in the gameday thread went ballistic when I asked the cogent and rhetorical question "Just WHAT does Caldwell DO?"

We agree!

I can't imagine why they would...I've asked the same question many times myself. I have no idea what the heck he does, either. I understand he's not the most emotive guy in the world, but when you just STAND THERE acting like a zombie (at least every time I've seen a shot of him), I wouldn't think you would inspire leadership confidence, if I were a (gasp!) Colts fan.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I hate the Colts as much as the next guy, but to say they are now on the decline and will be "also rans for the next decade" is premature to say the least. For starters, how many more wins would they have had this year if Dallas Clark hadn't suffered a season ending injury? Aside from Manning, Wayne and Freeney, that guy is one of those pieces that is almost impossible to make up for. Better yet, how would last year's 10-6 Pats have fared for an entire season without Wes Welker? We all saw how we did in the playoffs without Wes but imagine if we had no Welker for the year? Anyway, for those of us with short memories, many of the so-called "experts" said the Pats run had come to a close and we weren't "elite" anymore heading into this season after last year's playoff debacle. It's amazing how one simple "home run" draft and free agency can turn around a franchise in a heartbeat. SO I wouldn't close the book on the Colts just yet. They definitely need a great draft and probably a new head coach but as long as #18 is slinging it they are not that far from getting back in the mix just like we did this year.

I'm SO ahead of the curve. Get used to it.

I agree that as long as Peyton lines up an individual game is in play. But not the prime contendahs for the AFCCG. Remember BB is NOT revamping this once great franchise.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

It was more than just stats- the game-planning on the Colts part was head-scratching. I did not see Wayne line up anywhere else than wide left and that just made Revis's job a whoel hell of a lot easier. Naturally Wayne ends up with only one catch.

Basically Jets were consistently in a deep cover 2 daring Manning to run and he did just that.

Me, I blame the de-facto on field OC.

 

[coolworx]

I understand he's not the most emotive guy in the world, but when you just STAND THERE acting like a zombie

He should have stuck with the "George A. Romero" act with 28 seconds to go.

 

[coolworx]

Me, I blame the de-facto on field OC.

B-b-b-but... Rex says he's a genius!

 

[DEK80]

I'm SO ahead of the curve. Get used to it.

I agree that as long as Peyton lines up an individual game is in play. But not the prime contendahs for the AFCCG. Remember BB is NOT revamping this once great franchise.

Were you selling anyone on the Pats being in the AFCCG this time last season? C'mon, tell the truth? The bottom line is the Colts went 10-6 with a team held together by scotch tape and glue. They will get those players back next season plus have a draft and free agency to shore up holes. Do you honestly believe that they can't beat ANYONE in the AFC with an offense led by Manning, Wayne and Clark plus a defense that has Mathis and Freeney next January? Please. The Colts had a down year due to injuries. Nothing more. Nothing less. They will be back to 12-4 next year and they'll have any non-homer Pats fans biting their nails and squirming in their seat if we play them in the playoffs next season. The Colts and Manning will be on a mission next season just like Brady and the Pats were this year. Hold off the funeral proceedings my friend and be objective about it.

 

[Triumph]

You make a good point here about the Jets barely escaping the Colts.

The Jets actually should have had a much bigger (offensive) game than they actually did. Sanchez was throwing alley-oop passes to Yao Ming and not football passes to wide receivers. He missed a TD pass to Keller and overthrew another to Santonio Holmes. He had a live arm and no touch on the ball. He settled down in the second half and was able to move the team pretty well (albeit with a lot of running game help).

I doubt it's playoff jitters because of what he accomplished last year in the playoffs. It's either one of two things: His shoulder is worse than what is being told -or- the layoff he had between the Chicago game and the Colt game.

The last game vs. The Colts was the fourth time this season that Sanchez had more than a weeks' rest.

Regular season opener vs. The Ravens.
After the bye week vs. Green Bay.
10 day layoff before New England
A week of not throwing a pass before the game vs. The Colts.

He played poorly in all of those games.

No excuses though...he plays like this circa 4:30 EST on Sunday, Jets go home faster than Patriots fans forgot about Bill Belichick's Cleveland win/loss record.

The Jets beat a bad Indy team thats poorly coached. Without question, the Colts were decimated by injuries this season and Caldwell looks lost out there. Indy made to the SB last season thanks to Dungy and Manning.

Look at this way? This season, Brady has the weapons on offense that Manning had last season when he lit up the Jets defense like Christmas. Thats how the 45 - 3 Monday Night Massacre happened.

Sanchez does not impress me in the least. He accomplished nothing in the second half of the 2009 AFCC when his team needed him the most. If the Jets cannot run the ball, Sanchez the USC Game Manager is done.

Look for NE to take away "Elle T" and Greene and force Sanchez to beat them.