Time to move on to the Colts.. These are not your daddy's Colts

[Sean Pa Patriot]

I know the San Diego game was great, but it wont mean squat if we dont come to play next week.. These Colts are a little different.. Manning is struggling, yet the defense is stepping up big time. When Peyton struggles, they usually lose, not anymore.. I still like our chances, but something tells me the planets are lining up for the Colts to win this time,because they so under the radar.. But guess what no fly's under the radar better than our New England Patriots...

 

[sieglo]

I know the San Diego game was great, but it wont mean squat if we dont come to play next week.. These Colts are a little different.. Manning is struggling, yet the defense is stepping up big time. When Peyton struggles, they usually lose, not anymore.. I still like our chances, but something tells me the planets are lining up for the Colts to win this time,because they so under the radar.. But guess what no fly's under the radar better than our New England Patriots...

In both previous playoff games where we defeated the Colts, their D played well and Peyton stunk it up. Nothing this year is any different.

 

[PF1996]

I'm extremely worried about this game. The middle of our defense (excluding the Dline) has looked soft in both the Jets and Chargers games and neither Wayne nor Harrison will drop passes or run/land out of bounds like the Chargers did. Indy's Oline also opened up great holes in both their games. Our offense is also incredibly inconsistent (primarily due to T. Brady) and the coaches don't seem to be able to plan enough to cover our deficiencies. I hope I'm wrong but I'm also getting the feeling that the stars are aligned for Peyton to get to the Superbowl.

 

[SVN]

we keep the game close we have a chance..fall behind like we did to the chargers ...it will be very difficult

 

[BelichickFan]

All I can say right now is that if the Colts win, they'll deserve it by beating a physically and mentally tough Patriot team. It would piss me off it they had some BS easy path and got to the SB. As much as it would suck to have Manning heading off to the SB and us heading home, they'll have earned it. I don't think it'll happen, I think we'll win, but I'm at peace with Manning going to the SB if they can get past us.

 

[AirForcePatFan]

It will be another tough game, but if our D puts alot of pressure on Manning, I'm confident we can win... Both teams are motivated, so it will be another good game...

 

[nhpatsfan]

but something tells me the planets are lining up for the Colts to win this time,because they so under the radar.. But guess what no fly's under the radar better than our New England Patriots...

Hard for the Colts to be under the radar when Manning is on every other commerical during games.

What D shows up for them this weekend will be key. But San Diego was my worry - we have Peyton's number in playoff games. And best of all - he knows it.

 

[Tunescribe]

I'm at peace with Manning going to the SB if they can get past us.

You're a bigger man than I am. I fear anything that further legitimizes Manning's career as commercial pitch man.

 

[upstater1]

Play action pass. Scrap the shotgun. Get under center, and throw it downfield. That's how you beat the Colts. Because they will put 8 men in the box. They are daring you to spread them out because they have outstanding speed in the secondary and at the LB positions. Two of their LBs played DB in college. Cato June for one.

The best way to beat them is to get Brady under center, play action, pass protect, and hit some intermediate passes. As soon as they drop the 8th man into coverage, run it down their throats.

 

[Art_Vandelay421]

The Scene: NFL Headquarters, Mike Perraria's office, 9:00 AM., Monday. The secretary answers the phone. She puts the phone down and calls out, "Mr. Perraria, I have a Bill Polian on the line. He says he wants to go over the ground rules for this Sunday's game."

BTW...can anyone tell me...when was the last time the Indy OL got called for a holding penalty? Was it 2003? or before?

 

[PATSNUTme]

It will be an almost "next to death" situation if Manning goes to the SB. We will see his ugly face and hear his goober voice all year long on every commercial.

Not going to happen anyway, so those are wasted thoughts.

 

[RayClay]

Well my daddy's Colts had Johnny Unitas at QB, so that's a little difference in clutch performance.

While I applaud the Colts for playing a little grittier football, why the hell do they all of a sudden have a defense rivaling the 85 Bears?

Did they acquire 4 or 5 Linemen and LBs since they played Denver or Houston?

Just because they promoted a slow retread LB who actually tackles people they have a great defense now?

This is the "instant coffee" mentality that permeates sports analysis these days.

3/4 through the season, Indy had the worst run defense I can recall seeing on an NFL team.

They've patched and schemed well, but this ain't the "Steel Curtain" sweetheart.

 

[rainmaker]

Next week is a dangerous game. We're coming off playing the team people picked to go all the way. A tough, physical game that sucked up alot of energy from our boys. Now, facing the team who we've owned for many years, they will need to avoid a let down.

 

[rainmaker]

I must say though, I believe our team can move the ball. Balt and KC (by their choice), were one-dimensional running teams. Indy can't stack the line on us, so it will be a different game. But I'm concerned Indy will play with a chip on their shoulder, and Manning can't be as bad as he's been the last couple of games. We will need to score early and physically abuse them like we normally do to pull out this victory.

 

[cblesz]

The Scene: NFL Headquarters, Mike Perraria's office, 9:00 AM., Monday. The secretary answers the phone. She puts the phone down and calls out, "Mr. Perraria, I have a Bill Polian on the line. He says he wants to go over the ground rules for this Sunday's game."

BTW...can anyone tell me...when was the last time the Indy OL got called for a holding penalty? Was it 2003? or before?

So true...they never get freaking called for holding. They were dragging people down in Baltimore, yet no calls.

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

I love that the Colts' D has been playing great the last two weeks. This way there's no way the Pats take that D for granted (like I think they did to some degree in Foxboro earlier this year).

I love that the Colts have won the last two in this series. It's a reminder that the Pats *can* lose to this team...repeatedly. There's no way the Pats look at their playoff success against them and expect more of the same.

The Pats will go into this game feeling like an underdog and this usually bodes well for them, especially against a team that won their most recent matchup (Pittsburgh 2004, San Diego yesterday).

Regards,
Chris

 

[patsox23]

The Colts D the last two weeks have played:

1) Herm and KC, who refused to change up despite the fact that Indy put 8 in the box THE ENTIRE GAME. This is stupid. I don't care how good your run game is, you won't move the ball.

2) The Ravens - what's so hot about shutting down THAT offense? Sure, they're less putrid than previous Baltimore offenses, but is that really saying all that much?

People reading into this newfound defensive prowess on the part of Indy are embracing an incredibly short-sighted and superficial conceit. It's a pathetic, almost juvenile brand of myopia.

(*Sorry that last part seems harsh. I'm not really directing it at anyone in this thread, just at the media who have been, and will continue to, ride that one throughout the week.)

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I'm extremely worried about this game. The middle of our defense (excluding the Dline) has looked soft in both the Jets and Chargers games and neither Wayne nor Harrison will drop passes or run/land out of bounds like the Chargers did. Indy's Oline also opened up great holes in both their games. Our offense is also incredibly inconsistent (primarily due to T. Brady) and the coaches don't seem to be able to plan enough to cover our deficiencies. I hope I'm wrong but I'm also getting the feeling that the stars are aligned for Peyton to get to the Superbowl.

don't we get worried before every game?

I think the pats will be able to win the physical matchups. sure manning will get yards but the key will be red zone defense.

and was seymour not 100% in this game? When did he get his elbow hurt? Minny game?

this makes me wonder if this was the game warren got hurt or was he hurt in this game because the following week he didn't play against the jets.

the pats are peaking and playing their best football of the year.

the rookies have a ton more experience and the wr's are so much better and more in tune.

I expect BB to put together a good game plan as the spread formation was not in full use back then and i expect the pats to limit addai a bit mroe than they did the first game.

i wonder if manning will recover from his psychological damage????

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I must say though, I believe our team can move the ball. Balt and KC (by their choice), were one-dimensional running teams. Indy can't stack the line on us, so it will be a different game. But I'm concerned Indy will play with a chip on their shoulder, and Manning can't be as bad as he's been the last couple of games. We will need to score early and physically abuse them like we normally do to pull out this victory.

it's achip on their shoulder until manning throws that first pick or gets a safety blitz in the back(yes, that's a new wrinkle we can use, don't expect to see it much.) but after it happens i expect a white ghastly expression on mannings face.

just like at the end of apocolypse now....."the horror, the horror"

 

[BradfordPatsFan]

2) The Ravens - what's so hot about shutting down THAT offense? Sure, they're less putrid than previous Baltimore offenses, but is that really saying all that much?

Baltimore's offense is tailor-made for the Colts' defense. The speed of the Colts' defense allowed the slower baltimore players catch the ball and then the Colts would swarm to the ball. The Colts' team speed on defense doomed any chance the Ravens had on offense. The Ravens needed to get a to and take it to the house, not give it to their offense.