Almost 4 Years

[homergreg]

Three years and eleven months ago, this rivalry was born. Who could believe that McGinest limping around then stuffing Edge would have turned into this? We are all lucky to have both these organizations to root for or against. Heroes and villians, saints and sinners, good bad and ugly, this has had it all.

I wonder when there has been this much hype in a week 9 game? For all the talk that this is just another game, we know better. We fans have been looking forward to this game since it was announced! Remember all the talk about starting the season with this game? The NFL made the right move putting this game here!

Almost 4 years and stronger than ever. Not bad in a "parity" league between non division rivals. I don't think we play each other regular season next year, but I don't think this will die out.

Here's to a good game! I think our Horsefaced Gomer may still have something to make the Man Purse carrying pretty boy throw his water bottle again, but your team has fielded up one powerhouse this year like one that hasn't been seen in many years, so we'll have to see.

 

[psychoPat]

.... I don't think we play each other regular season next year, but I don't think this will die out.

....

So long as we each win our div
... we'll see each other again next season - for ever.

 

[homergreg]

So long as we each win our div
... we'll see each other again next season - for ever.

Yes, but you get to play the Jets, the Bills, and the Dolphins every year.....


Freakin Twice! Instant Division champs!


You may have a juggernaut this year, but a boogernaut could beat the Jets and Dolphins!


... Not that I'm whining or anythin...

 

[Pats Fan in Indy]

For me, it has been 12 years and counting.

I moved to Indy in 8th grade, and talked up a storm about how the Pats were going to own the Colts seeing how we had won an insane amount of games in a row on them. Everyone around me had no respect for the Pats, even though Drew Bledsoe had led them to the playoffs for the first time in a long time the previous year.

What happens? Jim Harbaugh and the Colts sweep the Patriots en route to the AFC Championship game. The funny thing about that is the fact that they STILL couldn't sell out a single game. Warm-weather SOBS! That season left me bitter and angry towards anything Colts related, and this win will provide more satisfaction for me than either of the times we beat them in the playoffs.

 

[sarge]

Yes, but you get to play the Jets, the Bills, and the Dolphins every year.....


Freakin Twice! Instant Division champs!


You may have a juggernaut this year, but a boogernaut could beat the Jets and Dolphins!


... Not that I'm whining or anythin...

First of all, that has only been a total gift this year.

Second of all, I feel very comfortable about the Pats sweeping all the divisional opponents the Colts face.

 

[Patriot Power]

Yes, but you get to play the Jets, the Bills, and the Dolphins every year.....


Freakin Twice! Instant Division champs!


You may have a juggernaut this year, but a boogernaut could beat the Jets and Dolphins!


... Not that I'm whining or anythin...

Yes, because we all know Houston has been such a huge powerhouse team over the years... and Tennessee, yeah, they're contenders every season.

 

[sarge]

For me, it has been 12 years and counting.

I moved to Indy in 8th grade, and talked up a storm about how the Pats were going to own the Colts seeing how we had won an insane amount of games in a row on them. Everyone around me had no respect for the Pats, even though Drew Bledsoe had led them to the playoffs for the first time in a long time the previous year.

What happens? Jim Harbaugh and the Colts sweep the Patriots en route to the AFC Championship game. The funny thing about that is the fact that they STILL couldn't sell out a single game. Warm-weather SOBS! That season left me bitter and angry towards anything Colts related, and this win will provide more satisfaction for me than either of the times we beat them in the playoffs.

I was pulling for the Colts so hard that year in the Playoffs.

People look at the last play of that game and say he almost caught it.

I remember the Colts last possesion before the Steelers took the lead. It was a shoe string tackle that prevented a first down that would have essentially sealed the game for the Colts.

 

[homergreg]

First of all, that has only been a total gift this year.

Second of all, I feel very comfortable about the Pats sweeping all the divisional opponents the Colts face.

Total gift is a pretty good word, but with the team you have it doesn't matter anyway.

I'm sure that you would feel pretty comfortable about playing any division this year.

But give me a chance to coin "boogernaut" and I'm going to take it!

 

[mgcolby]

Yes, but you get to play the Jets, the Bills, and the Dolphins every year.....


Freakin Twice! Instant Division champs!


You may have a juggernaut this year, but a boogernaut could beat the Jets and Dolphins!


... Not that I'm whining or anythin...

This coming from a person who roots for a team that has had exaclty 1 division rival win 10 or more games in the past three years. :rocker:

 

[homergreg]

This coming from a person who roots for a team that has had exaclty 1 division rival win 10 or more games in the past three years. :rocker:

And how many have you had??????????

 

[Patriot Power]

And how many have you had??????????

2... and a couple of 9 and 7's to add to that mix. Colts have 1, and one 9 and 7 to add.

 

[homergreg]

I was pulling for the Colts so hard that year in the Playoffs.

People look at the last play of that game and say he almost caught it.

I remember the Colts last possesion before the Steelers took the lead. It was a shoe string tackle that prevented a first down that would have essentially sealed the game for the Colts.

Darn Steelers and their darn shoe string tackles!

I also remember Quentin Coryatt getting hit right in between the numbers by O'Donnell right after that and he dropped it!

 

[homergreg]

2... and a couple of 9 and 7's to add to that mix. Colts have 1, and one 9 and 7 to add.

And what would your predictions for the AFC East win totals for the next few years minus the Patriots vs the South minus the Colts?

 

[mgcolby]

2... and a couple of 9 and 7's to add to that mix. Colts have 1, and one 9 and 7 to add.

Thanks, beat me to it. That is some power house division his team plays in.

 

[mgcolby]

And what would your predictions for the AFC East win totals for the next few years minus the Patriots vs the South minus the Colts?

Were you complaining when your team was beating up on the lowly Texans and Titans (insert Jags before that)?? In 2004 we nearly had both wild card teams come from our division. Had the Bills won their final game they would have gone to the playoffs with the Jets and Pats.

And how can you try and predict win totals for the next few seasons. Did you think the Titans would win 8 games last year with a rookie QB? Did you think Houston would start off as well as they did, only to come crashing back down to earth?

 

[homergreg]

Were you complaining when your team was beating up on the lowly Texans and Titans (insert Jags before that)?? In 2004 we nearly had both wild card teams come from our division. Had the Bills won their final game they would have gone to the playoffs with the Jets and Pats.

And how can you try and predict win totals for the next few seasons. Did you think the Titans would win 8 games last year with a rookie QB? Did you think Houston would start off as well as they did, only to come crashing back down to earth?

Geez I just wanted to say Boogernaut and this is what I get!

OK, here's my analysis of why I think the East is softer than the South minus the Pats and Colts:

South:

I see 2 teams other than the Colts with a solid identity and strong coaching (well when Del Rio controls his temper he can be a strong coach). The Jags run the ball and have tough D. The Titans run the ball and have tough D. Fisher is a good coach. The Texans, well they need help, maybe they get a passing game with Schaub, we'll see, they might end up like Miami buying injured QB's. Kubiak reminds me of Cameron.

East:

Other than the Patriots who do you see that can build a team in the East? Jauron (maybe). But Cameron? Mangenious? The Bills, Jets and Dolphins, what do they do? The Dolphins had a D, but it went somewhere else, and they've went and played buy me a QB so much that their offense is just gone, then they go and deal their WR? You think Cam Cameron will build a running team? The Jets just benched their golden boy, and the Bills are going back with Losman?

 

[solman]

So long as we each win our div
... we'll see each other again next season - for ever.

The Colts will have a difficult time winning their division in future years.

The Titans and Jaguars are the only teams in the NFL with $50M in cap space available for 2008*.

Both teams are 5-2.

In comparison, the Colts have roughly $25M available for 2008 (and a much less favorable future cap situation).

The Colts are going to have to avoid serious injuries, and continue to do a dramatically better job with coaching and talent selection (than their rivals) if they want to remain on top of their division. As impressed as I am with Dungy and Polian right now, I don't think they can pull it off without major help from the Titans and Jaguars (of the shoot myself in the foot or kill Vince Young variety).

The good news is that even if the Colts do the expected and fail to win their division in 2008, we are still schedule to play them in 2009. Unless they completely collapse this year, 2010 will likely be the first year that we don't get to play them since 2002 (and the second since 1969).


[*]counting 2007 and 2008 allocations and assuming carry over of exactly unallocated 2007 money to 2008, using AdamJT13's last numbers)