OT: Colts-Bolts

[Zeus]

Is the loser tonight in trouble?

The Colts have the Titans closing in while the Chargers may only need 8-9 wins to secure the woeful AFC West. The game is being played this evening in order to allow CBS announcer Jim Nantz to watch the game while wearing his Colts footie pajamas.

San Diego entered the season widely regarded as The Most Talented Team in the NFL; if this is true, then they are almost surely The Worst Coached Team in the NFL. The Chargers QB, 8 year-old Philip Rivers, is prone to hyperventilating when opposing teams call him names or jump up and down on the Chargers midfield logo. Self proclaimed classiest man in the NFL Complainian Tomlinson is still generally considered by people like Dan Dierdorf (and anyone who hasn't seen Adrian Peterson) to be the league's best RB. Chris Chambers is seen as an upgrade at WR (surely challenging the notion that this team was ever The Most Talented Team in the NFL).

The Colts are trying to recover from the effects of losing last week's cataclysmic winner-take-all battle for bragging rights as The Best Team in the League Partway Through the Season. As we now know from watching Football Night in America and ESPN (and listening to Colt QB Elmer Manning), the Colts lost due to devastating injuries to Marvin Harrison and rookie OT Tony Ugoh; such injuries are, of course, unprecedented in NFL history. Against NE, the Colts offense consisted of heaving the ball downfield while hoping for absurd pass interference penalties, a strategy which worked remarkably well. Otherwise, the Colt offense was limited to a 1.5 yard check-down pass to Joseph Addai who scampered 73 yards for a TD after 4 NE defenders collided at midfield while seven others looked on in slack-jawed amazement.

With the Colts missing Harrison, Gonzalez and possibly Clark, the pressure is squarely on the talented Addai. The Colts were unable to handle the NE pass rush when trailing last week (again, only because of the devastating injury to rookie OT Tony Ugoh and poor officiating). If the Colts cannot get Addai untracked, look for the Chargers to go hard after QB Elmer. Unless Charger Coach Norville, who may not realize that this is a night game, has nodded off.

A Colt loss will no doubt see QB Elmer falling back on his vast experience to point fingers and make excuses. A Charger loss will end any hopes of being 5-4 after nine games and almost surely drop them from Peter King's Fine Fifteen, a crushing blow from which no team has ever recovered.

Did I mention that the Colts have been decimated by injuries?

 

[STFarmy]

With a name like Zeus, I assume you're rooting for the bolts.

Addai is awesome, and I think the Colts should win, provided that they continually pound the ball with him and wear down the Bolts D. Hey, the Vikes did it last week, and they didn't have the advantage of an amazing qb such as Peyton. Either way, it will be a fun game.

 

[CrazyDave]

That's wicked funny.

 

[bubthegrub1]

The Colts have injuries? I guess someone didn't read the rules. The Colts are NEVER supposed to be injured! This is allowed only for the other 31 teams. I think this is a do or die game for the Chargers. If they fall back below .500 the psycological ramifications will be devastating. Doubt will start to creep in. You can see it already on LT(LottaTears)'s face. But according to the SD fans the coaching changes were going to go without a hitch! The Colts will bounce back if they lose (and Mr. Wonderful does have the "injuries" excuse close to hand). If the Chargers get crushed it may be a fatal blow. Note that the Chargers have always been a one year up, one year down team. I think if they don't step up today, you can stick a fork in them!

 

[Stratos]

Is the loser tonight in trouble?

What do you think. If you lose your are done for the season, so yes I would say you are in trouble.

I am not sure you should be talking about the Colts QB. You guys have enough issues with Rivers right now. I heard a bad joke about Ryan Leaf and Rivers, it appears that they both are busts.

 

[chrisfx811]

I don't think Addai can pound the ball all day like Peterson. (pun intended)
But, as mentioned, Peyton's great and can still get 250-280 yds with what he's got at wr/te.

It will be interesting to see if Merriman's complaining will result in the Bolts turning up the pass rush this week.

 

[PatsWin]

I heard Merriman will do his lightning dance today. Go chargers! Help us secure the home field. Can't wait to see Whining's face burried in the dirty snow again.

Funny when colts win, all the media said Marvin Harrison is no longer an essential piece, Colts have way too many talents. When they lose, it's suddenly all because of the injuries.

 

[Zeus]

With a name like Zeus, I assume you're rooting for the bolts.

I didn't think of that. For the record, I am a 30+ year Patriot season ticker holder.

 

[Rob0729]

The ironic thing is that I think this is a more important game and potentially a more devestating loss if the Colts lose. I think the Chargers will win the weak AFC West and be the #4 seed no matter what the outcome of this game is. But the Colts could lose a first round bye and be forced to go to Pittsburgh in the division round and Foxboro in the Championship round (assuming they get that far) because of this game. That will signifcantly hurt their chances of repeating as Super Bowl Champs.

I don't know if the Chargers can pull this off because the loss of Castillio is huge especially facing Addai. But the Colts are pretty battered too.

I do think it is funny how people are talking about how the Colts are more set up to beat the Pats in Foxboro because they are more of a physical team, but fails to realize how devestated by injuries they are this year because they have small, fast players trying to play physical football against big tough players.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I didn't think of that. For the record, I am a 30+ year Patriot season ticker holder.

Zeus, if you wrote the 1st post, as Ahnuld in 'Commando' said, "You a funny guy!"

 

[Zeus]

The ironic thing is that I think this is a more important game and potentially a more devestating loss if the Colts lose. I think the Chargers will win the weak AFC West and be the #4 seed no matter what the outcome of this game is. But the Colts could lose a first round bye and be forced to go to Pittsburgh in the division round and Foxboro in the Championship round (assuming they get that far) because of this game. That will signifcantly hurt their chances of repeating as Super Bowl Champs.

I don't know if the Chargers can pull this off because the loss of Castillio is huge especially facing Addai. But the Colts are pretty battered too.

I do think it is funny how people are talking about how the Colts are more set up to beat the Pats in Foxboro because they are more of a physical team, but fails to realize how devestated by injuries they are this year because they have small, fast players trying to play physical football against big tough players.

All kidding aside, this is the real point. The Media Nitwits have declared that the Colts will be in Foxboro for the AFC Championship game. But the AFC South is up for grabs with half the season to go. There's no guarantee that the Colts will win the division. The second place team there may end up with a great record and a wild card game on the road while the division winner likely enjoys a first round bye. Huge difference.

 

[Nordberg]

I don't know about the rest of you...but, I am really curious as to how Manning plays for the rest of the season with a banged up WR corp. I have always thought that one of the main reasons that Manning has looked so good over the years is the fact that he has the benefit of playing with the same guys all the time. Blitz him.....and he simply throws to a spot he knows his wideouts will be.

Teams can now gameplan the colts offense instead of playing a umbella defense every week. Now you can double Wayne....play single on everyone else....and even blitz Manning now. Here comes the Happy Feet

 

[SVN]

the chargers are in trouble regardless.

 

[spacecrime]

I don't know about the rest of you...but, I am really curious as to how Manning plays for the rest of the season with a banged up WR corp. I have always thought that one of the main reasons that Manning has looked so good over the years is the fact that he has the benefit of playing with the same guys all the time. Blitz him.....and he simply throws to a spot he knows his wideouts will be.

Teams can now gameplan the colts offense instead of playing a umbella defense every week. Now you can double Wayne....play single on everyone else....and even blitz Manning now. Here comes the Happy Feet

Ithink it is funny that the sme people who praise Manning so high, give him a pass because he is "without all his weapons."

Don't they realize they are basically saying that Manning isn't the one driving the Colts machine, that without the best WRs in the league playing, he can't be expected to win.

Even without Harrison, the Colts WRs this year are better than those Brady had last year.

 

[frankiesfly]

This actually couldn't be a better scenario. The Colts have to play in Sandiego in front of Sandiego fans. What I'm saying is, the Chargers were embarressed and humiliated last week. The Colts have to go on the road and play a team that might go out this week and play the best game they have all year. I really believe the Chargers have a chance here because of what happened last week.

 

[patchick]

Dang Zeus, that's really, really good! Dang.

 

[Zeus]

Ithink it is funny that the sme people who praise Manning so high, give him a pass because he is "without all his weapons."

Don't they realize they are basically saying that Manning isn't the one driving the Colts machine, that without the best WRs in the league playing, he can't be expected to win.

Even without Harrison, the Colts WRs this year are better than those Brady had last year.

After the game last week, Manning said that what the Colts really need is to "get some people healthy."

This was a very public statement in front of many microphones and TV cameras that Elmer has seen the backups - both in practice and in this game - and doesn't think they are good enough. Inspirational stuff from the team leader.

This may explain why Manning sat alone during the final two minutes staring forlornly at the ground as though someone had told him that he was going to lose endorsement opportunities because the backup left tackle can't block.

 

[ColtinIraq]

Cataclysmic? Do you people ever live in reality? It was one loss. If we lose to San Diego it would be 2 losses. I don't know too many teams who have been decimated by 2 losses. Get a grip.

 

[mgteich]

I also think that we should get a grip. If the colts go into the playoffs 11-5 and healthy, they will still be a great threat to one and all. The colts are indeed in danger of losing the division. Hey, they could end up playing San Diego in the playoffs in San Diego.

I agree that Manning isn't used to playing without wide receivers.

 

[patchick]

Cataclysmic? Do you people ever live in reality? It was one loss. If we lose to San Diego it would be 2 losses. I don't know too many teams who have been decimated by 2 losses. Get a grip.

Now don't be going all bad-troll on us, ColtinIraq. Could that usage have possibly been any more tongue-in-cheek?

"...cataclysmic winner-take-all battle for bragging rights as The Best Team in the League Partway Through the Season"