Anyone Else Think the Colts Made a Tactical Error by Not Going for the Win?

[workhorse]

Fair point...but still, if I were the Colts, I'd rather play Jax then SD. They play the Jags twice a year, and even though the Jags play them pretty tight, the Colts know they can beat them. SD beat them the last two times they've met, once when the Colts had their unbeaten season going. I guess in the end, they have no real controlling who they end up playing in this situation...and maybe that's the best point that can be made.

From the Colts perspective they have to feel that they let one get away from them in San Diego and the Chargers would have to come into the dome now. When it comes to the Jags, they are a much more physical team than the Chargers and could easily steal a game. Not to mention the fact that it is really hard to beat the same team three time in a season.

 

[aluminum seats]

I understand that teams are under no obligation to play hard for other teams, but having said that I'm a little surprised the Colts didn't at least call a TO on 4th down at the end of the game. I don't care how little a game might mean, I'd still TRY to win. Hell, I try harder than that playing pick-up ball.

Also, I'm surprised how awful Sorgi or whatever his name is played. That guy's awful.

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

IMO i think the colts are so arrogant they aren't worried about who they play because they think they will beat them. I have always though that this is a chink in their armor.

When you own the refs and play indoors, why not be arrogant? You control everything.

The Colts have become a team that cheats on every play, and until the refs put an end to it, the Colts will be arrogant.

 

[workhorse]

I understand that teams are under no obligation to play hard for other teams, but having said that I'm a little surprised the Colts didn't at least call a TO on 4th down at the end of the game. I don't care how little a game might mean, I'd still TRY to win. Hell, I try harder than that playing pick-up ball.

Also, I'm surprised how awful Sorgi or whatever his name is played. That guy's awful.

I think at that point in the game, both teams kind of agreed to just let it end. The Titans could have just run the ball and gotten a single first down and the game would have been over too. No need to risk getting anyone hurt when the game is over though.

 

[spacecrime]

That's fuzzy math.

When you are old enough for your mother to read Dr Suess to you, and you learn your numbers, you will understand that if you don't play a game for 21 days, you haven't played in three weeks.

That is because teams don't play every day. They play every week. So they have a week off between each game. If they miss a game, they have two weeks in a row without playing.

Understand?

No?

Ask your mother to buy this book for you.

http://www.amazon.com/Upside-Down-Seuss-Beginner-Preschool-Kindergarten/dp/0679867546

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

The Titans are a very physical team. The Chargers now have to face that sort of physicality rather than the less aggressive Browns, meaning the Chargers could well be banged up when/if they meet the Colts.

Yup. I don't think the Colts did anything to hurt themselves and I don't see why anybody cares whether they called a time out.

We know the Colts cheat constantly and the refs ignore it, but at the end of the day we need to stop making up stuff about why they didn't call a time out in a meaningless game or why they want the Browns in the playoffs.

The Colts did what they felt was best for them, period.

And we WILL face them in the playoffs, where they will pass interfere with all our WRs, they will hold our D-Line on EVERY play, they will spear us with their helmets while the refs worship Saint Dungheap, and the Pats will get 5 or more imaginary penalties of the worst kind.

Unlike last year, we will simply have to find a way to beat the refs and the Colts.

 

[Oswlek]

SD beat the Colts with Manning having one of the worst games of his career, Indy allowing two return TDs and AV playing terribly.

SD's offense was utterly and completely neutered. Indy would *love* another chance at that team and they will kill them if it happens.

 

[spacecrime]

I understand that teams are under no obligation to play hard for other teams, but having said that I'm a little surprised the Colts didn't at least call a TO on 4th down at the end of the game.

That would have been as stupid as Coughlin calling that time out at the end of the Pats game. What was the point of that? Dungy did the right thing.

 

[mgteich]

I understand that patriot fans will criticize all colt choices. We certainly criticize the way they draft, what plays they call, and who they have on the field. Guess what! Their system works for them! They have have won 12 games five years in a row. They have HFA against all ut a team that is among the four unbeatens in the history of the league. They are Super Bowl champs.

The colts have battled injuries all year. They have the curious idea that healthy players have a better shot of succeeding in the playoffs. They believe that the starters played enough in the Titans game.
===================

We have decided that the colts would play better if they were more battle tested and risked injuries to their starters, as the giants did. Sure, they would be unlucky if someone got hurt, but those are the breaks.

Posters here have convinced me in the past that it made sense for the starters on a team with a bye should play a series or two to make sure that they don't get rusty. However, after that any injuries were avoidable, and the colts avoided them.

Don't recall just a few weeks ago when Green was hurt on the last (or next to the last play) of a game, where a couple of kneel downs were appropriate? I was furious.
====================

I have no reason to believe that Dungy did the wrong thing for his team. Personally, I agree with his decisions. I AM SURE that if he played all the starters throughout the game and one or two were injured, that everyone would rightly be second guessing Dungy. And just BTW, the colts would not be worthy champions if they worried about which team they might play. They MUST believe that they can beat any team in the playoffs. Certainly they shouldn't be in fear of their first opponent.
=======================

Just BTW, I agree with ESPN. Unless there was a direct order from ownership (because of league pressure), I think Coughlin should be fired for playing his starters. He got exactly what he deserved. His players are all banged up, including significant injuries to three starters. I'm sure Tampa Bay was cheering him right along.

 

[workhorse]

When you are old enough for your mother to read Dr Suess to you, and you learn your numbers, you will understand that if you don't play a game for 21 days, you haven't played in three weeks.

That is because teams don't play every day. They play every week. So they have a week off between each game. If they miss a game, they have two weeks in a row without playing.

Understand?

No?

Ask your mother to buy this book for you.

http://www.amazon.com/Upside-Down-Seuss-Beginner-Preschool-Kindergarten/dp/0679867546

Things are a little different when you refer to "weeks" in the NFL. When you say they have a week off, generally you mean they don't have a game on a particular weekend. You aren't referring to days of the week on the calendar.

They Colts have no more time off than the Patriots. The Colts players practiced all week, most played the majority of the game outside of Peyton, Addai, Reggie and Dallas. They had to.

 

[aluminum seats]

I think at that point in the game, both teams kind of agreed to just let it end. The Titans could have just run the ball and gotten a single first down and the game would have been over too. No need to risk getting anyone hurt when the game is over though.

I'm sure Tennessee was happy to just let it end, they won. The Colts still had a chance, though.

 

[aluminum seats]

That would have been as stupid as Coughlin calling that time out at the end of the Pats game. What was the point of that? Dungy did the right thing.

Actually the two situations aren't comparable. Tennessee faced a 4th down at that point, the Pats didn't. Dungy only did the right thing if the right thing was to stop trying--then you'd be right.

 

[workhorse]

I'm sure Tennessee was happy to just let it end, they won. The Colts still had a chance, though.

If I was a Titans fan, I would be very worried. Their team was in a must win situation against a team playing just to play that had pulled many of their key players and the Titans barely won.

 

[PatsDeb]

I don't know. I go back to my original thought that the team the Colts would most like NOT to play in the 1st round is SD - they already lost to them when SD was not playing at the top of its game. Indy has Jacksonville's number and the Steelers haven't scared anyone in a while. The Browns have a better chance than the Titans to knock off either SD or (gasp) NE, yet the Colts, who had a chance (not a big one, but some chance) to get rid of SD, chose not to. As some have said, perhaps it's just too remote, or they just don't think this way. Plus, SD, if they get to Indy, will beat the livin' crap out of Indy before they get to NE, another reason I would think Indy would try to avoid SD at all costs.

 

[Deus Irae]

Things are a little different when you refer to "weeks" in the NFL. When you say they have a week off, generally you mean they don't have a game on a particular weekend. You aren't referring to days of the week on the calendar.

They Colts have no more time off than the Patriots. The Colts players practiced all week, most played the majority of the game outside of Peyton, Addai, Reggie and Dallas. They had to.

Yes, you are right and every single coach, general manager, player and reporter is wrong.

 

[NEPatriot]

Colts coach's decision was made because 'media' said so.

Before Pats played Giants, media suggested how these teams should play their starters but BB did not listen and his team record is 16-0. Unfortunately, Giants did not listen and lost a game and have 3 injuried players.

BB made that decision because we MUST win that game. The Colts was not interested in 'perfect' season because they have none.

only time will tell if Colts coach made a mistake or not. If Colt wins SB and lost this game, it was a good decision. If Colts doesn't win SB and lost this game, it is still ranked #2 in NFL.

 

[speed]

I don't know. I go back to my original thought that the team the Colts would most like NOT to play in the 1st round is SD - they already lost to them when SD was not playing at the top of its game. Indy has Jacksonville's number and the Steelers haven't scared anyone in a while. The Browns have a better chance than the Titans to knock off either SD or (gasp) NE, yet the Colts, who had a chance (not a big one, but some chance) to get rid of SD, chose not to. As some have said, perhaps it's just too remote, or they just don't think this way. Plus, SD, if they get to Indy, will beat the livin' crap out of Indy before they get to NE, another reason I would think Indy would try to avoid SD at all costs.

I follow your logic, I think the best teams besides the top two seeds are in this order.

Jax
Pitt
SD
Tenn

Just my opinion, I think they are all flawed in a significant way.

Jax - coaching and lack of consistent passing game
Pitt - consistency on either side and Paulomaula injury
SD - Big game coaching, QB consistency
Tenn - inexperience QB, overall talent level.

And of course theres the any given Sunday factor, but I think when you start "trying" to play a certain team, if you feel like you are the better team anyway, it doesn't make sense.

 

[BelichickFan]

I have no reason to believe that Dungy did the wrong thing for his team. Personally, I agree with his decisions. I AM SURE that if he played all the starters throughout the game and one or two were injured, that everyone would rightly be second guessing Dungy. And just BTW, the colts would not be worthy champions if they worried about which team they might play. They MUST believe that they can beat any team in the playoffs. Certainly they shouldn't be in fear of their first opponent.
=======================

Just BTW, I agree with ESPN. Unless there was a direct order from ownership (because of league pressure), I think Coughlin should be fired for playing his starters. He got exactly what he deserved. His players are all banged up, including significant injuries to three starters. I'm sure Tampa Bay was cheering him right along.

Different situations with the Giants having no bye. In 2004 when the Patriots had the #1 seed clinched, the starters played almost all of the final week - Brady was 22/30 and Davey was 1/4. That doesn't mean you're wrong but I disagree with what Dungy did.

 

[ATippett56]

I wondered why Indy didn't put much stock in this? Do they think the Titans, even though the have a 99% chance of losing, will beat up SD more? What do you think?

In my opinion, the Titans are the better team for the Patriots in the 2007 AFC playoffs for one simple reason. The Titans are a more physical team than the Cleveland Browns and the winners of both AFC Wild Card Games will be severely beat up. Please remember the Patriots have not enjoyed a playoff bye the last two seasons and this year the Patriots will benefit the most with an extra week off considering the age of Bruschi, Seau, and Harrison.

 

[sieglo]

The Clts were right. Both Tennessee and Cleveland would lose to SD. However, Tennessee is more likely to injure key San Diego players via cheap shots. Colts play a more beat up Charger team as a result.