AFC Championship Game : Patriots vs. Colts -- Pre-Game Thread

fightingirish595 · Jan 12, 2015

VrabelJr said:
That's a really ridiculous thing to say. Football is a team sport.

Yes football is a team sport. But let's be honest, Andrew luck makes the colts look so much better than they are. The guy is going to be an all time great.

patsfanincleveland · Jan 12, 2015

Sicilian said:
The Colts have better cover corners than the Ravens. If they play press man on the Pats, Brady won't have those quick outlets. That's where the run game could be huge. If we're gashing them on the ground, they're going to need those corners off just a little bit more.[/QUOTE

If I were you, I would watch the Colts/Steelers game at Heinz this year.

Talk about a blueprint.

Sicilian · Jan 12, 2015

I'm not usually a fan of the idea of a "blueprint", because I think things are more often tailored to the individuals on the team. For example, I wouldn't consider Pittsburgh's offense to resemble ours in any way, shape, or form. Doesn't mean we can't learn something from that game, just that I doubt we can copy the gameplan with such a different set of personnel.

Ivan · Jan 12, 2015

You can never overlook any team, let alone one with a young QB as talented as Luck is, and the last thing they want is to have him with the ball within striking distance with a few minutes left as he is at his best in those situations.

That said this is a good match up for the Patriots, especially if they can start out running the ball the way they have in their last two meetings. Offensively the Patriots should be able to have their way with them, I doubt they will put up another 200 on the ground but don't see the Colts as having the ability to stop any aspect of their offensive attack, and I expect another great game out of Brady. On defense the Patriots should be able to make life really difficult for Luck as they have the pieces to limit the run game and cover his receivers. Luck is really good young QB but he can be drawn into making mistakes and he will have to be next to perfect against NE. Hopefully the Patriots will be able to run effectively, limit Lucks drive opportunities and keep big plays to a minimum. I believe they can do it but it should be a fun game to watch

Dutchmaster617 · Jan 12, 2015

This is obviously our easiest matchup but while most here will crap on IND let me give them some credit.

They have played great defense their past 3 or 4 games, Vontae Davis is a beast at CB, Andrew Luck is one of the best QBs in football and is a huge threat, way more than Flacco, so if our D plays like we did last week we give up 40.

Yes he does struggle against us with turnovers, but as I said their D is improved and can force TOs.

Biggest thing for me is the run, both of us are crap at running but we have a top run D (I think, Forsett gashed us) and their run D is not too good, we obviously seem to run for 200 and 4 TDs against them, but who knows in the playoffs, GB shut down Murray for majority of the game yesterday and they were ranked 28th or so. If Luck can get some running out of Herron we are going to be tested because add in the PA to this monster and he is lethal as they come, likewise if Blount continues to struggle and Brady has to throw 50 times they will get some sacks and INTs.

PatriotsReign · Jan 12, 2015

pats4life12 said:
I'm pumped gonna be a good week!

I am "pumped & jacked...." still the most idiotic comment I've ever heard a coach make!

PatriotsReign · Jan 12, 2015

Let's ALL remember that any of us can look at this game and be as over-confident as we want. We can take any opponent as lightly as we please and expect an easy victory.
It's the Patriots PLAYERS that better not do any of the above!

I get big kick out of Pats fans that think they need to act like part of the team or that being ****y will jinx the team.

Enough of that..... I need to get back to just focusing on Indiannapolis and do my job!.....

Froob · Jan 12, 2015

dales804 said:
He's had 20 carries over four games since then.

Oh right, completely forgot he had 11 carries vs the fish. Guess BB just prefers Blount then. What happened to Stork btw? Is he okay? Probably best linemen aside from Vollmer. Also big props to Solder. It wasn't always pretty, especially in the first half but, Thuggs didn't get a single sack.

Brady_to_Moss · Jan 12, 2015

Who is going to cover gronk for them? 3...4 guys maybe?

dales804 · Jan 12, 2015

Brady_to_Moss said:
Who is going to cover gronk for them? 3...4 guys maybe?

Sergio Brown!!!! He "put straps on him" last game, remember?

Archeryaddict12 · Jan 12, 2015

Froob said:
Oh right, completely forgot he had 11 carries vs the fish. Guess BB just prefers Blount then. What happened to Stork btw? Is he okay? Probably best linemen aside from Vollmer. Also big props to Solder. It wasn't always pretty, especially in the first half but, Thuggs didn't get a single sack.

Storks knee got twisted. He had a brace obviously but it still got twisted. I know he is a tough sob but I don't know if we will see stork for the rest of this season

Ring 6 · Jan 12, 2015

goheels22002 said:
I don't disagree with your other points.

This is a discussion for a different thread, but I think Rex Ryan is a good football coach who found himself in the middle of a circus with an idiot meddling owner, and a player personnel department under Tannenbaum and Idzik that made things go from bad to worse.

I think it is VERY arguable whether Ryan is more at fault than Tannenbaum for the decline.
The team was spiralling before Idzik arrived.

I'm surprised he took the Buffalo job, but in the relative media quiet of Buffalo, in a division he knows well, with new owners who have given him a long-term deal, and a team stocked with talent on both sides of the ball, I think Rex will flourish.

Of course he will attract attention, and go out of his way to do it.
But are you really blaming the media? Really?
There is not much talent on offense.
I don't know what you see that tells you Rex can flourish. If you are saying he could shock everyone and have a good season, OK, but in the long run he is a proven failure.
What qualities do you think he possesses that he has proven can make him a winner?
He did a terrible, terrible job in NJ, from every aspect of being a coach, from a long range view point.

If Ryan tries to attract attention by acting the clown rather than focusing on his team, he'll fail. I saw a man humbled by his team's mediocrity and collapse the last three years.

Thats all he knows how to do. He was still doing it this year.

The missing piece is quarterback. EJ Manuel may be the guy now that he's had some seasoning, or maybe they get a solid veteran. Anyway, I was impressed with the Bills with Kyle Orton at the controls. the basics are in place to contend in the AFC.

They already contended. They will be worse. Rex will take a low scoring, turnover producing defense, allow less yards, more points and not take the ball away as much. That is his track record.
On offense, he has no clue.
The Bills could have hired any number of coaches who could have come in and taken this team in the right direction. Instead they hired a clown, who will make it all about him, while the franchise falls apart around him.
I've seen this movie.

On another topic, what are the Dolphins thinking by bringing in Tannenbaum?

I'm not sure why Tannenbaum gets the blame. I say he did a better job in NJ than Rex Ryan did.

Ring 6 · Jan 12, 2015

dales804 said:
He's had 20 carries over four games since then.

Which is about what he was doing before that.
Its kind of simple. Blount took his job away.

abdul7 · Jan 12, 2015

Greetings to all and hope you all had a great start to the New Year. Been traveling last 2 weeks and have not had a chance to comment much over the Great win against the nasty Ravens. Now we are clearly well battle tested that this AFCCG is by far the easiest we have had if we compare the last 3 we have played in.
I know we shouldn't look past the Colts , but lets be honest if we all knew heading into the playoffs we would play them this weekend in the AFCCG ,,,,most here would just not believe it could happen,,so yes it is the best scenario for Tom and the Team.
Bill will make sure they don't look past them. Congrats to all and lets go and finish what we couldn't do in Glendale Arizona the last time we were there. GO PATS.

BobDigital · Jan 12, 2015

It is always helpful IMO to ask "how can we lose" and "what can they beat us with" when looking at an opponent. Then with that in mind here are the ways Indy wins IMO.

#1 Luck has a good day with no mistakes - A deep pick on 3rd and 12 that works basically as a punt will not kill him but doing it on a first down when you have a promising drive going will hurt. He needs to avoid plays like that which have been a problem.

#2 Indy's TE needs to win. Hilton will probably be limited and their other WRs either look too old or too raw to really kill the Pats. Their TEs though only okay by themselves together will cause match up problems the Colts can exploit. If they feed them over the middle It will chew up time and keep Brady off the field. This should be the main focus of what they try to do on O.

#3 Pass to win and run to keep honest. The Pats run D against Baltimore was pretty bad but that is not what I expect to see this game. The Colts don't have a running game that can win consistently so need to use it rarely. If they try to force balance drives will stall. Throw early and often. 2:1 pass/run ratio is the answer.

#4 Authur Jones vs ???? - The Colts can not allow the Pats to run they way they have in the past. If Denver is any indication they should be able to better handle the run and will have to. If the run game works for the Pats the Colts will have no chance to slow down the Pats O. They need to be able to take this away or limit it and there is a chance to do that.

#5 Bump the WRs especially Gronk. The Colts pass rush and coverage units are both meh. I don't think they have the horses to get to Brady who will be short passing a lot. That means they need to bump and disrupt timing to slow down the O. It has worked in the past and they need to do it often. Give their pass rush a chance to get to Brady even if it means the threat of being burned over the top.

If the Colts do these things and execute well they can win this game. That is why the Pats need to be ready for them and have counter measures ready.

Brady_to_Moss · Jan 12, 2015

luck record when he doesn't throw an INT: 18-2 Record when he throws an INT: 15-13

Ring 6 · Jan 12, 2015

BobDigital said:
. If Denver is any indication they should be able to better handle the run and will have to.

Denver ran 20 times for 88 yards. If they could have thrown the ball to stay on the field, they could have exploited this success.

Brady_to_Moss · Jan 12, 2015

Why are people in the media saying...how can you be a luck critic this postseason. They said those two "INTs" on 3rd were very smart plays since nothing was open...

He still makes horrible decisions...

BobDigital · Jan 12, 2015

AndyJohnson said:
Denver ran 20 times for 88 yards. If they could have thrown the ball to stay on the field, they could have exploited this success.

They got a 4.4YPA average with a healthy OL and Anderson who is IMO a better RB than Blount or Grey.

I know one could easily say "well they could clog the middle due to Peyton not being the same player he was" and part of that is true. However I think a lot of it (from what I saw) was mostly just their front 4 holding up well.

Also I said "better handle the run" not shut it down. I think it is something we can attack but I am looking at maybe 30 runs for 120 yards (4.0YPA) as opposed to getting 200 yards like we have been doing is possible for them now. That is not great run D but you are not letting it be the thing that beats you.

Ring 6 · Jan 12, 2015

BobDigital said:
They got a 4.4YPA average with a healthy OL and Anderson who is IMO a better RB than Blount or Grey.

Not sure I agree, but still not sure how 20/88 indicates they have improved.
Again, if Manning wasn't horrible, they would have been able to run a lot more, and probably broken off some big runs. In any event 20/88 is not good.

I know one could easily say "well they could clog the middle due to Peyton not being the same player he was" and part of that is true. However I think a lot of it (from what I saw) was mostly just their front 4 holding up well.

Dismissing the fact doesn't mean it isn't true. There is no question that they loaded up to stop the run.
If they play us the way they played Denver, not only can we run effectively, but Brady will light them up.

Also I said "better handle the run" not shut it down. I think it is something we can attack but I am looking at maybe 30 runs for 120 yards (4.0YPA) as opposed to getting 200 yards like we have been doing is possible for them now. That is not great run D but you are not letting it be the thing that beats you.

I don't know how that game is any indication they have improved against the run, unless you add things that didn't really happen and project that maybe it would be different.

AFC Championship Game : Patriots vs. Colts -- Pre-Game Thread

Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal

Rotational Player and Threatening Starter's Job

PatsFans.com Supporter

Hall of Fame Poster

2nd Team Getting Their First Start

PatsFans.com Supporter

PatsFans.com Supporter

Independent Investigator & pliable af

28-3....

PatsFans.com Supporter

Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract

PatsFans.com Supporter

PatsFans.com Supporter

Third String But Playing on Special Teams

Pro Bowl Player

28-3....

PatsFans.com Supporter

28-3....

Pro Bowl Player

PatsFans.com Supporter

Similar threads