OT: Should we give credit to Andrew Luck's Colts for finally putting up a decent fight last night?

The Colts should have been blown out by 3-4 touchdowns. No, they don't look even remotely close to being able to compete with the Patriots.

Brady_2_Moss said:

I'm in the minority here, but I like Luck. He seems like a genuinely good guy, but happens to play for a horrible organization. I think he is a good QB that will probably languish with a mediocre team and will never really achieve his potential. I also give him credit for playing last night, he could have easily backed out with his injury to take the heat off. I'm sure the Colts will blow up the coaching staff next season, so he may be more of a threat if they can manage to get competent coaches.

Click to expand...

do you realize luck made a deflategate joke last year? s

• Andrew Luck threw for three touchdowns with no interceptions
• Frank Gore averaged 6.0 yards per carry on the ground.
• Indy's defense collected a pick-six off a ricochet from Edelman.
• Gronk was held without a catch in the first half.

Given what we've seen in the past, doesn't that qualify as an unexpected effort by Indy?

I thought they played well. Actually felt sorry for them about that stupid play.

I remember D'qwell Jackson basically called the management liars by saying he said nothing about a deflated ball he intercepted, though they said he started it.

The owner and management of that team sucks, but i thought the players played a lot better than in the past, until that ludicrous fire drill fake punt..

I voted no, more disappointed in the pats, but credit is due in that they put up a much tougher fight. I know I am probably in the minority but I would actually give the Indy coaches a B- for this game. They knew they were over matched and would need to make some lucky breaks. Going for it on 4th and 1 on that first drive was absolutely the right call. You do not beat the pats with FG's especially after a 8 min drive. They switched up what was not working going to short quick crossing routes instead of giving up the 8-10 sacks I thought the pats would get. That onside kick was a gutsy call that caught everyone by surprise and honestly if I was the ref I would have gave them that. It clearly squirted out and the colt player came out of the pile with it. Though I do understand no clear evidence of recovery so it is hard to rule one way or the other. Now the puntfu.....oh Indy that was.... Just....I have no words and thus you get a b- cuz that was pathetic.

Now for why I am disappointed in the Pats, I would give the pats coaching a c-. You drafted two huge mauling road grader guards and have rushed for 200 yards and 4 tds against this team. Why the $&#% is Brady putting the ball up 40 times? And if that is your plan why was Dobson not active? I know the colts were paying particular attention to Gronk (triple covered on some plays) but you have to find ways to get him more involved. The few times he got the ball he wreaked the puny tacklers trying to take him down. I just can not get over the fact that Blount did not get 30 touches. With an injured o line I would have simplified it and let them get physical. Strait ahead smash mouth football and get them some experience and confidence in that phase of the game. The few times they did do it, it worked just like in the blowouts. 6.8 yards per carry and a monster TD run. Oh well take the win on the road cuz at the end of the day a W is all that really matters. Next victim!

RayClay said:

I thought they played well. Actually felt sorry for them about that stupid play.

I remember D'qwell Jackson basically called the management liars by saying he said nothing about a deflated ball he intercepted, though they said he started it.

The owner and management of that team sucks, but i thought the players played a lot better than in the past, until that ludicrous fire drill fake punt..

Click to expand...

Honestly, I had the feeling the Colts were playing like a team with nothing to lose. I don't know why but it just felt like they and the coaches were willing to try anything. The onside kick after the pick 6 was brilliant, as was going for it on 4th and 1 rather then settling for a field goal. But I agree, the worst decision was by far, the fake punt. It changed the entire tone of the game.

Uncle Rico said:

I was thinking about this with the Ravens this year — this is what "elite" quarterbacks should do, and yet Flacco is QB of a 1-5 team.

Click to expand...

Know what Brady's never been, ever, after 16 years in the league?

1-5.

Chiuba E. Obele said:

• Andrew Luck threw for three touchdowns with no interceptions
• Frank Gore averaged 6.0 yards per carry on the ground.
• Indy's defense collected a pick-six off a ricochet from Edelman.
• Gronk was held without a catch in the first half.

Given what we've seen in the past, doesn't that qualify as an unexpected effort by Indy?

Click to expand...

And they still lost, and the game was still never in doubt after the Patriots took the lead (I would argue after the Patriots cut it to 1 at halftime, myself).

The Colts had all of 4 first downs and didn't even get across midfield in the 2nd half before their garbage time drive.

TommyD4207 said:

The Colts had all of 4 first downs and didn't even get across midfield in the 2nd half before their garbage time drive.

Click to expand...

No question, the Colts got outplayed in the second half. But they made some good, aggressive plays in the first - and are the only team so far, who's been able to take a halftime lead over the Pats.

I'm not trying to elevate this into some accomplishment.... I just feel the Colts took a step forward and played better than they normally do against us. I'm sure if you asked Brady and Belichick, they'd tell you the same thing.

Chiuba E. Obele said:

No question, the Colts got outplayed in the second half. But they made some good, aggressive plays in the first - and are the only team so far, who's been able to take a halftime lead over the Pats.

I'm not trying to elevate this into some accomplishment.... I just feel the Colts took a step forward and played better than they normally do against us. I'm sure if you asked Brady and Belichick, they'd tell you the same thing.

Click to expand...

So we're giving them credit for playing a good half?

They played a good half last year.

The only difference between last night and years past, is that the Patriots played conservative after they got their 2 score lead, rather than playing balls out.

TommyD4207 said:

So we're giving them credit for playing a good half?

They played a good half last year.

The only difference between last night and years past, is that the Patriots played conservative after they got their 2 score lead, rather than playing balls out.

Click to expand...

LOL, "credit" has been my downfall in this thread....for you and others, it comes across as sounding like a participation award. I really should learn to replace the word "credit" with something less.....well, Colts-esque

That said, this was first time since 2008 that the Colts held a halftime lead against the Patriots. Point differentials aside, what surprised me the most was their aggressive style of play on both sides of the ball. The Pats made sure to make their adjustments, but I think they were a bit flummoxed by the Colts....Brady definitely seemed a bit off - though that could've had something to do with the changes in the O-line.

Chiuba E. Obele said:

LOL, "credit" has been my downfall in this thread....for you and others, it comes across as sounding like a participation award. I really should learn to replace the word "credit" with something less.....well, Colts-esque

That said, this was first time since 2008 that the Colts held a halftime lead against the Patriots. Point differentials aside, what surprised me the most was their aggressive style of play on both sides of the ball. The Pats made sure to make their adjustments, but I think they were a bit flummoxed by the Colts....Brady definitely seemed a bit off - though that could've had something to do with the changes in the O-line.

Click to expand...

That and $3 will get you a large iced coffee at Dunkin' Donuts.

Brady had a QB rating well over 100 despite that INT. He was fine.

Also, the Colts were closer after 3 quarters last year than they were this year. (And yes, people wanted to give them "credit" for that too - and pissed and moaned that the Patriots didn't have a big enough lead)

TommyBrady12 said:

do you realize luck made a deflategate joke last year? s

Click to expand...

That seems like an obsessive Patriot fan way of measuring a player. Forget the media. Downplay the jokes of the day. The facts are clear; Luck is a good person who has been overhyped.

Yes, we should for this game and this game only. It's not going to be a popular opinion but that was a pretty accurate scores of the 2 teams on Sunday night. Breaks went both ways. We gifted them the pick 6 and they caught a break on Chandler's OPI.....they gifted us the phantom punt fake and we also caught a break on the onsides kick. It was very iffy on who recovered it and could have easily gone their way, especially with the game being on their turf. If they're awarded the ball there up 4 things are much much different.

Their offense in the first half had 2 successful long TD drives on our defense without flukes. Their defense stifled our offense in the final 1/3rd of the game without flukes and kept the score within striking distance when we could have pulled away. Give them some credit.

Does this mean they are closing the gap? I wouldn't say... I still think they need to put up this kind of fight on a more consistent basis. In the NFL it's hard to beat a team 5 straight times, let alone all blowouts. So they were more than due for a better performance. And yes, for one night they looked like they belonged on the same field with us. But they still have alot to prove in this matchup... and if there is a playoff rematch it will be in Gillette where I don't see a similar fight. If it happens again it's time to start taking this team seriously.

Think I'll pass.

Get it? Pass...because he's a quarterback! Which means...ah, forget it. It's no worse than the joke he said.

My serious answer though is the Pats could've played much better. This is the same Colts team that just barely won each of their three games to the AFC South.