I've thought about the title premise of this post a number of times during the current run. This is likely why the last couple of blowouts' opponent point totals are frustrating to so many (despite the protestations that basically, any time you win that big, you're going to "give away" a bunch of points by playing soft.)
Playing soft and making the other team burn the clock by not giving up the big play has to be something a team can turn on and off. I do fear that the team that can go toe to toe with us, will see a D used to an easier way to win. Same personnel, less urgency. Sue me, it bothers me.
But here's some things I think:
1) The Pats in 2007 are a better offense than the Colts in 2004. I think this even though Maroney and Morris are both down. Get one or both back and it's no contest, as things look right now.
2) The Pats' 2007 D is not the abcess that Indy featured in 2003-2004. This is a much more balanced team. Indy 03-04 only had 1 way to beat you. NE in 2007 can shut down an opposing offense as well (now... I'd like to see a return to proving that, garbage time or no garbage time.) The Dallas and Miami games show there's work to be done - but that's a far cry from the sieve the Colts showed up with in their offense's heyday.
3) Tony Dungy is a fine coach. He's a guy that could be one of the "good coaches" in a league in any era, as in, one of the top 10 out of 32 head coaches, year in, year out. Recognizably good at what he does. No dummy. You get the picture. But ranking Bill Belichick isn't even about the other coaches currently active anymore. It's about is he better than Lombardi, Halas, or other historical greats. It's not about how he stands against the rest of the league... it's about whether he's the best ever. HUGE difference. When the talent looked stacked all towards the Colts and we beat them every year, it was about closing the gap with the better coach, preparation, etc. How can the Colts do that?
All that said, barring an aberrant game next week by either team, or a loss to jax tonight for the Colts, we're looking at the best in-season matchup the NFL's seen in years, two 8-0 teams going at it. Someone look up the records... I don't know when the last time was that this has happened.
Workhorse et al., just think about 20 years from now. Be happy you can tell your kids about that time the Colts were able to scrape out their 1 super bowl, and how "people forget, the Colts were always the main rival to the Pats in those years..." Don't worry about sounding like Red Sox fans up until 2004, with a "me too" claim to the Yankees history... or like the Generals compared to the Harlem Globetrotters.
This is a fantastic time to be a fan of either team. We're watching two of the greatest QBs to ever play the game. We're watching the Belichick era, which will be talked about for generations. We're watching a dynasty in an era that's not supposed to have dynasties, and another team that would be one, except that its "window" unfortunately coincides with Patriots Reign.
Sucks to be on the Colts' end of it, but relax. You're the champs! You've got your ring, singular, and should be damn proud of it, considering who stands in your way year after year.
I'm ready for a big plate of November humble pie... hey, we could even have some October humble pie first. Who knows?
But I think come February, we're carrying home another big silver football.
Hey, call it a hunch. :rocker:
PFnV
