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

[Soul_Survivor88]

I hate to say this, but for the first time in years, the Colts actually looked like an actual competitor to the Patriots. Every single analyst, including posters like myself, expected the Colts to lose by a huge margin. But instead of letting themselves get bullied for the umpteenth time, they stood toe-to-toe with the Pats for at least the first half. They ended up losing 34-27, but the game was never totally out of reach like it has been in the past.

Don't get me wrong, the Colts did silly things last night, and were thoroughly outplayed in the second half - not to mention their players committed harmful penalties and their coaches made awful, awful errors. The Colts clearly have a long way to go before even approaching our level -- but if they can learn to compete well with the teams left on their schedule (Panthers, Broncos, Falcons, Steelers) then I won't be able to write them off anymore. I'll reserve my judgement until then

 

[sevengables_2207]

Ah fvuck it!

Give those little tykes a participation trophy!

 

[New England Pride]

Credit? They'll hang a damn banner for playing a one score game against New England.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Really? Despite his 3 TDs, he threw a bunch of intercept-able balls, missed a ton of guys, and still continues to show he isn't the guy scouts thought he would be.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

they played hard only because they lost to us so many times.. by no means does last night mean they are close to our level.

 

[FourierSeries]

It wasn't as close as the score indicated. Without that pick 6, and with Hightower, LaFell, Stork, Sheard, and Cannon all healthy and playing for the full 60 minutes, it would have been another blowout. If we play them again at Gillette, we'll win by 30.

 

[BradyFTW!]

No, we shouldn't. The game was as close as it was because of a fluke pick-six and a backdoor cover against a prevent defense. This was textbook "the game wasn't as close as the final score indicated", even without touching on all of the dropped should-have-been picks.

As Bill Barnwell summarized it, pretty much everything went right for the Colts last night and they still lost decisively at home. It was just more of the same.

 

[PATS16N0]

lol

If not for that Edelman bobble resulting in a pick 6, this game is yet another beat down, just like all the others, in their own fired up stadium.

Bring the Colts to the Razor and let's see if they can keep it within 60.

 

[erikjones]

I was at the game and the only reason it felt close pretty much through the 3rd quarter was because of Edelman's drop and the resulting pick6. If it was 27-14 after the first drive of the 2nd half and 34-14 after the "fake punt", we probably wouldn't be having this conversation right now.

The Pats missed out on several interceptions by just a few inches. Butler, McCourty, Collins...if they pulled one or two of those in like they usually do, we are talking about another blowout. Luck is still Luck, nothing changed.

 

[deters]

Credit for what? Subtract their garbage time TD, incredibly lucky Edelman drop and 50/50 call on Chandler its 38-14...

 

[oldrover]

Now, beat it, kid... you bother me.

 

[Rob0729]

The Colts' defense couldn't stop the Pats until they got conservative in the fourth. If the Pats weren't trying to run down the clock rather than embarrass them, the Pats might have scored close to 50 points. The Pats didn't punt until their second drive in the third quarter and the only time they didn't score in the first half was when Edelman bobbled a catch right into Adams' hands for a gift pick six.

The game wasn't as close as the score indicated. Take away the gift pick 6 and the garbage time TD and the Colts lose by 20 points. Do we give them credit for that?

 

[NashuaPats]

The Pats still outclassed them. The Colts got some lucky breaks and the game was still in hand early in the fourth. If injuries weren't taking a toll, I'm sure they would have scored more, but they chose to play it safe.

 

[Brady_2_Moss]

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.

 

[jah]

We can't play the "if you take away the fluke pick six" card without also acknowledging that we scored a touchdown off the onside kick that was, in all probability, called incorrectly on the field. If that happened to us and we lost, everyone knows how that would go.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

So, let me pose the question this way...

Do you think Tom Brady would ever want "credit" for "putting up a decent fight" after a loss?

I think we all know the answer to that question, so I'm going to assume that Luck is enough of a professional not to want credit for how he played in a loss.

 

[Kontradiction]

Eh... no. The next game is going to be a blowout again. This one was not as good as the score indicated and, further, Hightower and Lafell are out and should be back if we play them again in the playoffs. Combine that with Brady making some of the throws that he missed last night coupled with the fact that the game would more than likely be at home, and the next one will be a blowout.

@Bruins29 what are your thoughts on this thread?

 

[chasa]

they were a an unlucky pick six, and a garbage time TD away from this being a complete blowout.

 

[Rob0729]

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.

I don't hate Luck, but I think he is vastly overrated. He has been anointed as an elite QB before he has been anywhere close to it. I think he is good, but I don't know if he will ever be elite.

Brady has had teams as bad as the Colts' teams and done more. So has Manning and Brees.

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

I do think luck wasn't himself, and they did simplify the game a lot for him it seemed, which worked out for their benefit.

At the same time, they lost pretty convincingly, and I am not sure where they get better next game. All their receivers were involved and healthy. Frank gore played as well as he still can. Their offensively line held up for an entire half, and their d line flashed a few times as well.

Anything more would have to be a superstar showing by luck, but I don't really know if he can be that much better against a highly disciplined team.

Basically, they need him to take chances, which is what always gets him in to trouble against such a highly disciplined team.