2008 Woodie Awards
Despite loss, Colts have good chance of repeating a championship
Sean Windle
Issue date: 11/7/07 Section: Commentary
- Page 1 of 1
So, now that the Colts have lost to the Patriots, all the media commentators and sports analysts are going to jump even further onto the Patriots bandwagon. The Patriots just might go undefeated this season. Good for them.
Remember when we went 13-0, and talk of an undefeated season became unavoidable. It didn't help is very much, did it? The Patriots are a good football team, but so are the Colts.
Look at the bright side to this loss. Against a New England team that has averaged somewhere around 35 or so points a game, we held them to 10 in the first half, and only 24 total points. Against a team whose margin of victory was over 17 points a game this season, we controlled most of the game, and only lost by four. Against a team that has scored on every opening drive of every game this season, we forced sacked Brady and forced the Patriots to a three and out. Brady left Indianapolis with two sacks, as well as two or three interceptions.
Folks, this game was up for grabs. New England had to come back to beat us, not vice versa. In perhaps the AFC's toughest division, the Colts have won all their division games thus far. Keep in mind that, the Patriots are in the easiest division in the AFC, if not the league. It's so bad that they could lose the rest of their games this season and still win their division.
Let's look at the Patriots division: AFC east, Dolphins 0-8, Jets 1-8 and Bills 4-4. Now, compare that with the Colt's division, AFC south, Colts 7-1, Jacksonville 5-3, Tennessee 6-2 and Houston 4-5. Also, if you look at the games played so far and remaining schedule, the Colts have a MUCH tougher schedule.
The only two teams the Patriots have played that have winning records are the Colts and the Cowboys. We lost this game for ourselves by not holding onto our lead. Seriously, we had them beat, but we couldn't close it out. If that early field goal in the first half would have been a touchdown instead, Colts come out on top.
The Patriots didn't win this game, we lost it. Suddenly the god-like Patriots almost lose a game once they play a team that doesn't completely suck, like most of the teams they have played this year.
We will still win our division and be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs. We have a very good chance of repeating a championship. There is no reason to be upset. We're going to lose a game or two, or maybe more during the season; it happens. Trust me, the Patriots will lose eventually, whether it's during the season or the postseason.
Maybe Manning & Co. will get the privilege to knock the Patriots out of the playoffs again, maybe not. Be proud that the Colts accomplished something this season that no one else has been able to do; we brought the Patriots back down to earth. We showed the rest of the league that they can bleed just like everyone else.
They aren't superhuman!
All that matters is the playoffs. It's only week nine and I believe we lost four games last season. So what. It's what you do in the postseason that counts.
We've got a better defense than last year's team which is ranked third overall in the league, and first in pass coverage, and once Harrison and Ugoh get healthy our offense will be back to full strength. Joseph Addai, meanwhile, is shaping up to be one of the best running backs in the league.
Even without our number one receiver Marvin Harrison, we nearly dismantled New England, who, without Randy Moss wouldn't have had a chance.
Forget about New England, the Colts play best when they're off the radar. Now all the pressure is the Patriots to remain perfect.
Remember, until all is said and done with this season and postseason, we're still the champions!
On to San Diego!
Contact Sean Windle at sfwindle@iupui.edu.
Click here to go to forum
Remember when we went 13-0, and talk of an undefeated season became unavoidable. It didn't help is very much, did it? The Patriots are a good football team, but so are the Colts.
Look at the bright side to this loss. Against a New England team that has averaged somewhere around 35 or so points a game, we held them to 10 in the first half, and only 24 total points. Against a team whose margin of victory was over 17 points a game this season, we controlled most of the game, and only lost by four. Against a team that has scored on every opening drive of every game this season, we forced sacked Brady and forced the Patriots to a three and out. Brady left Indianapolis with two sacks, as well as two or three interceptions.
Folks, this game was up for grabs. New England had to come back to beat us, not vice versa. In perhaps the AFC's toughest division, the Colts have won all their division games thus far. Keep in mind that, the Patriots are in the easiest division in the AFC, if not the league. It's so bad that they could lose the rest of their games this season and still win their division.
Let's look at the Patriots division: AFC east, Dolphins 0-8, Jets 1-8 and Bills 4-4. Now, compare that with the Colt's division, AFC south, Colts 7-1, Jacksonville 5-3, Tennessee 6-2 and Houston 4-5. Also, if you look at the games played so far and remaining schedule, the Colts have a MUCH tougher schedule.
The only two teams the Patriots have played that have winning records are the Colts and the Cowboys. We lost this game for ourselves by not holding onto our lead. Seriously, we had them beat, but we couldn't close it out. If that early field goal in the first half would have been a touchdown instead, Colts come out on top.
The Patriots didn't win this game, we lost it. Suddenly the god-like Patriots almost lose a game once they play a team that doesn't completely suck, like most of the teams they have played this year.
We will still win our division and be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs. We have a very good chance of repeating a championship. There is no reason to be upset. We're going to lose a game or two, or maybe more during the season; it happens. Trust me, the Patriots will lose eventually, whether it's during the season or the postseason.
Maybe Manning & Co. will get the privilege to knock the Patriots out of the playoffs again, maybe not. Be proud that the Colts accomplished something this season that no one else has been able to do; we brought the Patriots back down to earth. We showed the rest of the league that they can bleed just like everyone else.
They aren't superhuman!
All that matters is the playoffs. It's only week nine and I believe we lost four games last season. So what. It's what you do in the postseason that counts.
We've got a better defense than last year's team which is ranked third overall in the league, and first in pass coverage, and once Harrison and Ugoh get healthy our offense will be back to full strength. Joseph Addai, meanwhile, is shaping up to be one of the best running backs in the league.
Even without our number one receiver Marvin Harrison, we nearly dismantled New England, who, without Randy Moss wouldn't have had a chance.
Forget about New England, the Colts play best when they're off the radar. Now all the pressure is the Patriots to remain perfect.
Remember, until all is said and done with this season and postseason, we're still the champions!
On to San Diego!
Contact Sean Windle at sfwindle@iupui.edu.
Click here to go to forum
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