Colts defensive breakdowns could end era
I'm still in shock after watching a playoff classic in Indianapolis, one of the best playoff games of the decade. I thought this Colts team had a great chance to defend their title, but now they are wondering if Tony Dungy and Marvin Harrison will return next season.
Peyton Manning can't take the blame for this one; the Colts offense was hardly stopped all day. A Kenton Keith drop led to an interception on the goal-line, and Marvin Harrison's fumbled killed another drive. That's two red zone trips for zero points. The Colts had another late in the game when they were stopped on downs inside the ten.
If I had to pick a goat for this game, it was the vaunted Indy pass defense. This was a different kind of Colts team all season because of the consistency of their defense. The Colts were the best scoring defense in the league and second overall in pass defense.
On Sunday, LaDainian Tomlinson was average for a half, then left the game. Antonio Gates was hobbling. This team had San Diego right where they wanted them, and they gave up 21 second half points to Philip Rivers and Billy Volek throwing all over Tony Dungy's Cover Two scheme.
Last year, a shaky Colts defense suddenly manned up in the playoffs and carried the team to a title. This time, a just-as-sudden defensive collapse could have ended an era.
Comments
Maybe you should give credit to the other team...
might be a start!
Posted by: jeff | January 13, 2008 07:45 PM
Nope. He is right. There is no way the Chargers should have been able to muster that much offense with no Phillip Rivers and -- way more importantly -- no LaDainian Tomlinson.
Posted by: Michael | January 13, 2008 08:18 PM
Nothing against the Chargers, but the Colts beat themselves. Of course the Chargers had to capitalize on the opportunity and they did.
This game reminded me a lot of the Colts-Steelers game in the 2005 season.
Posted by: Jacyln | January 13, 2008 11:39 PM
Wow. I'm not sure why this is such a big surprise upset. The Chargers have every bit as many stars and MORE on defense. They underacheived for a lot of the season but are on a roll with 7 consecutive wins coming into this game. I'm not really a fan of either team so maybe that's why it's not as much a surprise to me.
On another note, you can sure tell the NFL wanted a Pats/Colts matchup again. The refs threw soooo many pathetic calls their way it was embarrasing. It was like the WWE bought out the NFL.
Posted by: Mark | January 14, 2008 09:45 AM
Billy Volek! Say no more...
Posted by: Stefan | January 14, 2008 09:47 AM
Also, how is this the "end of an era?" That is just dumb. If the point is that the defense is back to being poor then they were only good for about one full season. How is that and "era?" Or, the other possibility, is that the Colts are not going to be good again. Why on earth not? The offense played without Harrison all year and were still great. Gonzalez is emerging Harrison should be back but has proven to be not essensital. Manning is a stud still. O-line came together pretty well this year and should be same again. And, with a couple exceptions, the defense was very good as noted. How on earth is one bad game they still almost wone, the end of an era?? That's just poor.
Posted by: Mark | January 14, 2008 09:54 AM
"Peyton Manning can't take the blame for this one"
Excuse me.
Maybe not for most of the day. But did anyone see his crappy, panicked play on the last possession?
Think Tom Brady does that?
Posted by: Sally | January 14, 2008 10:51 AM