Divisional Playoff Football

[TroyF]

Big sack to end the quarter. All in all, I think the Colts should be pleased. The offense isn't clicking yet, but the D has hung in tough. I don't believe you can shut down the Colts for an entire game, great D, weather or not. They are going to make some plays. They need to hang in the game long enough to make em. So far, so good in that regard. They have to cut out the silly mistakes though and Brady looks sharp.

NE has to be pleased about the defense and the running on this drive. Looking good for them. On the other hand, they have to be concerned about a few things. For one, the Colts appear to be able to put pressure on Brady with just the front four. They've did it a few times now. That has to concern NE a bit. Those plays will cause fumbles and INT's, something the Colts feast on.

[kingfc22]

Going to the no-huddle was an excellent choice. Very good play-calling

[Easy Mac]

On the pass to Bethel Johnson, did anyone else see one of the Colts blitzers get clotheslined by an o-lineman? A safety was blitzing, and the NE lineman just reached out and clotheslined the guy.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Going to the no-huddle was an excellent choice. Very good play-calling

Agreed, nice change of pace. They may turn it into a TD here.

[TLK]

big stop here?

[TroyF]

Gotta go for it here. A play action pass will lock them into a TD here.

[kingfc22]

False start.

[TroyF]

False start, huge mistake, huge, huge mistake.

[kingfc22]

dola, kick it now

[TroyF]

Who do they think they are, the Colts? Some uncharacteristic mistakes by the Pats. A great drive ruined by an incredibly stupid play.

I'll say the same thing about the Pats dinking and dunking as I did about McNabb today, but it goes double in these conditions: They keep dinking and dunking it, one of the balls is going to be tipped up. The Pats have had great fortune over the years, but one of those could easily get ran back a long, long way. (the type of pass I'm talking about is the Troy Brown 2 yard completion over the middle) I don't think you can live off of the dink and dunk all day.

[kingfc22]

Isn't it great how NE makes Manning look human.

[temley06]

Colts need a stop here.

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Isn't it great how NE makes Manning look human.

Or like he's playing the Jets.

[kingfc22]

Huge run by Dillon. And to think they didn't need him in their 2 Super Bowl wins.

[Joe]

that wasnt the stop they needed

[TLK]

Dillon is a beast. It's hard not to like the Pats.... so many good stories on their team...

[temley06]

Last year they held the Pats to field goals, instead of TDs. That is what they need to keep doing, until the offense gets it's head out of it's ass. Considering the way the offense has played, the Colts are fortunate to be down only by 6.

[Cringer]

Originally Posted by TheLionKing

Dillon is a beast. It's hard not to like the Pats.... so many good stories on their team...

Pretty easy for me not to like them actually.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Cringer

Pretty easy for me not to like them actually.

Ditto. I dislike Belichek greatly.

[mckerney]

In his 3 playoff wins Manning is 71 of 89 (79.7%) for 1138 yards with 12 TDs and 1 INT. Passer rating of 153.6, average score of 42.7 points.

4 playoff losses he's 73 of 153 (47.7%) for 795 with 2 TDs and 6 INTs. Passer rating of 36.8, average score of 11.8 points.

So far this is looking more like the 2nd group.

[kingfc22]

Man, what a play. More smashmouth football like last year.

[spleen1015]

This game looks like the last 3 games between these teams. The Patriots have the Colts' number.

[temley06]

That was a heck of a play by Bruschi

[Glengoyne]

I'm rooting for the Pats, but that "Fumble" call was just wrong.

[temley06]

The Colts defense is keeping them in this one so far.

[TroyF]

As badly as Manning has looked, he won't look this bad all game. I can't believe the Pats haven't taken advantage of it. 6 points? This is the opposite of the usual NE/Indy game. One team is dominating the game straight across the board, but is making enough key mistakes to keep the other one in the game.

The only question is how the Colts finish this. Do they take advantage of the Pats generous gifts? You can see the Colts are starting to get a read on the Pats defense the last couple of drives. A holding penalty and a wonderful play by Bruschi (a questionable call, but it was close enough I can't argue too much with it) killed the last drive. . . but the Colts are starting to find the open spots.

Pats are great at making adjustments. Incredible actually. But how much can they adjust without their CB's and Seymour? It'll be fun to watch what they try to do. Manning is getting into his groove right now.

[temley06]

Nice explanation by Simms

[TroyF]

Wow, what an incredible play call that went for naught. Gotta know the rules if you are going to try a trick play.

[TLK]

This is big-time football.... Stokley took a hell of a hit there...

[TroyF]

First down. Great catch. Colts have a couple of shots at the end zone now.

Samuel will get fined for that hit. It's legal in terms of game action, but it's not legal by the NFL home office. He can expect to get docked for that one.

[ISiddiqui]

Wow... that was almost a dumb play. Should have been intercepted.

[TroyF]

Wow, Manning looks at the top of the field, he has an easy TD. Instead they settle for the FG.

[kingfc22]

AFC football has been amazing this post-season. Should be a great 2nd half.

[temley06]

Manning had someone, Stokely I think wide open on the left side of the field and missed him. Damn

[TroyF]

Oh, and yes, the ball should have been picked. Again, it's amazing to me how much the Pats look like the Colts today and vice versa. Dropped INT's, false starts at the one, not putting a team away that you are dominating. That's all things the Colts do, not the Pats. The Pats usually take care of every other category.

This is one of those rare games that both teams have to like their chances right now. The Pats have to feel confident they can move the ball. They also have to feel the D is doing exactly what they want.

The Colts have to be thinking they have figured out the D and can move the ball. They also have to be ELATED that they can put pressure on Brady with just four guys. That opens up so much on defense. I'm sure they think that pressure will result in a turnover or two in the second half.

Who am I confident in? Can't tell, though I'd give a slight lean to the Colts. They are starting to move the football and they are getting heat on Brady without having to blitz. If they play the way they did the final 8 minutes of the second quarter, I like their chances.

[SirFozzie]

Pats need another long drive to start the 2nd half. That 9 minute drive really knocked the Colts for a loop, but they recovered nicely at the end of the half.

Interesting trick play there, Bellicheck is on the sidelines saying "Damn, I gotta steal that one"

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by mckerney

In his 3 playoff wins Manning is 71 of 89 (79.7%) for 1138 yards with 12 TDs and 1 INT. Passer rating of 153.6, average score of 42.7 points.

4 playoff losses he's 73 of 153 (47.7%) for 795 with 2 TDs and 6 INTs. Passer rating of 36.8, average score of 11.8 points.

So far this is looking more like the 2nd group.

Manning actually isn't doing that badly % wise. He's now 15-23 for 130. Of his 8 incompletions, there have been 3 drops. He finished those final two drives with a 12-14 stretch. (that did include the one near INT)

[Desnudo]

The Patriots should have put the Colts away last year too and didn't. The one major team flaw is that they often fail to capitalize on opportunities and end up in close games that shouldn't be close. It comes back to their willingness to abandon the run too easily. Dillon is destroying the Colts and what do we get? A bomb followed by short passes. Looks like it should be a good game in the second half.

[cody8200]

How about that helmet to helmet stokley took? Definite fine worthy and how about the uncalled personal foul-15 yards....not called of course

[SirFozzie]

Originally Posted by cody8200

How about that helmet to helmet stokley took? Definite fine worthy and how about the uncalled personal foul-15 yards....not called of course

Did you even listen to Simms explanation? Of course not.

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by cody8200

How about that helmet to helmet stokley took? Definite fine worthy and how about the uncalled personal foul-15 yards....not called of course

I've seen missed calls on both sides of the ball. That one was debatable, not a given. Let's not start the argument again.

[TroyF]

Colts continue to get major pressure on Brady without blitzing. Nearly had an INT off of it.

[JAG]

The Colts get some great blocking on those screens.

[TroyF]

Good lord, ANOTHER stupid play by NE. This is amazing to watch.

As for the helmut to helmut, Simms explanation was dead on. It's not a foul in the context of the game. He became a ball carrier when he caught the ball and made a football move. The NFL office gets to look at it differently though. That will draw a fine.

[temley06]

What a bush league play by Izzo. You're better than that.

[kingfc22]

So does anyone think that the snow piling up on the field will come into play later on in the game? Maybe on a key FG attempt.

[TroyF]

I'd go for this.

[TroyF]

I don't like this one at all. At the very least, put Manning under center and try to draw em off. Take the five and punt. You don't lose anything. Beli and Brady would have done it.

[JAG]

Originally Posted by TroyF

I don't like this one at all. At the very least, put Manning under center and try to draw em off. Take the five and punt. You don't lose anything. Beli and Brady would have done it.

I agree. Plus you get an idea of how they'll try and defend the play for potential later exploitation.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

So does anyone think that the snow piling up on the field will come into play later on in the game? Maybe on a key FG attempt.

It could. The Pats desperately need to snow to keep falling HARD. Not because of Manning, I think he's figured out the Pats defense and will have a much better second half. They need it so Brady has time to throw the ball. The Pats are living life dangerously right now. The more Brady gets hit, the more likely they are to turn the ball over. The Colts D-Line is controlling the game right now.