Official Colts vs Pats GameDay Thread (plus that other game)

[VPI97]

Anyone else think it would have been cool to see Peyton do Merriman's 'lights out' dance at midfield after the kneel down or was that just me?

[airulf]

Originally Posted by VPI97

Anyone else think it would have been cool to see Peyton do Merriman's 'lights out' dance at midfield after the kneel down or was that just me?

LOL I don't think we'll be seeing Manning on Dancing with the Stars or even dancing on the field.

[Noop]

Why get mad when someone else catches a break? Suck it up!

[ISiddiqui]

WOOOOOOOT!!!!

There goes the Manning is a choker tag! An absolutely brilliant drive with 2 mins left to win the game for the Colts, and BRADY of all people throwing a pick to ice the game. Biggest comeback in a conference championship game and that monkey is off his back.

[tucker rocky]

I'm shocked, no GW FG by Vinatieri.

Anyway, GL to the Colts, I'll be rooting for them to win in the SB.

Remember now, if the Colts win, the percentages go against them next year.
Look what happened to the Steelers this season after they won.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

Yet they got this far and were favored to win the SB before today's game. Seems like others teams whine about their receivers dropping balls, the Pats just went 13-5 with no decent receivers, alledgedly.

Buc,

Their WR core is horrible. It's really beyond horrible. Their two starters are lucky to be third WR for other teams. Gaffney couldn't hack it with the Texans. Caldwell couldn't with the Chargers. The only reason each caught more passes this year is because the Pats had no other options. The year the Pats had is nothing short of astonishing with that cast of WR.

[Daimyo]

Greatest game of my lifetime.

[TroyF]

Dola,

It's also a credit to how good Tom Brady is. I'm not sure any other QB in football would have had the year he had with that cast of washouts.

[st.cronin]

I think I'm allowed a little irrational bitterness, people. Now who wants to fight???

[jeff061]

To put it simply, I think the Pats played a great game. The Colts played a better one. Nice clean, nothing to dispute really.

[cartman]

Originally Posted by Daimyo

Greatest game of my lifetime.

For only being two weeks old, your mastery of Internet posting skills is impressive.

[vtbub]

Originally Posted by TroyF

Dola,

It's also a credit to how good Tom Brady is. I'm not sure any other QB in football would have had the year he had with that cast of washouts.

Word.

Easily the worst Pats team in this run. Brady is nearly unflappable.

Manning stepped it up.

[Huckleberry]

I'm wondering what the Patriots' OL did to deserve all of this. They've consistently been one of the best units in the league for the entire New England run but all anybody wants to talk about is Brady and the defense.

The Patriots' OL is a joy to watch. They're also one of the most underappreciated groups I've ever seen. I remember the Cowboys run in the '90s and nobody every forgot to mention the dominance of that line. The Patriots are just as impressive.

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by TroyF

Buc,

Their WR core is horrible. It's really beyond horrible. Their two starters are lucky to be third WR for other teams. Gaffney couldn't hack it with the Texans. Caldwell couldn't with the Chargers. The only reason each caught more passes this year is because the Pats had no other options. The year the Pats had is nothing short of astonishing with that cast of WR.

I know, it was a testament to a great QB and probably more importantly, a great coach or coaching staff. All season long, up until the last quarter today, they seem to go out and just do it.

[st.cronin]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry

I'm wondering what the Patriots' OL did to deserve all of this. They've consistently been one of the best units in the league for the entire New England run but all anybody wants to talk about is Brady and the defense.

The Patriots' OL is a joy to watch. They're also one of the most underappreciated groups I've ever seen. I remember the Cowboys run in the '90s and nobody every forgot to mention the dominance of that line. The Patriots are just as impressive.

Definitely. They were the real reason we beat San Diego, and they played great again today.

[airulf]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

I think I'm allowed a little irrational bitterness, people. Now who wants to fight???

I am a little pissed too. I'll fight you, just for the fun of it. I prefer my place, or maybe the airport in Atlanta, I have a couple of hours to kill there on Feb 2.

[kingfc22]

From ESPN.com:

Peyton Manning's Colts have never been. The Bears haven't been since that storied 1985 season. On Feb. 4 in Miami, all that changes. Colts O ... meet Bears D. Super Bowl XLI is set.

Guess they never heard of Super Bowl III

[tucker rocky]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OJ1ryCgzDn8

[Buccaneer]

Peyton Manning's Colts have never been

I guess you missed the first two words.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

From ESPN.com:

Guess they never heard of Super Bowl III

Well, they were the Baltimore Colts then. Perhaps they are making that distinction.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

From ESPN.com:


Guess they never heard of Super Bowl III

Peyton Manning played in Super Bowl III?

[Antmeister]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

Peyton Manning played in Super Bowl III?

I think there is a new commercial by Peyton Manning promoting time travel devices, so it is very possible he tried them out.

[Galaril]

Hey, great game. BTW. Nice reaction by Belichick after the game...very classless once again. Manning went over to shake his hand, and Belichick ignored him and walked by. Matbe LT was right about the coach.
Where is Synovia now

I know it was after a tough loss, but thats no reason to be a sore loser...theyve had their moment, let someone else have theirs.

Congrats to the Colts.

[Buccaneer]

In my lifetime, there were no better teams than the 85 Bears. I don't think I had ever been so mesmerized by a team, esp. the defense as I had been with them. There is not much comparison to the 06 Bears, esp. with a QB that had played so horrendously in a few games as Grossman did.

[Marathoner]

Originally Posted by Dodgerchick

What the hell kind of interview was that by Belichick? Jeez, talk about being sore.

Seriously, I mean he just won a free trip to Hawaii.

[Antmeister]

Originally Posted by Galaril

Hey, great game. BTW. Nice reaction by Belichick after the game...very classless once again. Manning went over to shake his hand, and Belichick ignored him and walked by. Matbe LT was right about the coach.
Where is Synovia now

I know it was after a tough loss, but thats no reason to be a sore loser...theyve had their moment, let someone else have theirs.

Congrats to the Colts.

Definitely agree. That was bunk. Not a great example of sportsmanship at all.

[Wolfpack]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

From ESPN.com:


Guess they never heard of Super Bowl III

Or V...the one the Colts actually won....

[VPI97]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

In my lifetime, there were no better teams than the 85 Bears. I don't think I had ever been so mesmerized by a team, esp. the defense as I had been with them.

Agree 100%

[TroyF]

Did Brady walk off before anyone could shake his hand? I'm not trying to start something here, but they didn't show a single shot of him shaking someone elses hand after the game. I found that very, very odd. I did see the Beli move. I thought it was bunk as was the press conference.

Oh well. No need to focus this on NE. This is the Colts day.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

In my lifetime, there were no better teams than the 85 Bears. I don't think I had ever been so mesmerized by a team, esp. the defense as I had been with them. There is not much comparison to the 06 Bears, esp. with a QB that had played so horrendously in a few games as Grossman did.

plus they had the superbowl shuffle

[Huckleberry]

Brady made a beeline for Manning. The next time they showed him he was heading off but I'm sure he congratulated Peyton. I prefer it when the lose, especially a celebrated one, gets off the field quickly. Leave the spotlight to the Colts.

[Lathum]

Classy of MAnning to say what a great organization the Pats are in his press conference

[bhlloy]

No class by Belicheck.. guess LT wasn't so far off at all.

On the final Pats drive, that was a very obvious PI call that the refs missed in the end zone on Caldwell. Or the ref didn't have the balls to call it given the close calls that went against the Colts in the first half. I also hate the personal foul on Banta-Cain at such a crucial point in the game, but I guess those are the rules these days. Apart from those two I thought the referees were pretty much spot on.

Anyway, congrats to the Colts and Manning for getting the monkey off his back. Should be a very interesting Super Bowl matchup.

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by VPI97

Agree 100%

I'm glad you understood since that wasn't too grammatically correct. I don't exaggerate when I say that despite seeing many great teams since 1970. I was not a Bears fan before then and remembered them as bit of a joke in the 70s, esp. with that girly QB that ran all over the place. Seriously, when the 85 Bears phenomenon hit, esp. when McMahon came in off the bench to beat the Vikes, I was hooked. It was the only team in my lifetime where they lined up on the line of scrimmage, my eyes were focused on the defensive front 7 as oppose to the QB. It was like the defense was the offense, if that makes any sense. The only other team that came close to capturing that was the 99 Rams but for a very different reason.

[Galaril]

Originally Posted by Antmeister

Definitely agree. That was bunk. Not a great example of sportsmanship at all.

Originally Posted by TroyF

Did Brady walk off before anyone could shake his hand? I'm not trying to start something here, but they didn't show a single shot of him shaking someone elses hand after the game. I found that very, very odd. I did see the Beli move. I thought it was bunk as was the press conference.

Oh well. No need to focus this on NE. This is the Colts day.

Originally Posted by bhlloy

No class by Belicheck.. guess LT wasn't so far off at all.

On the final Pats drive, that was a very obvious PI call that the refs missed in the end zone on Caldwell. Or the ref didn't have the balls to call it given the close calls that went against the Colts in the first half. I also hate the personal foul on Banta-Cain at such a crucial point in the game, but I guess those are the rules these days. Apart from those two I thought the referees were pretty much spot on.

Anyway, congrats to the Colts and Manning for getting the monkey off his back. Should be a very interesting Super Bowl matchup.

Yeah it is easy to be gracious in victory, but only in defeat do we really no a man's (or woman's) real merit. I saw Bruschi find manning and spend a minute with him

[Rizon]

Originally Posted by Galaril

Hey, great game. BTW. Nice reaction by Belichick after the game...very classless once again

Classic classlessness by Belicock.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

In my lifetime, there were no better teams than the 85 Bears. I don't think I had ever been so mesmerized by a team, esp. the defense as I had been with them. There is not much comparison to the 06 Bears, esp. with a QB that had played so horrendously in a few games as Grossman did.

Watching the Dolphins take them apart on Monday night was my favorite game of all time. Tonight's is probably my second favorite.


Congratulations to the Patriots. They went farther than I thought they could with crap WRs. And congratulations to Manning. You won a big, big game. Now go beat those Bears and silence your detractors forever.

[molson]

I love how the Colts pull off a huge win and a clear majority of the posts made since are still just anti-Patriot rather than pro-Colt. People are just obsessed.

[st.cronin]

I'm slightly more rational now and I just want to say I'm happy for the Indy fans. I guess rooting for Jeff George was worth it, after all.

[Kodos]

The Patriots fans have made a lot of Patriot-haters on this board. I had to watch the game with three Pats fans. The first half was hell, the second half a gift from heaven.

[Brillig]

I think this was a great win for Peyton - but that said, you may want to keep the annointing oil on the shelf for a few more weeks. If (and it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility) the Colts get pounded by the Bears in the Super Bowl, it'll be back to Manning-the-choker-who-can't-win-the-big-one. Just ask Steve Young.

[Marathoner]

Originally Posted by Brillig

I think this was a great win for Peyton - but that said, you may want to keep the annointing oil on the shelf for a few more weeks. If (and it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility) the Colts get pounded by the Bears in the Super Bowl, it'll be back to Manning-the-choker-who-can't-win-the-big-one. Just ask Steve Young.

see SB XXIX

[Glengoyne]

I am seriously bummed.

I came home from a Church event, that I complained bitterly about the scheduling of.

In any case.

I Tivo'd the game, only to have my receiver mysteriously reset right after the Colts tied the game at 31.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by TroyF

Did Brady walk off before anyone could shake his hand? I'm not trying to start something here, but they didn't show a single shot of him shaking someone elses hand after the game. I found that very, very odd. I did see the Beli move. I thought it was bunk as was the press conference.

Oh well. No need to focus this on NE. This is the Colts day.

I saw Brady talk to a few of the guys, if I recall. I know he shook a hand or two, before he got whisked away by security and the celebration that was taking place.

[Easy Mac]

Originally Posted by Glengoyne

I am seriously bummed.

I came home from a Church event, that I complained bitterly about the scheduling of.

In any case.

I Tivo'd the game, only to have my receiver mysteriously reset right after the Colts tied the game at 31.

you were watching Reche Caldwell

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Well that sucked.

Good and GUTSY win by the Colts. I congratulate them on what was really a huge victory. I mean 32 points in the second half -- incredible. Say what you want about other playoffs, but it was the Pats defense that let them down in this one. The offense put up 27 points (plus 7 from Samuel) that should have been enough after the other team only has 6 points at half time.

Some key thoughts:

The Indy drive at the end of the 1st half was big even if it was just to give them confidence. And the Pats failed to step on the throat on the series before that --which by the way involved two bad penalties by the Pats. Very uncharacteristic.

Settling for the FG and then not converting 3rd and 4 was obviously critical. But do you know that was set up with Heath Evans taking a too many men in the huddle penalty. Did the Pats really do that with 3 minutes go in the game, needing only one first down? Very uncharacteristic.

I could Belichick's thinking, but . . . not using one of the TOs to save 40 seconds just prior to the Colts final score was a bad decision.

Anyways, I though the officiating was fine (about as good as you could hope for as far as the Pats were concerned based on past history)

And yes Manning came up big. Made the big throws in the seam and got the TD rather than the FG at the end. Just a great second half from him. I thought Brady played well -- not great, but he was making some good throws.

I take it all back from what I said last week in the Deon Branch thread. It's not guaranteed, but I can't help thinking maybe Branch makes the difference in this one . .. . but I still get back to the defense giving up 32 points in the second half. [I don't know exactly but there is an interesting stat out there about the Pats being something like 60-1 in the last 5years when leading at halftime]

On the bright side, our draft position improved by about 6-7 spots. . . . 0h, and I will be able to keep the vinatieri4prez handle.

[molson]

Fun stats from Elias at ESPN.com

-Before this game, Belichick was 49-1 after getting an 18-point lead or more
-In the entire history of the NFL playoffs, there had been only 4 total fumbles recovered by the fumbling teams in the end zone. Of course, there were 2 in this game.
-Reche Caldwell had only dropped 3 passes all season.

[Crapshoot]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry

I'm wondering what the Patriots' OL did to deserve all of this. They've consistently been one of the best units in the league for the entire New England run but all anybody wants to talk about is Brady and the defense.

The Patriots' OL is a joy to watch. They're also one of the most underappreciated groups I've ever seen. I remember the Cowboys run in the '90s and nobody every forgot to mention the dominance of that line. The Patriots are just as impressive.

"". Maybe its just me, but every time I watch Matt Light I'm impressed - he comes across as one of the best tackles in football. Dwight Freeney makes mincemeat out of most people, but he seemed to be contained (For the most part) today.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Originally Posted by Vinatieri for Prez

[I don't know exactly but there is an interesting stat out there about the Pats being something like 60-1 in the last 5years when leading at halftime]

Yeah, here's the stat: "The Patriots entered today’s action with an all-time record of 15-0 when leading at halftime in the playoffs. Tom Brady entered today’s game with a 62-2 career record when leading at halftime, including a 9-0 mark in playoff games."

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Originally Posted by Rizon

Classic classlessness by Belicock.

You mean like when he said: "It was a very tough football game against a good team. You've got to give the Colts credit. They made more plays than we did and they deserved to win. It was about as competitive a game as you can get. They just made a couple more plays than we did."

Yeah, real classless.