Your dynasty is dead.
Dr. Jamez
To get in to the legitimacy of the Patriots three Superbowl victories at this point would be moot, the facts are out there make you own opinions. Ultimately the wins aren’t going away or getting an asterisk added to them so it’s not worth discussing anymore. I want to focus on the perennial superpower that is the New England Patriots and the perceived best coach active in football and maybe the best ever, Bill Belichick.
It has been ten years since the Patriots won Superbowl XXXVI, the Superbowl that ushered in the Brady era and birthed a dynasty that would win three of the next four Superbowls. Expert game plans crafted by the most revered coach of the time period executed to perfection and derailing the seemingly unbeatable regular season teams of Peyton Manning and his high powered Colts and Kurt Warner and the Greatest show on turf to name a few. Sparking the debate that would become synonymous with both Brady and Manning, who is better? The modest ring winner who is clutch in the playoffs or the statistic baffling regular season great who can’t win the big one, an argument that would plague Manning’s legacy for years. By everyone’s standards an amazing era that will always be revered by all football fans and mentioned with the great teams like the Cowboys, Steelers, and 49ers
That era started ten years ago, since then the Patriots have only been to the Superbowl once and if you think that’s still pretty good, they also missed the playoffs as many times. The team has transitioned to what all the New England supporters criticized the Colts for being over that time, a big time regular season team that is totally out-classed in the playoffs. Since 2006 the Brady and the Patriots and choked when it mattered most. In 2006 the Patriots squandered a seventeen point lead and allowed the Colts to come back to win the AFC championship game that lead Peyton Manning to his First Superbowl victory. In 2007 The Patriots went undefeated in the regular season only to allow Eli Manning for forge his legacy as a New York sports legend by beating them in the Superbowl leaving the Patriots with an 18-1 record that year, what a legacy. In 2009 the Patriots allowed the Ravens to come to Foxborough and blow them out and be one and done by way of three forced Brady turnovers. Most recently in 2010 the Patriots saw the hated rival Jets come to town where they had beaten them 45-3 weeks earlier in a season where Brady broke records for most home wins and most attempts without a turnover in the playoff game the Jets came to Gillette stadium, forced a pivotal interception, and beat the Patriots in a brash, arrogant, and humiliating way.
If you’re keeping track, the Patriots have turned in to the opposite of what “made them great” a well coached, great defense, championship winning team. Over the these passed six years the defense cant stop anyone, the offense chokes when they’re needed most and in the last five seasons most important games Bill Belichick has been completely out-coached by people that were new to coaching or had been on the hot seat them self. Take your most fresh example, the Jets game. Belichick had a bye to get his team rested, had the benefit of seeing the Jets play the Colts who’s offense through an odd happenstance of injury had become strikingly similar the Jets implemented the same game plan versus the Pats something every casual football watcher knew they would and yet still came out flat and borderline listless. What was more shocking is in the second half in no way changing the game plan and trying to spark the team back in to contention. But that wasn’t where the gross miss-management stopped, no. There was the inexplicable lack of urgency in the forth quarter which didn’t make sense around the seven minute mark of that drive but that wasn’t as bad as the fake punt call. Seems like once a season Belichick does something ridiculous like this and no one calls him a bad coach like we do with Jack Del Rio usually because it’s something like going for it on 4th and 29 when they are up by 31 points on the Bills and no one argues that the Pats are classless. But every now and again it’s something like 4th and 2 versus Indianapolis that loses crucial games for the team like this time. One of two things happened on this fake punt either Belichick made a terrible call that ruined the game like I suspect, or you believe what Patrick Cheung (the player who fumbled the snap and was tackled for a loss) said and the choice was completely his. Which in a way might be worst, to think that a second year guy has that much control over the game in crucial situations, but I don’t buy that a control freak like Belichick who needs to have such a strangle hold on the team he benched Wes Welker in a playoff game which most argue caused the interception earlier in the game would let that happen. These are the possible reasons your season ended, Patriots.
So here is your dynasty Patriots, no defense, outdated coaching at best, and cant win a home playoff game to save your season. It’s been ten years since your first title and soon enough it will have been at least a decade since all of them. I think it’s fair to say ……
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Division Weekend Recap
Division Weekend Recap
Dr. Jamez
Now that is playoff football, a weekend so good it inspired a recap. You could argue we had three major upsets this weekend. One thing I found interesting with all these games being rematches three of the four teams that won the most recent match up lost the one with the exception being the Steelers*.
The Baltimore Ravens at the Pittsburgh Steelers*
I really think that the Ravens lost this game more then the Steelers* won it. I don’t think many people would say otherwise. The teams were pretty evenly matched but it is still hard to swallow that the Ravens took a fourteen point lead and let it slip away. This does fit the trend of the Steelers* winning a Superbowl and then missing the playoffs on alternating years. Hopefully that was just a coincidental trend, at this point I’d really like the Jets to go to the Superbowl only to lose it to the Packers so I can see Rex Ryan crying on T.V. again because that just never gets old.
The Green Bay Packers at the Atlanta Falcons
I love being right, Aaron Rodgers is really just unstoppable. This years playoffs to me reaffirmed that the NFC south is a bit of a joke and got the playoffs spots they did as a product of their cupcake schedule. There is no shame in losing to the Packers at this point but both teams the NFC south sent were one and done and both got dominated. I don’t think that’s a coincidence. I wonder if next year they will be the second division to ever send a team with a losing record to the playoffs with having to play the AFC south and the NFC north.
The Seattle Seahawks at the Chicago Bears
And that’s what a team with a losing record playing a legitimate playoff team game looks like…..
The New York Dirty Cheating Jets at the New England Dirty Cheating Patriots
Via My blog, Blue vs. Red
“Week 7 Power Rankings #6 Patriots- Pretenders – Dr. Jamez
Week 8 Power Rankings 9. Patriots- pretenders – Dr. Jamez
Week 9 Power Rankings 2. Patriots- Pretenders ( I’ll have you all know I put the Pats over the Colts to be unbiased because they have a better record but they are in no way better then the colts) –Dr. Jamez
Week 11 Power Rankings 8. Patriots- Pretenders. –Dr. Jamez….. “
Now, don’t get me wrong here, I hate the New York Dirty Cheating Jets as much as anyone (except you Pats fans right now) but it makes me happy that all the people from Boston got their stupid accents shut up and I don’t have to hear about how “wicked awesome” Brady is playing anymore or that Belichick is the best coach ever even though things like 4 and 2 versus the Colts, that fake punt , the total lack of adjustment in the second half along with the clock mismanagement in the fourth quarter in this game were all choices he made or wasn’t good enough to correct. However, to all you Pats fans let me make you feel better, it could be worst you could be 18-1 right now. :)
*denotes team with one or more rapist on the roster.
Dr. Jamez
Now that is playoff football, a weekend so good it inspired a recap. You could argue we had three major upsets this weekend. One thing I found interesting with all these games being rematches three of the four teams that won the most recent match up lost the one with the exception being the Steelers*.
The Baltimore Ravens at the Pittsburgh Steelers*
I really think that the Ravens lost this game more then the Steelers* won it. I don’t think many people would say otherwise. The teams were pretty evenly matched but it is still hard to swallow that the Ravens took a fourteen point lead and let it slip away. This does fit the trend of the Steelers* winning a Superbowl and then missing the playoffs on alternating years. Hopefully that was just a coincidental trend, at this point I’d really like the Jets to go to the Superbowl only to lose it to the Packers so I can see Rex Ryan crying on T.V. again because that just never gets old.
The Green Bay Packers at the Atlanta Falcons
I love being right, Aaron Rodgers is really just unstoppable. This years playoffs to me reaffirmed that the NFC south is a bit of a joke and got the playoffs spots they did as a product of their cupcake schedule. There is no shame in losing to the Packers at this point but both teams the NFC south sent were one and done and both got dominated. I don’t think that’s a coincidence. I wonder if next year they will be the second division to ever send a team with a losing record to the playoffs with having to play the AFC south and the NFC north.
The Seattle Seahawks at the Chicago Bears
And that’s what a team with a losing record playing a legitimate playoff team game looks like…..
The New York Dirty Cheating Jets at the New England Dirty Cheating Patriots
Via My blog, Blue vs. Red
“Week 7 Power Rankings #6 Patriots- Pretenders – Dr. Jamez
Week 8 Power Rankings 9. Patriots- pretenders – Dr. Jamez
Week 9 Power Rankings 2. Patriots- Pretenders ( I’ll have you all know I put the Pats over the Colts to be unbiased because they have a better record but they are in no way better then the colts) –Dr. Jamez
Week 11 Power Rankings 8. Patriots- Pretenders. –Dr. Jamez….. “
Now, don’t get me wrong here, I hate the New York Dirty Cheating Jets as much as anyone (except you Pats fans right now) but it makes me happy that all the people from Boston got their stupid accents shut up and I don’t have to hear about how “wicked awesome” Brady is playing anymore or that Belichick is the best coach ever even though things like 4 and 2 versus the Colts, that fake punt , the total lack of adjustment in the second half along with the clock mismanagement in the fourth quarter in this game were all choices he made or wasn’t good enough to correct. However, to all you Pats fans let me make you feel better, it could be worst you could be 18-1 right now. :)
*denotes team with one or more rapist on the roster.
Friday, January 14, 2011
PLAYOFFS, PLAYOFFS, PLAYOFFS
Divisional Weekend
Dr. Jamez
What an exciting weekend of games we had in wild card weekend; let’s start where we started last week. Let me first thank that the Seahawks for beating the Saints and clearly collecting on the Satan Voodoo pact they used to win the Superbowl last year. I am certainly not the first, but let us all take a moment to say “WHO DAT, WHO DAT, WHO DAT, WHO DAT,” and I would like to give a special shout out to my friend and current hero Marshawn Lynch for completely clowning Tracey Porter. That was the highlight of that Saturday for obvious reasons. I’ve already covered the Colts game so I don’t really feel the need to address it again, mostly because I don’t like openly weeping. The Ravens game was about what I thought it would be. It did end up being a blow out, but it was a hard fought and well contested game. I don’t blame it all on Charlie Weiss, but when has a team ever had a lame duck coach or coordinator and been successful in the playoffs? Then there was that awesome Packers at Eagles where everyone got what they deserved. My biggest impressions from that game being: Aaron Rodgers is a sick nasty monster and Desean Jackson exposes himself as the worst person in pro-sports on a weekly basis. Let’s get to the good stuff though.
The Baltimore Ravens at the Pittsburgh Steelers
There’s nothing here to be said that hasn’t already been said. The two teams play each other twice a year, they don’t like one and other, they split the series this year both teams winning on the road, and the average point differential has been three. Most everyone is going to say it’s going to be a hard nosed, low scoring defensive game. That may be true, but I’m going the other way. I’m going to say first one to fifty points sans Packers- Cardinals last year. That’s right, point explosion, defense optional. But I do expect the Ravens to get it done whether it’s 4-2 or 52-45.
The Green Bay Packers at the Atlanta Falcons
Just think, every game this weekend is a rematch of a game played in the regular season. In the first match up the Packers fell just short of Matt Ryan’s Falcons, but this is the playoffs and I’ll take Aaron Rodgers’ eight touchdowns and one interception (which was a deflection off a foot) in two games over anyone. I know the Falcons are at home, coming off a bye week where they’ve been close to unstoppable, but the fact that they were stopped week sixteen by a Saints team who just got bounced from the playoffs by a 7-9 team with a red hot Packers team clicking on all cylinders doesn’t inspire much faith that the Falcons make it out alive this time. That being said, The Falcons are a very good team so it’s tough to make a case the Packers will win decisively. It’s the playoffs, anything can happen but I think when the dust settles the Packers are too good to be denied this year.
The Seattle Seahawks at the Chicago Bears
In this rematch everyone seems to forget that the ‘hawks won the first go around, certainly Vegas has, they have the Bears favored by ten points. I don’t know what to say about this game. Hasslebeck played out of his mind last weekend, the Seahawks have nothing to lose and the Bears have had some head scratchers. Like the first time the Seahawks beat them. I’m going to go safe and say with the bye week the Bears figured out a way to win but I’m not confident about that at all. When in doubt I’m sticking with “JULIUS PEPPERS!!!!!!”
The New York Dirty Cheating Jets at the New England Dirty Cheating Patriots
It might be good, I don’t know, and if it’s not, I don’t care. The Patriots have to be the favorite here, not because they blew the Jets out week thirteen. That doesn’t mean any more to me then the Jets blowing the Pats out week two. I’m favoring the Pats because Mark Sanchez is one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL, bar none. Tom Brady is the second best active in the playoffs, but that didn’t help the Colts. The Patriots will most likely see a very similar defensive game plan as the one the Jets used on the Colts. The Colts and the Pats turned in to very similar offenses this season, New England by choice, Indianapolis by injury. There certainly is a difference as far as the talent level at tight end which could cause match up problems for the Jets. In any case, again I say, it might be good, I don’t know, and if it’s not, I don’t care.
Dr. Jamez
What an exciting weekend of games we had in wild card weekend; let’s start where we started last week. Let me first thank that the Seahawks for beating the Saints and clearly collecting on the Satan Voodoo pact they used to win the Superbowl last year. I am certainly not the first, but let us all take a moment to say “WHO DAT, WHO DAT, WHO DAT, WHO DAT,” and I would like to give a special shout out to my friend and current hero Marshawn Lynch for completely clowning Tracey Porter. That was the highlight of that Saturday for obvious reasons. I’ve already covered the Colts game so I don’t really feel the need to address it again, mostly because I don’t like openly weeping. The Ravens game was about what I thought it would be. It did end up being a blow out, but it was a hard fought and well contested game. I don’t blame it all on Charlie Weiss, but when has a team ever had a lame duck coach or coordinator and been successful in the playoffs? Then there was that awesome Packers at Eagles where everyone got what they deserved. My biggest impressions from that game being: Aaron Rodgers is a sick nasty monster and Desean Jackson exposes himself as the worst person in pro-sports on a weekly basis. Let’s get to the good stuff though.
The Baltimore Ravens at the Pittsburgh Steelers
There’s nothing here to be said that hasn’t already been said. The two teams play each other twice a year, they don’t like one and other, they split the series this year both teams winning on the road, and the average point differential has been three. Most everyone is going to say it’s going to be a hard nosed, low scoring defensive game. That may be true, but I’m going the other way. I’m going to say first one to fifty points sans Packers- Cardinals last year. That’s right, point explosion, defense optional. But I do expect the Ravens to get it done whether it’s 4-2 or 52-45.
The Green Bay Packers at the Atlanta Falcons
Just think, every game this weekend is a rematch of a game played in the regular season. In the first match up the Packers fell just short of Matt Ryan’s Falcons, but this is the playoffs and I’ll take Aaron Rodgers’ eight touchdowns and one interception (which was a deflection off a foot) in two games over anyone. I know the Falcons are at home, coming off a bye week where they’ve been close to unstoppable, but the fact that they were stopped week sixteen by a Saints team who just got bounced from the playoffs by a 7-9 team with a red hot Packers team clicking on all cylinders doesn’t inspire much faith that the Falcons make it out alive this time. That being said, The Falcons are a very good team so it’s tough to make a case the Packers will win decisively. It’s the playoffs, anything can happen but I think when the dust settles the Packers are too good to be denied this year.
The Seattle Seahawks at the Chicago Bears
In this rematch everyone seems to forget that the ‘hawks won the first go around, certainly Vegas has, they have the Bears favored by ten points. I don’t know what to say about this game. Hasslebeck played out of his mind last weekend, the Seahawks have nothing to lose and the Bears have had some head scratchers. Like the first time the Seahawks beat them. I’m going to go safe and say with the bye week the Bears figured out a way to win but I’m not confident about that at all. When in doubt I’m sticking with “JULIUS PEPPERS!!!!!!”
The New York Dirty Cheating Jets at the New England Dirty Cheating Patriots
It might be good, I don’t know, and if it’s not, I don’t care. The Patriots have to be the favorite here, not because they blew the Jets out week thirteen. That doesn’t mean any more to me then the Jets blowing the Pats out week two. I’m favoring the Pats because Mark Sanchez is one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL, bar none. Tom Brady is the second best active in the playoffs, but that didn’t help the Colts. The Patriots will most likely see a very similar defensive game plan as the one the Jets used on the Colts. The Colts and the Pats turned in to very similar offenses this season, New England by choice, Indianapolis by injury. There certainly is a difference as far as the talent level at tight end which could cause match up problems for the Jets. In any case, again I say, it might be good, I don’t know, and if it’s not, I don’t care.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
New York Jets at the Indianapolis Colts Recap
Let me start by saying man, losing to the Jets sucked big time, like big time. That being said although I wouldn't have admitted it during the Playoffs but this years Colts team was far too injured to really make a playoff push. I did think we'd beat the Jets and Thought we could give the Steelers a go of it but the idea of winning two more games after that seemed rather unlikely.
The Colts had a Good game plan offensively and defensively against a team that has been building to beat the Colts as if they were in their division and Manning had a good night on top of that. Offensively it's clear there just weren't enough play makers to create match up problems to create any long drives which could put more points on the board but also wear down the defense and facilitate those late game heroics fact of the matter is you cant win games kicking threes, I've always said it the Colts kicked threes and they lost. Defense was a whole different thing, I felt good about the team defensively they were coming in hot and Mark Sanchez really, really sucks. The first half They looked great, stuffing the run, didn't let and long sustained drives happen to wear down the defensive line but the second half the wheels came off and the Colts let the Jets hang seventeen on them. If you're asking what happened in the second half, the Colts starting free safety Aaron Fransico left the game with a quad injury and was replaced with Ken Hamlin and that was all the Jets running game needed to get going. all in all I'm not really trying to make any excuses, injury is part of football but on this wide a scale it was tough to not wonder what would have been and it does make me feel great going in to next year. the last thing I want to impart is just how injured we truly were. below this I'm going to attach a chart stacking our offense vs our defense but I'm going to use the number the play is on the depth chart (meaning whether they are first , second string ect.) I'm going to use a "X" if the player was signed during the season to fill a spot due to injury if you see a "x" with a number after it means they were brought in to replace someone who was brought in to replace someone the number will denote how many time it happened. If there's a number before that's how many players were injured on the roster before the Colts had to bring in the new player. keep in mind Dallas Clark and Austin Collie are among those missing
The Colts had a Good game plan offensively and defensively against a team that has been building to beat the Colts as if they were in their division and Manning had a good night on top of that. Offensively it's clear there just weren't enough play makers to create match up problems to create any long drives which could put more points on the board but also wear down the defense and facilitate those late game heroics fact of the matter is you cant win games kicking threes, I've always said it the Colts kicked threes and they lost. Defense was a whole different thing, I felt good about the team defensively they were coming in hot and Mark Sanchez really, really sucks. The first half They looked great, stuffing the run, didn't let and long sustained drives happen to wear down the defensive line but the second half the wheels came off and the Colts let the Jets hang seventeen on them. If you're asking what happened in the second half, the Colts starting free safety Aaron Fransico left the game with a quad injury and was replaced with Ken Hamlin and that was all the Jets running game needed to get going. all in all I'm not really trying to make any excuses, injury is part of football but on this wide a scale it was tough to not wonder what would have been and it does make me feel great going in to next year. the last thing I want to impart is just how injured we truly were. below this I'm going to attach a chart stacking our offense vs our defense but I'm going to use the number the play is on the depth chart (meaning whether they are first , second string ect.) I'm going to use a "X" if the player was signed during the season to fill a spot due to injury if you see a "x" with a number after it means they were brought in to replace someone who was brought in to replace someone the number will denote how many time it happened. If there's a number before that's how many players were injured on the roster before the Colts had to bring in the new player. keep in mind Dallas Clark and Austin Collie are among those missing
Friday, January 7, 2011
Wildcard Weekend!
Playoffs, Playoffs, Playoffs!
Dr Jamez
I once read that good writers don’t use exclamation marks because they are truly only supposed to be used in quoting someone or dialog however if you know me and how much I love football, even more the playoffs, even more the Colts in the playoffs you know for me that’s as subtle as I can be. This year’s playoff games are almost over whelming how good the games should be and the storylines you can make if you were properly motivated to do so. I’m going to spend some time on each game and what I think is coming* I’ll try not to over do the Colts portion but no promises.
(What I think is coming may be presented as 40% logic 60% fan analysis)
New Orleans Saints at the Seattle Seahawks
We’re going to get the easy ugly game out of the way first. Obviously, unless the Madden curse catches up with Brees in the first quarter it’s a close to a lock as you could ever get, even if he did go down the Saints would probably still win. I’ll the best bit of analysis I’ve heard on this game came I’ve heard is “Sean Payton will be spending most the week trying to decide if he should rest his starters vs. the Seahawks.”
Baltimore Ravens at the Kansas City Chiefs
The general consensus is that this game is as close as any this weekend. Even though he didn’t get the consideration Matt Cassle put up M.V.P. numbers this season. Jamal Charles was a top five rusher and nearly broke a Rookie record set by the Great Jim Brown. Dwayne Bowe was Probowl Wide Receiver and the defense was also tops in the league all this and I still think the Ravens will easily win. Don’t mistake what I’m saying, I don’t think it will be a blow out. That is, unless the Ravens get some defensive scores which is always a huge concern playing great Ed Reed. The Ravens offense as I said can be efficient and has loads of talent but isn’t going to blow anyone out. I think the biggest problem there is play calling but when comparing the two teams, in the playoffs, I find in every possible area the Ravens are as good in a few but better in most. I don’t see any advantage the Chiefs have other then home field.
Green Bay Packers at the Philadelphia Eagles
Ahem…… WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…. Yes, I know I was trying to walk down the “good writing” path but how can you not be excited about this game. I’m not even talking about the over hyped Michael Vick redemption story line, or the battle of NFC power house quarterbacks, or Rodgers playing with a chip on his shoulder to because he didn’t make the Probowl (seriously, shame on you people.) the game it’s self is all the hype I need. I will admit though, it’s compelling that the Green Bay Defenses injury of Kevin Kolb that heralded Michael Vick’s rebirth now has opportunity to end it (once and for all!) but back to the game that I said didn’t need hyping. You have arguably one of the most explosive offenses in the league versus one of the best defenses in the league, you have a budding elite level quarterback in Rodgers that no one is hotter then right now going against a suspect at best defense. There’s a slight chance you might remember Rodgers’ under the radar first playoff performance where he threw for five touchdowns, so here is season began with this match up and it will end for one with the match up. Vick sat out the last game of the season with a thigh bruise but has seemed to have slowed down the passed few weeks so either his bruise has been lingering or he can’t sustain the High level of play he used to even if he missed a quarter of the season it’s important to keep in mind Vick is 30 and unlike other top level quarterbacks Vicks game is predicated on being a running back who can throw. All in all I don’t think the Eagles defense can stop the Packers at all even if the Eagles are effective eventually the offense will stall a few times and that will be the difference. As I like to say, you can't win kicking threes.
New York Jets at the Indianapolis Colts
Who doesn’t like Rex Ryan? He’s funny, Gives great sound bites, his team would follow him to hell and back, he assembled what on paper seems to be a all-star roster of talent all while seemingly having a great time doing what he loves. Who doesn’t love Rex Ryan? Everyone in the A.F.C. that has a good team that has to deal with Ryan’s constant trash talk that he cant back up. It’s at a fever pitch with all Colts fans because unlike the other major rivalry the Jets have with the Patriots a Ryan led team hasn’t beaten Indy. Technically, sure they beat Indy last year in the regular season but guess what, this Saturday Curtis Painter isn’t walking through that door and Ryan knows he’s never truly beaten the Colts. Yet he continues this bolstering which at this point I like all Colts fans revel in, what you have to do is just let him keep digging his grave with his words at the end of the night no on in Indianapolis fears this Jets team. Since this is the match up that is nearest and dearest to my heart I’m going to go long form and break-it-down piece by piece.
The Colts offense vs. the Jets defense
In the offseason the Jets drafted Kyle Wilson and acquired Antonio Cromartie, not to double the states population with his children but to “beat the colts in the playoffs” unfortunately for the Jets they lost their Defensive captain Jim Leonard and nose tackle Cris Jenkins which has noticeable dulled the defense where as last year they were a force with the best defense in the league this year they’re not even the best defense in new jersey. But to be fair they’re not facing the same Colts offense. Decimated by injury the Colts saw a mid season swoon where they lost four of five and Manning played the worst series of games of his career forcing balls and making poor throw that ended in interceptions a few of which for touchdowns. (one of which, was a great throw that the dirty cheating Chargers pass interfered and tackled Reggie Wayne) that mid season swoon was largely caused by key injuries down to practice squad running backs, tight ends, and wide receivers. The Colts got their running backs healthy, got their tight ends healthy, and Manning got in to a rhythm with Blair White that makes him look like Wes Welker. Beyond that the Colts running game got a shot in the arm when they resigned Superbowl hero Dom Rhodes and over the last 3 games are averaging 150 yards per game when combining that with the eighteen no defense can hope to contain them.
Jets offense vs. the Colts defense
I wish I were more eloquent and could be less harsh but Mark Sanchez sucks, sure not P.C. and I’m sure I could find a more tactful way to say it but I’m the words of Chris Carter “c’mon, man” he is terrible and the play calling is worst Brian Schottenheimer may be one of the worst play callers in the league. Talent though they do have L.T. is looking every bit as good as L.T. ever has, they have a good two punch in Green and a solid deep threat in Edwards and really Sanchez’s saving grace has been Superbowl M.V.P. Santonio Holmes on more then two occasions this year I’ve seen him turn sure Sanchez interceptions in to seventy yard touchdowns breaking four tackles on the way. The unfortunate thing for the Jets is the colts have been good in pass coverage all year, Freeny and Mathis are leading in sacks and strips again, and as the Colts got healthy they started gelling in their on defensive weak point, stopping the run was tested each of the last three weeks when they saw Three of the five Leading rushers in the NFL and held all three teams not the running backs mind you but the teams to an average of 66 total rushing yards. L.T. and Shonn Green aren’t even close to being leading running backs in the NFL right now and keeping the ball in Mark Sanchez’s hand is the most entertaining thing I can think of this week. If I wasn’t clear this is a check for the Colts too.
Special teams
I wish we could get the clean sweep but it’s just not the case we did get as healthy as we will on offense and defense but we still have seventeen on I.R. and the thing that’s going to take a hit the most is special teams most times. The return game has certainly gotten a boost with Dom Rhodes returning kickoffs but he is no brad smith not even close. With the lack of injury and overall depth the Jets have they’re just flat out better on kick coverage too. The one slight edge the Colts have is the Superbowl horse shoes him self Adam Vinatieri guys been nearly perfect all year missing only on a blocked kick Nick Folk he… he just isn’t very good and point will be at a premium in this game.
Over all easy Colts win and that will send then to take out the trash in Pittsburgh and shut Dave Damesheks Mouth.
So that’s that. I got the Saints, Packers, Ravens, and Colts moving on. Which will set up Saints at Bears, Packers at Falcons, Ravens at Patriots, and Colts at Steelers a Great slate of games for Divisional weekend and the easiest and most gratifying road to Indy going back to the Superbowl.
Dr Jamez
I once read that good writers don’t use exclamation marks because they are truly only supposed to be used in quoting someone or dialog however if you know me and how much I love football, even more the playoffs, even more the Colts in the playoffs you know for me that’s as subtle as I can be. This year’s playoff games are almost over whelming how good the games should be and the storylines you can make if you were properly motivated to do so. I’m going to spend some time on each game and what I think is coming* I’ll try not to over do the Colts portion but no promises.
(What I think is coming may be presented as 40% logic 60% fan analysis)
New Orleans Saints at the Seattle Seahawks
We’re going to get the easy ugly game out of the way first. Obviously, unless the Madden curse catches up with Brees in the first quarter it’s a close to a lock as you could ever get, even if he did go down the Saints would probably still win. I’ll the best bit of analysis I’ve heard on this game came I’ve heard is “Sean Payton will be spending most the week trying to decide if he should rest his starters vs. the Seahawks.”
Baltimore Ravens at the Kansas City Chiefs
The general consensus is that this game is as close as any this weekend. Even though he didn’t get the consideration Matt Cassle put up M.V.P. numbers this season. Jamal Charles was a top five rusher and nearly broke a Rookie record set by the Great Jim Brown. Dwayne Bowe was Probowl Wide Receiver and the defense was also tops in the league all this and I still think the Ravens will easily win. Don’t mistake what I’m saying, I don’t think it will be a blow out. That is, unless the Ravens get some defensive scores which is always a huge concern playing great Ed Reed. The Ravens offense as I said can be efficient and has loads of talent but isn’t going to blow anyone out. I think the biggest problem there is play calling but when comparing the two teams, in the playoffs, I find in every possible area the Ravens are as good in a few but better in most. I don’t see any advantage the Chiefs have other then home field.
Green Bay Packers at the Philadelphia Eagles
Ahem…… WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…. Yes, I know I was trying to walk down the “good writing” path but how can you not be excited about this game. I’m not even talking about the over hyped Michael Vick redemption story line, or the battle of NFC power house quarterbacks, or Rodgers playing with a chip on his shoulder to because he didn’t make the Probowl (seriously, shame on you people.) the game it’s self is all the hype I need. I will admit though, it’s compelling that the Green Bay Defenses injury of Kevin Kolb that heralded Michael Vick’s rebirth now has opportunity to end it (once and for all!) but back to the game that I said didn’t need hyping. You have arguably one of the most explosive offenses in the league versus one of the best defenses in the league, you have a budding elite level quarterback in Rodgers that no one is hotter then right now going against a suspect at best defense. There’s a slight chance you might remember Rodgers’ under the radar first playoff performance where he threw for five touchdowns, so here is season began with this match up and it will end for one with the match up. Vick sat out the last game of the season with a thigh bruise but has seemed to have slowed down the passed few weeks so either his bruise has been lingering or he can’t sustain the High level of play he used to even if he missed a quarter of the season it’s important to keep in mind Vick is 30 and unlike other top level quarterbacks Vicks game is predicated on being a running back who can throw. All in all I don’t think the Eagles defense can stop the Packers at all even if the Eagles are effective eventually the offense will stall a few times and that will be the difference. As I like to say, you can't win kicking threes.
New York Jets at the Indianapolis Colts
Who doesn’t like Rex Ryan? He’s funny, Gives great sound bites, his team would follow him to hell and back, he assembled what on paper seems to be a all-star roster of talent all while seemingly having a great time doing what he loves. Who doesn’t love Rex Ryan? Everyone in the A.F.C. that has a good team that has to deal with Ryan’s constant trash talk that he cant back up. It’s at a fever pitch with all Colts fans because unlike the other major rivalry the Jets have with the Patriots a Ryan led team hasn’t beaten Indy. Technically, sure they beat Indy last year in the regular season but guess what, this Saturday Curtis Painter isn’t walking through that door and Ryan knows he’s never truly beaten the Colts. Yet he continues this bolstering which at this point I like all Colts fans revel in, what you have to do is just let him keep digging his grave with his words at the end of the night no on in Indianapolis fears this Jets team. Since this is the match up that is nearest and dearest to my heart I’m going to go long form and break-it-down piece by piece.
The Colts offense vs. the Jets defense
In the offseason the Jets drafted Kyle Wilson and acquired Antonio Cromartie, not to double the states population with his children but to “beat the colts in the playoffs” unfortunately for the Jets they lost their Defensive captain Jim Leonard and nose tackle Cris Jenkins which has noticeable dulled the defense where as last year they were a force with the best defense in the league this year they’re not even the best defense in new jersey. But to be fair they’re not facing the same Colts offense. Decimated by injury the Colts saw a mid season swoon where they lost four of five and Manning played the worst series of games of his career forcing balls and making poor throw that ended in interceptions a few of which for touchdowns. (one of which, was a great throw that the dirty cheating Chargers pass interfered and tackled Reggie Wayne) that mid season swoon was largely caused by key injuries down to practice squad running backs, tight ends, and wide receivers. The Colts got their running backs healthy, got their tight ends healthy, and Manning got in to a rhythm with Blair White that makes him look like Wes Welker. Beyond that the Colts running game got a shot in the arm when they resigned Superbowl hero Dom Rhodes and over the last 3 games are averaging 150 yards per game when combining that with the eighteen no defense can hope to contain them.
Jets offense vs. the Colts defense
I wish I were more eloquent and could be less harsh but Mark Sanchez sucks, sure not P.C. and I’m sure I could find a more tactful way to say it but I’m the words of Chris Carter “c’mon, man” he is terrible and the play calling is worst Brian Schottenheimer may be one of the worst play callers in the league. Talent though they do have L.T. is looking every bit as good as L.T. ever has, they have a good two punch in Green and a solid deep threat in Edwards and really Sanchez’s saving grace has been Superbowl M.V.P. Santonio Holmes on more then two occasions this year I’ve seen him turn sure Sanchez interceptions in to seventy yard touchdowns breaking four tackles on the way. The unfortunate thing for the Jets is the colts have been good in pass coverage all year, Freeny and Mathis are leading in sacks and strips again, and as the Colts got healthy they started gelling in their on defensive weak point, stopping the run was tested each of the last three weeks when they saw Three of the five Leading rushers in the NFL and held all three teams not the running backs mind you but the teams to an average of 66 total rushing yards. L.T. and Shonn Green aren’t even close to being leading running backs in the NFL right now and keeping the ball in Mark Sanchez’s hand is the most entertaining thing I can think of this week. If I wasn’t clear this is a check for the Colts too.
Special teams
I wish we could get the clean sweep but it’s just not the case we did get as healthy as we will on offense and defense but we still have seventeen on I.R. and the thing that’s going to take a hit the most is special teams most times. The return game has certainly gotten a boost with Dom Rhodes returning kickoffs but he is no brad smith not even close. With the lack of injury and overall depth the Jets have they’re just flat out better on kick coverage too. The one slight edge the Colts have is the Superbowl horse shoes him self Adam Vinatieri guys been nearly perfect all year missing only on a blocked kick Nick Folk he… he just isn’t very good and point will be at a premium in this game.
Over all easy Colts win and that will send then to take out the trash in Pittsburgh and shut Dave Damesheks Mouth.
So that’s that. I got the Saints, Packers, Ravens, and Colts moving on. Which will set up Saints at Bears, Packers at Falcons, Ravens at Patriots, and Colts at Steelers a Great slate of games for Divisional weekend and the easiest and most gratifying road to Indy going back to the Superbowl.
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