Random NFL news

[SacKings7]

I think the Colts have much more to fear with the Pats than the Chargers. Not trying to sell the Chargers short, but all this "the Chargers own the Colts" business is over blown. They've won three of the last four meetings, by a total of 12 points, and three of them were at home. The last one went into overtime, in San Diego, and was a one possession period. They've played four really tight games that all could have gone the other way.

I don't care about what happened four years ago, because these are two different teams (different coach, coordinators and quarterback for San Diego; four years ago is irrelevant). And without Jamal Williams, the defense will have more trouble slowing down the Colts than they did in last year's playoff game. Plus, the Colts defense is better. It would be a great game, and I'm hoping that it happens, but I don't think the Chargers have any sort of advantage over the Colts because of the results of the last few meetings.

I tend to agree. But honestly as a Chargers fan, I have more to fear with the Pats than the Colts as well. At least the Chargers will be confident against the Colts, seeing as how they can and did beat them in the playoffs before. Not saying they hold any advantage or anything, but confidence can make a big difference. They haven't beaten the Pats in the playoffs, and I think they'd be more nervous in a game against them, even if it is at home.

But I don't think the Chargers are gonna make it to Indianapolis to be honest. Like I said before, their lack of a run game is gonna be exposed in the playoffs just like it was last year against the Steelers.

 

[SacKings7]

Wow Cowboys all over the Saints right now, 24-3 at the end of the 3rd. I'll take praise in picking them in both the KingsFans leagues

...ok, so what if I've been picking against the Saints and Colts for 2 or 3 weeks now. I didn't think either were good enough for 16-0

 

[Larry89]

Welp my cowboys trying to force the choke job, nick folk misses a field goal from 24 yards with 2 mins in 4th opening door for saints 24-17

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Missed the game, shocked at the result. I'm sure it will be replayed next week.

If I have my schedule memorized correctly, this actually makes the AFC more interesting as Minnesota may have something to play for week 17.
eta: nevermind, they play the Giants.

 

[Superman]

Welp my cowboys trying to force the choke job, nick folk misses a field goal from 24 yards with 2 mins in 4th opening door for saints 24-17

I said to my friend that I was watching the game with that the game was going to go into overtime when he missed that kick. You take these guys for granted all season long, but when you really, really need them to come through for you, it makes a huge difference when you have a clutch kicker. As a Colts fan, I know this as well as anyone.

 

[SacKings7]

^Very true

12 of the 16 teams still in the hunt in the AFC. including all 4 from the South. That's insane. Even though they play the Chargers next week (and possibly in the 1st round of the playoffs), I'd like to see the Titans make it after starting 0-6. That'd be an amazing turnaround

 

[Superman]

Well, the Titans just lost two of their starting linebackers for the rest of the season. I'm thinking they're going to have a rough go of it against the Chargers this week.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

A bit shocked at what's going on in Indy right now.

That is, I'm rooting for the Jets.

 

[Rockmeister]

A bit shocked at what's going on in Indy right now.

That is, I'm rooting for the Jets.

Obviously, going undefeated wasn't that important to Indy. I am not saying that's good or bad.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

It was clear it was important to Peyton by his sideline behavior. It was important to the fans. This game was a gimme. They chose to run from greatness instead of embracing it. This wasn't a game like the Pats and Giants game where the Pats had to give everything they had to pull out the win. This was one more series from being out of reach. I'll give some props to Caldwell for sticking to his guns and saying once he made the decision it was final, but how he made the decision is highly questionable. Either have Peyton take the whole game off or put it out of reach.

This team had a shot at being immortal and they ran away from it. Sad.

 

[Rockmeister]

Since the Indy game wasn't televised in my area, I couldn't see Peyton's reaction on the sidelines. I really wished they would have gone for that undefeated record. I agree, it is sad and disappointing.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

We got the Broncos game here. But NFL Redzone jumped to the game on every Colts possession. I love that channel. I hope it is back next year and is part of whatever cable package I have. Its the best thing ever if you don't have DirectTV.

 

[Rockmeister]

I have dish and I do get the NFL Red Zone (channel 155), however, you have to pay for it.

 

[VF21]

I've got Dish and the Red Zone is free for me. Must depend on what channel package you've got.

 

[SacKings7]

The Saints are pretenders right now. In my eyes, they may as well be 8-7. You lose to arguably the worst team in the entire league, on your home field? Vikings in the SB

EDIT: What happened to the trophies?

 

[Rockmeister]

I've got Dish and the Red Zone is free for me. Must depend on what channel package you've got.

Is the red zone only shown at certain times?

 

[VF21]

Yep. Just during games.

 

[Rockmeister]

Yep. Just during games.

Maybe I'm just checking it at the wrong time. I will check next week during the games....providing if I remember.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Interesting article on Bill Polian's thought process.

“The idea that you somehow lose momentum or that you get rusty has no basis in fact, none whatsoever,” Polian said Monday on his weekly radio show on 97.1 Hank FM in Indianapolis.

“It's just a theory and it is great to be spoken about and written about, but the facts say otherwise.

Apparently an injury in 1999 is largely the basis for the rest your starters philosophy that has lead to all their post season success this decade.

“So, we left our starters in the game and [linebacker] Cornelius Bennett – who spent only one year with us, but who was the lynchpin of our defense at a time when our defense was nowhere near as good as it is today – went down with a knee injury from a chop block. It finished him for the playoffs.

“We came in against the Tennessee Titans [in an AFC Divisional Playoff game] here, lost in a tight ballgame where our defense gave up a 60-yard-plus run to Eddie George to lose the ballgame, and they went on to play in the Super Bowl and we went home.

“That's a fact and I can recite all of the facts surrounding that situation because I've never forgotten it. It never has left my mind. That is the price you pay for playing players in meaningless games.”

“I don't believe in momentum. I don't believe there is any such thing as momentum and I heard from [former Colts Head Coach] Tony Dungy [Monday] that he has heard from other people around the league that there were a couple of instances where players who were forced to play at the end of a season when everything had been clinched felt that they were out of gas when they got into the playoffs.”

It's quite interesting to me that the one year they didn't rest is the year they went all the way but that he hangs onto an injury suffered by a 14 year vet in his final season as his proof.

 

[Superman]

It was clear it was important to Peyton by his sideline behavior. It was important to the fans. This game was a gimme. They chose to run from greatness instead of embracing it. This wasn't a game like the Pats and Giants game where the Pats had to give everything they had to pull out the win. This was one more series from being out of reach. I'll give some props to Caldwell for sticking to his guns and saying once he made the decision it was final, but how he made the decision is highly questionable. Either have Peyton take the whole game off or put it out of reach.

This team had a shot at being immortal and they ran away from it. Sad.

You're right. I don't know what else to say about it. I hate what we did yesterday. It didn't make any sense to me at all. I can't wrap my mind around it. I'm trying to be objective and cool off a bit, but it's Monday morning and I'm still just as upset today as I was yesterday. Actually, more, because of the bs press conference with Caldwell yesterday. I feel like they spit in my face.

I don't know how I'll feel about this decision if the Colts win the Super Bowl, but I know that they damn well better win it.

 

[Superman]

Interesting article on Bill Polian's thought process.

Apparently an injury in 1999 is largely the basis for the rest your starters philosophy that has lead to all their post season success this decade.

It's quite interesting to me that the one year they didn't rest is the year they went all the way but that he hangs onto an injury suffered by a 14 year vet in his final season as his proof.

I don't think the whole rest vs. momentum thing is all that important. But don't tell me you're worried about injury and then play your All World quarterback for two and a half quarters. Like you said, either rest or play. Don't have your fans watching this game all around the country hoping the team can make history, and then jump ship in the third quarter.

I should note that Manning has played almost 200 games and has never been seriously hurt. That's not just luck.

 

[SacKings7]

I don't think the whole rest vs. momentum thing is all that important. But don't tell me you're worried about injury and then play your All World quarterback for two and a half quarters. Like you said, either rest or play. Don't have your fans watching this game all around the country hoping the team can make history, and then jump ship in the third quarter.

I should note that Manning has played almost 200 games and has never been seriously hurt. That's not just luck.

I have to agree. Honestly I think playoff teams are better off playing their starters rather than resting them. One week of rest isn't so bad, but if they take off 2 or more weeks, and add on the 1st round bye for some teams, then rust can certainly become a factor for some players. I don't understand why Peyton didn't play the rest of the game. For a QB who doesn't take many sacks or hard hits, and as you mentioned has never seriously been hurt, then I don't see what the big concern is. Especially since it was obvious that he actually WANTED to play.

 

[Superman]

I have to agree. Honestly I think playoff teams are better off playing their starters rather than resting them. One week of rest isn't so bad, but if they take off 2 or more weeks, and add on the 1st round bye for some teams, then rust can certainly become a factor for some players. I don't understand why Peyton didn't play the rest of the game. For a QB who doesn't take many sacks or hard hits, and as you mentioned has never seriously been hurt, then I don't see what the big concern is. Especially since it was obvious that he actually WANTED to play.

He was livid. So was I.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I'll tell you they've put themselves in a damned if they do, damned if they don't scenario now. Win it all and you've cheated your team of doing something historical, lose and it was all for naught. You've also erased an impresive regular season win streak, while I've always maintained those things are meaningless, given their division there's no reason to think the Colts couldn't have pushed it to 30+, something that would near Joe Dimmagio unbreakable territory.

I will say this whole event has made me appreciate that 2007 Pats team much more than I thought I could. It still stings and hurts to think about but perhaps in 20 years if nobody gets this close again it will mean something. The three other wins also help to take some of the sting off.

 

[Rockmeister]

Wes Welker tears ACL and MCL.

 

[SLAB]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d81575011&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true

Chris Johnson breaks 2000 yards rushing.

That guy is a monster!

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Wes Welker tears ACL and MCL.

I've heard experts say they think he tore the ACL based off the video footage, I have not heard anything about the MCL nor any confirmed reports.

This season is already a wash so all I really wish is that he is 100% next year. There was no contact so hopefully its not so severe.

I'm curious what their plan was today, I don't think they cared about winning and I think the only reason Brady played as much as he did was to get Edelman settled into Welker's role. That's a lot to ask of a QB conversion project in his first year, hopefully he is up to it. He was playing great before he broke his arm. But at times they appeared to want to win and once it became clear the Steelers were way ahead they seemed to go downhill fast. Conspiracy theorist in me wonders a bit there.

 

[VF21]

I only caught the tail-end of a report, but it said something about Brady having a broken finger and broken rib? I don't remember seeing this mentioned anywhere else...

As far as the Colts go, you could see the pain on Peyton Manning's face today after the loss to the Bills. He's saying the team has to get past last week and that all that matters is the playoffs, but you can tell it's not all that mattered to him or his team. They had a chance for something taken away from them without any say in the decision and I suspect the only way it would be worthwhile is if they win it all at the end. And, quite frankly, I believe their momentum has been damaged to the point where I'm not sure they can put it all back together.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I only caught the tail-end of a report, but it said something about Brady having a broken finger and broken rib? I don't remember seeing this mentioned anywhere else...

It was alleged he has been playing with broken ribs since very early in the season a week or two ago. But you never really know with the Pats since they keep their injury reports close to the vest.

 

[VF21]

It was alleged he has been playing with broken ribs since very early in the season a week or two ago. But you never really know with the Pats since they keep their injury reports close to the vest.

Ah, thanks.