Good afternoon Colts fans! I know none of you missed it, but for our Denver readers who might be still in denial, the Colts took it to the Broncos in last Sunday’s AFC Divisional game here in Denver. Unfortunately, the luck ran out yesterday in Foxborough (as it always has) and we were embarrassed once again by a team that we love to hate. I had the good fortune of being able to attend the game here in Denver; it took a kidney to get tickets to the nose bleeds but it was worth it (much better outcome than yesterday). Well, maybe not for the Broncos fans. As my first post in a good long while, I thought I’d share my take on the game.
All in all, it was a pretty lackluster game in my opinion. I’m still not convinced the Colts played all that well but they played better than the Broncos. Both of Luck’s interceptions were really dumb throws in my book; I could see the picks coming from a mile away (or at least that’s what it felt like from near the top of the stadium). As us Colts fans are so used to, a Peyton Manning led team failed to show up after the bye week. Clearly, this wasn’t a problem last year as the Broncos made it to the Super Bowl but the Broncos just did not show up. Expectations in Denver were that this team was infinitely better than the team that was embarrassed by the Seahawks in the super bowl and then last Sunday happened. As I told all of my friends that are Broncos fans after the loss, the Colts didn’t play well but they played well enough. I think I was most impressed by the defense and how they clamped down as the game went on. I was a little nervous after the opening drive by the Broncos led to a TD and was full of dumb penalties like the roughing the passer call on Arthur Jones for a low hit on Peyton (THAT TOM BRADY IS AN ACTUAL ROUGHING THE PASSER PENALTY YOU FLOPPER) however the D stepped it up and came up with some really big plays.
I think my favorite drive on the offensive side of the ball wasn’t one that led to a touchdown. Instead it was the drive that more or less sealed the game. With eight and change left on the clock the Colts drove 54 yards on 13 plays before kicking a field goal to put them up 24-13. On that drive they ran the ball time and time again with Boom Herron and Zurlon Tipton chewing up large amounts of yardage with each carry. For a brief moment it looked as if this team had a running game, which we all saw snuffed out yesterday. However, this drive effectively ended the game even though I remained cautiously optimistic because four minutes is a lot of time to give Peyton Manning especially only up 11. Once again though, the defense clamped down and the Broncos dreams were dashed in the cold, Denver drizzle.
After the game had ended I was conflicted. On one side I was ecstatic that I had gotten to watch my team (in person) win a really big game and get within one game of the Super Bowl. On the other side I didn’t want to celebrate too much and be an obnoxious fan in front of some very dejected Broncos fans. I also knew that with the win, and a very big win, the Colts had an even bigger test ahead of them against Pretty Boy Brady and Bellicheat in Foxboro, a horror story we’ve suffered through time and time again. I also felt bad for the Broncos fans, because I knew how they felt. Time and time again we watched our Colts flounder in the playoffs despite a stellar season. I also felt bad for Manning because I really want him to get another ring or two, especially if that means shutting up the Brady fans. All in all, I really enjoyed getting to be there for a big win, especially the “screw Tom Brady” chant that Broncos and Colts fan stated simultaneously on the way out of the stadium (screw being a euphemism)
Unfortunately, I wasn’t celebrating yesterday. I don’t think I need to say this but yesterday’s game was downright awful to watch as a Colts fan. I didn’t really watch any of the fourth quarter. It was the same old story for the Colts in Foxboro in January, crappy weather, crappy play, a few questionable calls, and always…a loss. A day later, I’m disappointed in how we played. We were just not good…understatement of the year. The Colts looked like a team that had played two big games and just ran out gas for the third one. Cheap shot Blount (reference to his days at Oregon) once again ran all over us and we just…we just couldn’t…I don’t know, we just collapsed. As is tradition, there were some questionable calls, like the roughing the passer call on Jerrell Freeman which was no worse a hit than what Luck endured but Cry Baby Brady gets his way if he sells it enough (which he did). No surprise here. I honestly didn’t expect anything different. I would like to get all of your opinions on the call because I clearly disagree with the CBS rules analyst. You can see the video by clicking the link (his name).
I think my favorite drive on the offensive side of the ball wasn’t one that led to a touchdown. Instead it was the drive that more or less sealed the game. With eight and change left on the clock the Colts drove 54 yards on 13 plays before kicking a field goal to put them up 24-13. On that drive they ran the ball time and time again with Boom Herron and Zurlon Tipton chewing up large amounts of yardage with each carry. For a brief moment it looked as if this team had a running game, which we all saw snuffed out yesterday. However, this drive effectively ended the game even though I remained cautiously optimistic because four minutes is a lot of time to give Peyton Manning especially only up 11. Once again though, the defense clamped down and the Broncos dreams were dashed in the cold, Denver drizzle.
After the game had ended I was conflicted. On one side I was ecstatic that I had gotten to watch my team (in person) win a really big game and get within one game of the Super Bowl. On the other side I didn’t want to celebrate too much and be an obnoxious fan in front of some very dejected Broncos fans. I also knew that with the win, and a very big win, the Colts had an even bigger test ahead of them against Pretty Boy Brady and Bellicheat in Foxboro, a horror story we’ve suffered through time and time again. I also felt bad for the Broncos fans, because I knew how they felt. Time and time again we watched our Colts flounder in the playoffs despite a stellar season. I also felt bad for Manning because I really want him to get another ring or two, especially if that means shutting up the Brady fans. All in all, I really enjoyed getting to be there for a big win, especially the “screw Tom Brady” chant that Broncos and Colts fan stated simultaneously on the way out of the stadium (screw being a euphemism)
Unfortunately, I wasn’t celebrating yesterday. I don’t think I need to say this but yesterday’s game was downright awful to watch as a Colts fan. I didn’t really watch any of the fourth quarter. It was the same old story for the Colts in Foxboro in January, crappy weather, crappy play, a few questionable calls, and always…a loss. A day later, I’m disappointed in how we played. We were just not good…understatement of the year. The Colts looked like a team that had played two big games and just ran out gas for the third one. Cheap shot Blount (reference to his days at Oregon) once again ran all over us and we just…we just couldn’t…I don’t know, we just collapsed. As is tradition, there were some questionable calls, like the roughing the passer call on Jerrell Freeman which was no worse a hit than what Luck endured but Cry Baby Brady gets his way if he sells it enough (which he did). No surprise here. I honestly didn’t expect anything different. I would like to get all of your opinions on the call because I clearly disagree with the CBS rules analyst. You can see the video by clicking the link (his name).
Finally, there’s the Deflategate which has emerged since very early this Monday morning. The gist of the accusations is that the Patriots deflated the game balls or some of the ones used in the game. Footballs are supposed to be inflated to a certain pressure and apparently at some point in the game the officials took a ball out of play and circulation to have it measured. As a result the league is looking into whether or not these accusations are true. I agree with almost everybody on this topic…there’s no way this would have affected the outcome of the game. Even if the Patriots were using the deflated balls, which are easier to throw and catch, when only they were on offense (that’d take some serious coordination/bribing of the ball attendants), the Colts could not get anything on the offensive side of the ball. Part of me wants this not to be true so we can just forget about how poorly our team played. Another part of me wants this to be true and to hope for severe punishment because of how much I dislike the Pats. That being said, and I absolutely hate that I’m about to agree with Brady, but this seems pretty ridiculous. OK excuse me while I go throw up.
Alright, that’s about it for me. I want to congratulate all the teams who made the playoffs this year on successful seasons. I would also like to thank the Broncos fans for being gracious hosts even in defeat. One of the gate attendants even shook my hand on the way out and wished us luck. Let me know what you think about the Freeman hit, I’m very curious about what everyone thinks. Stay tuned for my thoughts on the Colts needs leading up to the draft. Have a great week everyone!
--The Briefing
Alright, that’s about it for me. I want to congratulate all the teams who made the playoffs this year on successful seasons. I would also like to thank the Broncos fans for being gracious hosts even in defeat. One of the gate attendants even shook my hand on the way out and wished us luck. Let me know what you think about the Freeman hit, I’m very curious about what everyone thinks. Stay tuned for my thoughts on the Colts needs leading up to the draft. Have a great week everyone!
--The Briefing