This football season, like all of them, has been a blessing for me.
The Broncos are a game up in the division (though San Diego's closing and K.C. has held pace) and one of my family's schools is in the national-title hunt (Texas, still in it after a narrow 62-0 win at Baylor), but the best part has been the schedule. Almost none of the Broncos games have been on when I'm at church or otherwise occupied.
And even though this was the Broncos' bye week, the week also features a matchup of my favorite non-Broncos NFL rivalry, tonight's game pitting the Indianapolis Colts against the New England Patriots.
Well, we use "rivalry" in its loosest sense here.
Patriots-Colts is a rivalry on par with Globetrotters-Generals, Germany-France, or Enron-business ethics. Or even pre-2004 Red Sox-Yankees.
The Colts can't beat the Patriots. Not when it matters, and not when it doesn't. Unless it's somewhere other than a scoreboard.
The Colts always field a fantastic, explosive offense-until they play the Patriots and look like a junior varsity high school team. They take chances downfield all season long, but no one ever makes them pay-until the Patriots strip the ball, or Ty Law grabs three interceptions in a postseason showdown.
The Colts aren't the most physical team, but, like the "Greatest Show on Turf" St. Louis Rams of a few seasons ago (and didn't the Patriots stop that one, too?), possess enough talent to intimidate opponents on skill alone.
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning would be a nearly-unstoppable one-man offensive juggernaut all by himself, but surrounded by the tough-as-nails Edgerrin James and world-class receivers, he's even more dangerous-49 touchdown passes last year, which, if you haven't heard and I know you have, just happens to be the all-time NFL single-season record. That's better than any season Montana, Graham, Unitas, Elway, Marino, Young, Warner, Aikman, Namath, and all the rest have ever managed. Manning's still in the prime of his career, but he's already mentioned with all those legends. He can't run, but with his lightning-quick release, he also can't be stopped.
Until he faces New England and puts up a 69.3 passer rating, like he did in last year's AFC playoffs.
It's been said for years that the Patriots are a group of no-ego guys who play together as a team, and that's what led to three Super Bowl wins in the last four years. That might be true, but lost in that is the idea that the Patriots have had some incredibly talented players to go with the peerless coaching staff.
And every year, this rivalry ends like Terrell Owens-public relations. The Patriots have beaten the Colts six times in a row and keep sending them home, to the dismay of highlight-loving experts everywhere.
But going in to each of those games, the Patriots have, to seasoned observers, looked at least as good as the Colts. It's different this time.
The Colts are 7-0 and have been invincible all season, especially in their last four games (average score over that stretch: 36-15). Peyton's numbers are down but still fantastic (anyone who actually expected him to break the touchdown record twice in a row is an idiot anyway), and oh, by the way, the Colts play defense now.
The Patriots, meanwhile, are hurting. Linebacker Tedy Bruschi just came back from suffering a stroke, but the team has been cycling through starters like never before. New England's at 4-3 and atop the AFC East, but they're hanging by a thread. They've been outscored by 21 points this year.
Maybe it'll be time to write off the champs after what should be a thrilling contest. Either the Colts officially take control of the AFC and finally legitimize their Super Bowl aspirations, or the Patriots knock down the upstarts again and show their dynasty has a few moments left.
Apart from home-field advantage, conditions could not be more favorable for Indy. But I say Wal-Mart beats Mom & Pop again. Pats 23, Colts 17.
The Broncos are a game up in the division (though San Diego's closing and K.C. has held pace) and one of my family's schools is in the national-title hunt (Texas, still in it after a narrow 62-0 win at Baylor), but the best part has been the schedule. Almost none of the Broncos games have been on when I'm at church or otherwise occupied.
And even though this was the Broncos' bye week, the week also features a matchup of my favorite non-Broncos NFL rivalry, tonight's game pitting the Indianapolis Colts against the New England Patriots.
Well, we use "rivalry" in its loosest sense here.
Patriots-Colts is a rivalry on par with Globetrotters-Generals, Germany-France, or Enron-business ethics. Or even pre-2004 Red Sox-Yankees.
The Colts can't beat the Patriots. Not when it matters, and not when it doesn't. Unless it's somewhere other than a scoreboard.
The Colts always field a fantastic, explosive offense-until they play the Patriots and look like a junior varsity high school team. They take chances downfield all season long, but no one ever makes them pay-until the Patriots strip the ball, or Ty Law grabs three interceptions in a postseason showdown.
The Colts aren't the most physical team, but, like the "Greatest Show on Turf" St. Louis Rams of a few seasons ago (and didn't the Patriots stop that one, too?), possess enough talent to intimidate opponents on skill alone.
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning would be a nearly-unstoppable one-man offensive juggernaut all by himself, but surrounded by the tough-as-nails Edgerrin James and world-class receivers, he's even more dangerous-49 touchdown passes last year, which, if you haven't heard and I know you have, just happens to be the all-time NFL single-season record. That's better than any season Montana, Graham, Unitas, Elway, Marino, Young, Warner, Aikman, Namath, and all the rest have ever managed. Manning's still in the prime of his career, but he's already mentioned with all those legends. He can't run, but with his lightning-quick release, he also can't be stopped.
Until he faces New England and puts up a 69.3 passer rating, like he did in last year's AFC playoffs.
It's been said for years that the Patriots are a group of no-ego guys who play together as a team, and that's what led to three Super Bowl wins in the last four years. That might be true, but lost in that is the idea that the Patriots have had some incredibly talented players to go with the peerless coaching staff.
And every year, this rivalry ends like Terrell Owens-public relations. The Patriots have beaten the Colts six times in a row and keep sending them home, to the dismay of highlight-loving experts everywhere.
But going in to each of those games, the Patriots have, to seasoned observers, looked at least as good as the Colts. It's different this time.
The Colts are 7-0 and have been invincible all season, especially in their last four games (average score over that stretch: 36-15). Peyton's numbers are down but still fantastic (anyone who actually expected him to break the touchdown record twice in a row is an idiot anyway), and oh, by the way, the Colts play defense now.
The Patriots, meanwhile, are hurting. Linebacker Tedy Bruschi just came back from suffering a stroke, but the team has been cycling through starters like never before. New England's at 4-3 and atop the AFC East, but they're hanging by a thread. They've been outscored by 21 points this year.
Maybe it'll be time to write off the champs after what should be a thrilling contest. Either the Colts officially take control of the AFC and finally legitimize their Super Bowl aspirations, or the Patriots knock down the upstarts again and show their dynasty has a few moments left.
Apart from home-field advantage, conditions could not be more favorable for Indy. But I say Wal-Mart beats Mom & Pop again. Pats 23, Colts 17.
Comments
So there's no confusion for anyone out there, I definitely don't believe in the guy.
If the Pats win tonight, can't you see that propelling them to another title? That would be insane.
no dice.
do you think the colts are the best team in the afc, nfl?
i'm not sure who'd give them a good game.
Here's a little political story you might like, Pugs, in that it had me thinking...last week I found myself in a home in North Carolina, trying to explain to local residents that I was considering applying to UNC for an advanced degree in journalism. And I was asked, "Oh, a liberal journalist?" for the second day in a row. Never been called a liberal in my life. But I kind of felt like they were right. Why? Because these people had a complete and all-too-real KKK outfit upstairs (family heirloom of some kind) which not one but TWO family members tried on. And we probably voted for the same guy last year. Let's just say I didn't exactly put on Fox News when I got back to the hotel room.
I do think the Steelers remain an elite AFC team if Ben Roethlisberger can get and stay healthy. Their power running and defense might just keep Peyton & Co. off the field long enough. And I don't think the Pats are completely done, but considering how awful Corey Dillon looked Monday, they'd need a real speedy recovery out of him. And no, I really don't see the Broncos taking 'em (big shock).
NFC's only really legit squads, in my mind, are the Falcons and Panthers, ooh la la. I mean, Carolina was so close to a Super Bowl two years ago.
Can't say they're all for sure better, but I think they'd all have a chance at beating the Colts in the postseason. Oh, and did I forget the Bengals? Not a chance.
Maybe I'm just grasping at straws because I hate the Colts, though. But I hate the '72 Dolphins a bunch, too, so I could have some mixed feelings if current trends hold (which they won't).