In the years between 2001 and 2004 the Patriots were racked with obstacle after obstacle. Riddled with injuries the Patriots some how managed to adjust and overcome all adversity and walk away with 3 Super Bowl victories in 3 appearances. They never won handedly, they never won pretty, eeking out just enough to put another W in the column.
In that same time period, the Indianapolis Colts were an offensive juggernaut, racking up points. The defense, though not top notch, was often overlooked as Peyton Manning and such high-profile receivers as Harrison and Wayne controlled the game with ease. Despite their dominance, and a career season in 2004, the Colts were not overcome the speed bump known as the Patriots. Even in 2006 when the Colts finally earned their Super Bowl title, the AFC championship against the Patriots was a close battle to the end (We are not going to discuss "the call" that changed the outcome of the game).
Fast Forward to 2007 and the roles have been reversed.
The Patriots are the hot team. Brady and the Patriots offense, fueled by controversy and spite, have dominated the league with a legitimate shot at going 16-0 and are a Super Bowl favorite.
The Colts, in contrast have been riddled with injuries. One of Manning's favorite targets has been taken away for most of the season. The defense has been all but wiped out. The list of injuries is alarmingly long, and a lot of these names are huge. Harrison, Freeney, Sanders, Morris, O'Neil, McFarland, Worsely and the list goes on and on.
While many teams would crumble and fall with far less injuries especially with key players. Manning and coach Tony Dungy have managed to adjust and find ways to win, in a very Patriots-esque manner. The wins have not been pretty, struggling against teams they normally would roll right over, but they are still wins. At a time when they were most vulernable in week 9, they played a great game against the Patriots (albeit with again some help from the zebras) and held their own. They may have lost the game but you have to think that keeping the game close was a small moral victory for them.
On a personal level, I have always equated Manning and Dungy with Satan. Manning looks like a chicken on the field with his constant-audible offense not to mention not being able to go 10 minutes without seeing him on TV 24-7. Dungy never got the job done in Tampa with great talent, and was not getting it done with an all-star team in Indy.
2007 has put them both in a new light. Peyton still looks spasmodic on the field, but somehow, him and Dungy are defying all logic and getting the job done despite nightmarish obstacles. They have found new weapons, more of them and honestly present more of a threat to stopping the Patriots than ever before.
If anyone, especially Patriots fans are overlooking the Colts and think they have no chance in the post season you need to seriously take another look at the Colts and think again. As a Patriots fan myself, I can only hope that the Patriots are not falling into the trap and believing their own hype. If they are then it will be the gravest mistake in Patriots history,
Steelers @ Browns: This is one of two big upsets in the playoffs. On paper, the Steelers are the better team, but their arrogance in thinking they are a better team than they really are works against. Big Ben has had a good year but it is not enough to stop a team that has played with a lot of heart. This is a close game that comes down to the last minute of the 4th Quarter. Bowns win 17-14.
Jaguars @ Chargers: This game is over before it starts. No way the Chargers, despite winning their division is able to hold off the Jaguars. Jaguars breeze through this one winning 27-17.
NFC
Giants @ Buccaneers: The Giants barely squeak into the playoffs and are out in the first round. Not having Shockey really hurts the Giants offense really limiting Eli's Options. John Gruden and the rolling Buccaneers win in a 31-10 rout.
Vikings @ Seahawks: A classic pass vs rush game. When it comes down to it, the Seahawks are a more experienced team in the post season and that experience pays off with a close win. Seahawks 27-24 in OT
Divisional Round:
Browns @ Colts: The fairy tale is over for Romeo and the Browns are humbled by the Colts: 41-7.
Jaguars @ Patriots: The Jaguars are #1 in rushing plays and #2 in rushing yards but ranked 4th in rushing touchdowns. This is the kind of team that can beat the Patriots. Garrards' inexperience along with falling behind early makes the Jaguars play the game they can't play in weather they can't play it in. Patriots win 35-17.
NFC
Seahawks @ Packers: As good as the Seahawks looked late in the season, Packers send them home in for the season win: 31-24.
Buccaneers @ Cowboys: Combine Romo's bum thumb, his playoff inexperience and Jessica Simpson and you have the recipe for a meltdown. Barber fails to carry the offense and the Buccaneers get by in a very close game 13-10.
Championship Round
AFC:
Colts @ Patriots: Once again it comes down to this rivalry. Even though the Colts are heathier than during the regular season, they are tired after a tough game against the Jaguars the week before. Patriots come away with another close battle as Manning lets frustration and fatigue get the best of him. Patriots win 27-20.
NFC: Buccaneers @ Packers: In a game with as much heart as ability, the cold at Lambeau proves to be too much for the Buccaneers who should go home smiling for as well as they played at the end of the season. Old Man Favre shines again and earns one more trip to the Big Show..
Superbowl:
Patriots vs. Packers: Imagine the hype surrounding this game. The Packers led by the record breaking Favre in a season as improbable as it was spectacular playing the New England Patriots, led by the record breaking Brady and a team that has a chance to avenge their Super Bowl loss to the Packers in 1995-95 and go 19-0. This game blows the ratings off the charts as the most viewed program in history. This will be a game that EVERYONE watches, football fans or not. An offensive shootout. The Arizona conditions are ideal for the Patriots who hammer the Packers 44-27.
There you go, those are mine and just how I see them. Agree? Disagree? What are yours?
As a fan of the Patriots, it can be fun to get yourself caught up in the hype of a big game. I enjoy arguing until hoarse in the throat and red, white and blue in the face defending the team. More so, I am glad that there are fans out there willing to point out with the utmost certainty that my opinions and views are completely wrong. Thank you so much, the past week as been fun.
The Colts have a great team. There is no doubt about that, and it starts with their Organization, on down through the Head Coach and the rest of the coaching staff and ends with the players. There is so much talent on the team from the top down. They have been a dominant team for over half a decade and in any other time would have the term dynasty hung over their front door. They were rewarded last year with a well-deserved Super Bowl victory.
However you can not have your David without your Goliath. And in the NFL that means the New England Patriots. Over that same time span, the Patriots have been feeding off the talent and skill of the Indianapolis Colts and no rational person should think for a second that the Patriots would be as great as they are if they did not have a team they NEEDED to be great against. The two teams have evolved into the top tier of the NFL and that is something that you can not dispute.
What I find most disappointing is the attack on character that has gone on the last few weeks. I do not think there is a team in the NFL that embodies class and sportsmanship better than EITHER team. You can talk about handshakes all you want. The reality is that both teams play with 125% of their hearts, and when you put yourself out on the field like that, it is impossible to not feel the disappointment and frustration in losing. Over their recent rivalry, both teams have handled themselves with the utmost professionalism, about as much as you could possibly find when the game is played at such a level.
This year, for the Colts and the Patriots alike, the road to the Super Bowl will be through each other, most likely in the AFC Championship. True sportsman would have it no other way. In order to be the best, you have to play against the best. For the Patriots and Colts, there is no other competition.
I look forward to that game and all the hype and conversation surrounding it.
35 year old Bostonian and long time Boston sports fan.
Served 9 years in the US Army as an Airborne Pathfinder. Currently employed as a Graphic Artist for a medium sized specialty printing company.
MBUA Baseball Umpire and also a Little League coach. Besides being obsessed with Football and Baseball, I am a fanatical NASCAR and PBR fan. For some reason I also find Curling absolutly fascinating.
