Every Down Back
by Dave Gardner
Don’t tell the Colts they have an uphill battle to get into the playoffs. They already know; it’s all they’re talking about.
Another week, another must-win game for the Colts. It’s an unfamiliar position for the Tony Dungy/Peyton Manning combination, who have made the playoffs in every season they’ve been together.
Moreover, they’ve started the last three seasons 7-0 (2007), 9-0 (2006) and 13-0 (2005). Not clearing out space on the trophy case at the midpoint is unusual, not having a winning record is catastrophic.
“We have put ourselves in a hole early in the season,” Manning told reporters after the game.
While many have written the Colts out of the playoffs after a very uncharacteristic 4-4 start, they maintained a quiet confidence in themselves.
The Colts have played three division winners in their last three games. This win, on the road, was the biggest of the them.
“We’ve got try to keep it going,” Manning told reporters after the game. “That’s been the mindset since the Tennessee game, after losing two in a row. Let’s slow things down, really take these one at a time, and have everyone doing their job a little better.”
This seems like a perfect situation for Manning to take the team on his shoulders and carry them into the playoffs, but even the consummate quarterback is having a down year.
“It truly was a team victory today,” Manning said, “which is what we needed.”
“We’ve played better football over the last two weeks. We’ve played team football, and we’ve played winning football.”
The defense hasn’t forced many turnovers this season, but they had their most complete game today. Two interceptions set up touchdown drives.
“That’s what you have to do as a corner,” Dungy told reporters after the game. “You’re not going to be able to stop them on every play, but when you get a chance to make a play, you’ve got to. That’s what they did.”
Dungy, who was beaming at the podium, knew that his messages from training camp had been prophetic. He knew that his team was tough.
“It’s not just the stars, if you want a good team,” he said. “It’s everyone, and we’ve got them.”
But the Colts still face an uphill battle. If the playoffs began today (see below), they would finish one game behind the Jets, and in the unenviable position of last left out.
“We’ve got a chance now to get in a streak.,” Dungy said. “We haven’t been in this position all year, to get a three-game winning streak, and that’s what we need right now.”
The decisive play of the game, and maybe the season, came on a goal-line stand by the Colts. Midway through the fourth quarter, the Steelers had two plays to convert from the one-yard line, but they failed to do so.
On third-and-goal, Eric Foster, a reserve defensive tackle – a position of weakness for the Colts – split a double team and stuffed Mewelde Moore in the backfield.
“We’ve been working on that goal line defense,” defensive end Dwight Freeney told reporters after the game. “We had a guy, Eric Foster, come in and make a big play for us.”
Just like all the other veterans on the team, Freeney is getting used to answering questions about close wins and average records.
“It’s tough to win in the National Football League,” Freeney said, “and we’re getting it done however we can get it done until everything gets put together.”
And just like in every other Colts’ voice, there was that sound of confidence.
This isn’t the team from three seasons ago, but maybe it’ll be the team from a couple of years ago. The one that slumped in the middle and then won the Super Bowl.
Asked by a reporter if the Colts were doubting their ability to make it to the playoffs, Reggie Wayne was incredulous.
“I’m sorry if I don’t agree with you on that,” Wayne said. ““We felt like we still were a top contender in this league, and that at any point in time, something can happen.
“Tonight was an example, being able to come in here and get a win was big, and hopefully we can keep the streak going.”
If they don’t keep this streak going, it just might cost them another one: six-straight playoff appearances.
Playoffs? You wanna talk about playoffs?
AFC
1. Titans (9-0): Is Kerry Collins an MVP candidate? Sorry, but 5 touchdowns and a 78.8 passer rating is not the reason the Titans are winning. He was, however, the reason he they won against the Bears Sunday.
2. Steelers (6-3): You never hear football players say “I” after a game, but Roethlisburger said “I lost this game” after the loss to the Colts. He’s still a young quarterback, but he is a leader of men.
3. Patriots (6-3): Many are saying that the Cassell is helping the Patriots win now instead of just getting in the way, but it still looks more like a grind-out-out game on offense and mistake-free defense putting checks in the win column.
4. Broncos (5-4): You can’t like the Broncos’ chances with Peyton Hillis as the starting tailback and that defense, but the Chargers aren’t making any noise either, barely beating the Chiefs Sunday.
5. Ravens (6-3): 37 points at the Browns and 41 points at Tennessee, and Joe Flacco hasn’t thrown an interception in a month. The offense only has to be competent to win with that defense, and it’s been explosive in recent weeks.
6. Jets (6-3): As LPC noted while pinch-hitting last week, the Jets new pieces are starting to flow better. The main benefactor? Thomas Jones, who averaged 5.8 yards per carry against the Bills and 5.8 against the Rams Sunday.
NFC
1. Giants (8-1): The two best teams are definitely Tennessee and New York, but who is better? The Giants can do more on offense than the Titans, and there are no two lines playing better than the offensive and defensive lines in New York.
2. Panthers (7-2): As good of a quarterback as Jake Delhomme is, he doesn’t show up for some games. He had a 38.6 passer rating against the Bucs in Week 6 and a 12.3 rating against Oakland Sunday. He earned both of them.
3. Cardinals (6-3): Try as they did to lose to the 49ers in the closing minutes, the Cardinals couldn’t. Try as they might to miss the playoffs, they won’t.
4. Bears (4-3): Rex Grossman was 11-for-14 for 120 yards and a pair of touchdowns (one rushing) on Chicago’s two scoring drives. He was 6-for-23 for 53 yards and an interception for the rest of the game. We all knew he could be streaky game-to-game, who knew he could be within it?
5. Buccaneers (6-3): The Buccaneers haven’t practiced all week. Last time they rested for a week, they got pounded by the Giants in the playoffs. Let’s see how it works out for them this time.
6. Redskins (6-3): Clinton Portis is no longer the rushing leader in the league, and to think that he’s taken up so much of the real estate in this column.
Call it, Coach
It’s first-and-10 from the opposition’s 39-yard-line on a 10-play opening drive to start the game. The defense is already gassed, and the Marty Schottenheimer in you says to keep running down the field, but the Steve Spurrier in you says to hit the defense wear it hurts. Tony Sparano lives in Florida, so he follows the Florida mindset. Ronnie Brown is the deep back in a strong I with two receivers. Brown takes the hand off and then pitches it back to Chad Pennington for a flea-flicker. The most beautiful pass of the season follows as the ball splits double coverage and into the waiting arms of Ted Ginn Jr. nine yards deep in the end zone.
Fast Facts
Fact of the Week No. 1: The Detroit Lions have had six goal-to-go series this season.
Fact of the Week No. 2: 37% of the Seahawks drives have been three-and-outs.
Fact of the Week No. 3: The Titans had -5 yards rushing in the first half.
Weekly MVPs
Offense: Madison Hedgecock, FB, Giants. No disrespect to Adrian Peterson or Peyton Manning, who carried their teams to victories on Sunday, but Hedgecock is probably the most under appreciated player in the league. The way that he clears paths for his three, more recognizable running backs is remarkable. He reads the defense well pre-snap, and he always blocks the lights out of his assignment. It’s really nice to be a running back who isn’t touched until the second level, as Jacobs, Ward and Bradshaw often are.
Defense: Ray Lewis, LB, Ravens. Ray Lewis is loving his life right now. He’s on a better-than-expected football team, his defense is playing lights out, and he’s about to get a nice check at the end of the season. He showed why he’s worth it Sunday, intercepting two passes and leading the team in tackles. He sometimes looks like he knows the offense better than they do sometimes.
I’ll Deny I Ever Wrote This…
The NFC South is stronger than the NFC East is right now. The Cowboys have been disappointing and are desperately thin in the secondary, and the Eagles can’t establish any kind of rhythm. In the South, the Panthers are near-impossible to stop on the ground, the Bucs have one of the most suffocating defenses in the league, and the Falcons aren’t sneaking up on anyone anymore: they’re contenders. I give all three a fighting chance against the Redskins, and I think the Bucs and the Panthers would both give the Giants a really good game.
Don’t fight it, write it! Got a question or a comment? Send it in to theconstantgardner@newerascouting.com. Include your name and hometown, and I might include you in an upcoming article (unless you instruct me otherwise).