Colts 11-0 Just Doesn't Feel Right

[Len B]

Obviously, as a Patriots fan I'll never root for the Colts to go 16-0 as it's cool being the only team with that distinction. However, I do respect the team and love Peyton Manning, so it is exciting to see Manning do it with all the new faces.

That said, something just isn't setting in right about the Colts being 11-0 right now, with the potential to be 16-0. I don't know if Colts fans will agree, but I don't feel like this Colts team is anywhere near as good as any of their past six seasons.

The Colts were as good as can be on offense and defense for the last six years, yet always wound up with 2-4 losses. They would be completely healthy, with stacked offenses and a defense that at times showed the ability to be an elite unit.

Now, a bunch of no named players and backups are stepping up and leading this team to five straight come from behind victories. I don't get it, nor do I really think I want to see this Colts' squad go 16-0. To me, records like that are meant to be broken, but I like to have it broken by the best of the best, and the elites of the NFL.

The Patriots of 2007 was the best team the franchise has ever had, and probably will ever have. It will be the season that defines the Patriots franchise, along with their first Superbowl win.

It'd be weird to see this squad of Colts get put into infamy, while much better squads in Indianapolis didn't get to have that distinction.

 

[Bear Pand]

Obviously, as a Patriots fan I'll never root for the Colts to go 16-0 as it's cool being the only team with that distinction. However, I do respect the team and love Peyton Manning, so it is exciting to see Manning do it with all the new faces.

That said, something just isn't setting in right about the Colts being 11-0 right now, with the potential to be 16-0. I don't know if Colts fans will agree, but I don't feel like this Colts team is anywhere near as good as any of their past six seasons.

The Colts were as good as can be on offense and defense for the last six years, yet always wound up with 2-4 losses. They would be completely healthy, with stacked offenses and a defense that at times showed the ability to be an elite unit.

Now, a bunch of no named players and backups are stepping up and leading this team to five straight come from behind victories. I don't get it, nor do I really think I want to see this Colts' squad go 16-0. To me, records like that are meant to be broken, but I like to have it broken by the best of the best, and the elites of the NFL.

The Patriots of 2007 was the best team the franchise has ever had, and probably will ever have. It will be the season that defines the Patriots franchise, along with their first Superbowl win.

It'd be weird to see this squad of Colts get put into infamy, while much better squads in Indianapolis didn't get to have that distinction.

To be fair I'm not convinced Indy's superbowl team was the best team they've had with Manning but they get put into infamy while some of the other teams get forgotten. And just like you said, you think that 2007 Pats team was the best in franchise history but they've won 3 Superbowls recently with "lesser" teams. That's just how it is.

Also I don't think going 16-0 is important or even that big of a deal.

 

[ram29jackson]

...and you guys thought my parity classifications were a bunch of bull.



regardless of talent calibration, those come from behind wins are pretty damn good. Even with a new coach they havent deviated from a system that has been working for years under the previous coach.

all this and the Colts basically have an offensive coordinator with an arm on the field. Plus , its Peyton Manning ! the All American boy with a million Sony commercials among others.----from cut that meat , to whack-a-mole!

we love the man !

 

[Len B]

To be fair I'm not convinced Indy's superbowl team was the best team they've had with Manning but they get put into infamy while some of the other teams get forgotten. And just like you said, you think that 2007 Pats team was the best in franchise history but they've won 3 Superbowls recently with "lesser" teams. That's just how it is.

Also I don't think going 16-0 is important or even that big of a deal.

Right, but the difference is the 2007 Patriots are going down in history, as they should.

If the Colts squad of this year goes undefeated, twenty five years from now this is the team that will be remembered the most. Just seems unjust, considering a lot of the guys (and Tony Dungy) that made this team what it is would not be a part of that discussion.

 

[Gonzo]

While I agree that this Colts team isn't as talented or great as teams before them...they do have a lot more balance. For so many years, Colts fans struggled [I italicized it because, although we were winning, it was gut-wrenching watching games where the opposing offense would score at will] with a very, very one-dimensional team.

For the last few years, Indy has been able to beat [very consistently] nearly anyone in the league with their pass attack. This year, we finally have a run game [argue all you want with me about it; I know it's not a top tier, or perhaps even a mid-tier run game yet, but in the red zone, our backs have been very tough and unwilling to falter] to compliment what has become a slightly less pass-heavy offense.

In addition to everything else, our defense is doing fantastic [again, argue the point if you want, but after so many years of nothing, this defense IS fantastic to us] in so many different areas. We've always had an average, even above-average pass defense, and our run defense, while it is and always will be our bane, has improved significantly. Freeney and Mathis are playing lights-out ball right now, and, in general, our defense is showing up when they need to the most.

Another thing that's been displayed often this year is how diverse our pass attack is. Wayne is Wayne, simply enough. He's going to catch his balls, and he's going to score the touchdowns that he should be scoring. Gonzalez [who has been hurt yes] has played great on the outside, much better than I could have even hoped. He's filled the void left by Harrison and he's beginning to interpret many parts of Marvin's game into his own, and he'll flourish in the next few years.

While Collie and Garcon are inexperienced, they're still getting touches. Garcon has proven he's dangerous [mostly on slants and screens of course] whenever he touches the ball, and Collie has held onto some big-time catches. Addai is blocking great out of the backfield, and, like always, he's catching the balls that come his way.

And you can't ever discount Dallas Clark. This guy, even though he's finally getting the notoriety he deserves around the league, is still underrated... And that just goes to show how great of a football player he is.

All in all, these Colts are a living testament to how great Peyton Manning makes the players around him [seem?] play. I do agree to an extent, that these Colts are the Colts of the past, but they're much more balanced, and its something we've had in the works for a while. It's nice to see it materialize into a fantastic season.

 

[Gonzo]

Right, but the difference is the 2007 Patriots are going down in history, as they should.

If the Colts squad of this year goes undefeated, twenty five years from now this is the team that will be remembered the most. Just seems unjust, considering a lot of the guys (and Tony Dungy) that made this team what it is would not be a part of that discussion.

It is what it is, unfortunately. You see this happen everywhere, in all aspects of life. It's just nice to be able to experience it all firsthand and have the talent and aspirations in an organization that's committed to fielding the best team possible, year in and year out.

 

[Len B]

For the last few years, Indy has been able to beat [very consistently] nearly anyone in the league with their pass attack. This year, we finally have a run game [argue all you want with me about it; I know it's not a top tier, or perhaps even a mid-tier run game yet, but in the red zone, our backs have been very tough and unwilling to falter] to compliment what has become a slightly less pass-heavy offense.

I hear you on the touchdowns/gritty redzone runs, but to be fair...

Colts pass ranking this year:

3rd attempts, 1st yards, 1st TD

Colts rushing ranking this year:

29th attempts, 31st yards

 

[Sharkweather]

Then why the picture of Manning 'neath your name?

Avy bet.

 

[Gonzo]

I hear you on the touchdowns/gritty redzone runs, but to be fair...

Colts pass ranking this year:

3rd attempts, 1st yards, 1st TD

Colts rushing ranking this year:

29th attempts, 31st yards

Does that ranking stem from pure talent and skill or from the fact that the Colts are naturally a pass-heavy team, obviously leading to more passing on first downs, creating manageable second and thirds that are shorter and easier to get on the ground?

It's a difficult point to argue. As a Colts fan, watching every snap, I feel like our run game has improved to a level it hasn't been at since Addai was a rookie. Vice Versa however, I can see that by looking at the stats, fans around the league would discredit this rushing attack.

I think a huge factor that's not figured into statistics is how heavily a team relies on the run. Teams like Minnesota and Tennessee utilize it, wanting 120+ every game out of their core. A team like Indy only needs 60-70 yards because of our above-average passing game, which is exactly what our backs are doing for us.

 

[Len B]

Then why the picture of Manning 'neath your name?

Because I'm not a bitch.

 

[Archer]

We have had more talented teams on paper but I see something in this team this year that I didn't in the past . They are finding a way to win close games , they are winning even when they play bad and they are grinding it out when we need to grind it out . Them sort of things won't show up on any stats but they are just as if not more important than the rest .

And I hate to say this but , the 16-0 Pats will be more remembered for the losing the superbowl than they will for going undefeated in the regular season . You have a place in history but without making it through the WHOLE season undefeated it's not a huge part imo

I would also say that our sb team was less talented than some but they went and won it all so who cares? 10-6 and winning the sb > 16-0 and losing the superbowl

 

[Vinsane]

Obviously, as a Patriots fan I'll never root for the Colts to go 16-0 as it's cool being the only team with that distinction.

The 1972 Dolphins would disagree. Although their season was two games shorter, they still managed to go into the playoffs win all three games, including the Super Bowl, that of which, the Patriots did not.

 

[Woy]

Then why the picture of Manning 'neath your name?

Cause a (^^^) made him do it.

 

[Len B]

The 1972 Dolphins would disagree. Although their season was two games shorter, they still managed to go into the playoffs win all three games, including the Super Bowl, that of which, the Patriots did not.

So why are you correcting me if their season was two games shorter?

Dolphins only 14-0 regular season
Dolphins only team to finish a year undefeated
Patriots only team to go 16-0 in regular season, and 18-0 and 18-1

 

[Vinsane]

So why are you correcting me if their season was two games shorter?

Dolphins only 14-0 regular season
Dolphins only team to finish a year undefeated
Patriots only team to go 16-0 in regular season, and 18-0 and 18-1

The "only team with that distinction" needs an asterisks by it. They're the only team to go 16-0, yes. Not the only team with an undefeated regular season. And when you fail to win the Super Bowl? It shows how meaningless an undefeated regular season is.

I'm not trying to start a debate here, or steal your thunder. We all know the Patriots franchise is the best of the past decade, and possibly of all time.

 

[St. Francisco]

Gotta agree with Len here...makes me thing of the 2008 Titans. I never thought for a second that they were a 13-3 team, and they proved me right in the playoffs. Just an example, the Colts are one of the top-tier teams right now, but not an 11-0 team in my book.

Indianapolis has won their last five games by an average of just 3.6 points: 18-14 vs. San Francisco, 20-17 vs. Houston, 35-34 vs. New England, 17-15 vs. Baltimore, and 35-27 vs. Houston. Not only that, but every single one of those games was a come-from-behind victory, with the New England win being miraculous. Factor in the early season 14-12 win vs. Jacksonville, and the 27-23 Miami win, and we're looking at a team that could EASILY be 4-7 instead of 11-0.

I think an accurate description of them right now is 8-4 or 9-3. A good team, certainly playoff bound, and one of the top contenders in their conference...but just on the outside of talks about the best teams in the NFL right now.

I can't see Indy finishing undefeated, and I also can't see them going to the Super Bowl. I expect to see an AFC championship loss.

 

[Irish]

How are they gonna go undefeated when Vince Young and the Titans play them next week?

But i dont think its that big of the deal. In my mind the 2007 Pats arent remembered for going undefeated, its that they blew it to the Giants in the only game that matters at the end of the season.

 

[Vinsane]

Indianapolis has won their last five games by an average of just 3.6 points: 18-14 vs. San Francisco, 20-17 vs. Houston, 35-34 vs. New England, 17-15 vs. Baltimore, and 35-27 vs. Houston. Not only that, but every single one of those games was a come-from-behind victory, with the New England win being miraculous. Factor in the early season 14-12 win vs. Jacksonville, and the 27-23 Miami win, and we're looking at a team that could EASILY be 4-7 instead of 11-0.

This is where the debate for what defines a "undefeated" team, has a very thin line. In your p.o.v. your saying that the Colts are more or less victims of luck, rather then skill? Because they've come from behind in a majority of their victories, and what you call miraculous, I call exciting.

The Colts were moving the ball very well against that Patriots defense. They were doing so well that Bill Belicheck didn't want to put the game in the defenses hands, hence the 4th and 2 call. Which ever way you view the spot of the ball, and the finish. Don't let that take anything away from this Colts team.

I would much rather have an undefeated team that can win the close games, then an undefeated team that has been beating teams by 10.0 pts or more. It proves that the mentality of a team is tough, and that they're capable of overcoming deficits and miscues to win the game. That to me is more important then destroying opponents every week.

 

[Archer]

This is where the debate for what defines a "undefeated" team, has a very thin line. In your p.o.v. your saying that the Colts are more or less victims of luck, rather then skill? Because they've come from behind in a majority of their victories, and what you call miraculous, I call exciting.

The Colts were moving the ball very well against that Patriots defense. They were doing so well that Bill Belicheck didn't want to put the game in the defenses hands, hence the 4th and 2 call. Which ever way you view the spot of the ball, and the finish. Don't let that take anything away from this Colts team.

I would much rather have an undefeated team that can win the close games, then an undefeated team that has been beating teams by 10.0 pts or more. It proves that the mentality of a team is tough, and that they're capable of overcoming deficits and miscues to win the game. That to me is more important then destroying opponents every week.

I was going to post but this pretty much sums up everything I would have said .

 

[stevsta]

The "only team with that distinction" needs an asterisks by it. They're the only team to go 16-0, yes. Not the only team with an undefeated regular season. And when you fail to win the Super Bowl? It shows how meaningless an undefeated regular season is.

I'm not trying to start a debate here, or steal your thunder. We all know the Patriots franchise is the best of the past decade, and possibly of all time.

:ice:

how on earth did you come up with that last part???

decade yes all-time not even close