NFC Championship: Patriots @ Colts

[UNHWildCats]

New England 5-0 all time in AFC Championships

Payton Manning 0-Career against Patriots when it matters

First AFC Championship ever in a dome

Patriots 31 Colts 21

EDIT: Mods can you change that to AFC CHAMPIONSHIP please

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

My blood pressure has finally returned to a safe level and my hands have stopped shaken, whew what a win!! The first thing the Pats need to do next week is re-establish the run. They completely abanded it in the second half today, that won't work next week against Indy. They'll need to control the clock and the tempo to go into the dome and come out with a victory. Indy is no where near as fast as SD which should should take some of the pressure off of NE's OL and LB which really had to battle all day today. Tom Brady should have serious revenge on his mind against Indy. He struggled in the game earlier this year although his WR's cost him 2 or 3 int's. The one late in the game that went off Faulks hands really hurt. Any word on Harrison's status? He would be a huge addition if he can play. I'll make my predictions as the week goes on.

[UNHWildCats]

My blood pressure has finally returned to a safe level and my hands have stopped shaken, whew what a win!! The first thing the Pats need to do next week is re-establish the run. They completely abanded it in the second half today, that won't work next week against Indy. They'll need to control the clock and the tempo to go into the dome and come out with a victory. Indy is no where near as fast as SD which should should take some of the pressure off of NE's OL and LB which really had to battle all day today. Tom Brady should have serious revenge on his mind against Indy. He struggled in the game earlier this year although his WR's cost him 2 or 3 int's. The one late in the game that went off Faulks hands really hurt. Any word on Harrison's status? He would be a huge addition if he can play. I'll make my predictions as the week goes on.

They were going nowhere with the run today and put the game where they needed it, in Tom Bradys hands.

Next week will be different. Maroney, Faulk and Dillon should have a fieldday against that Colts run defense.

[UNHWildCats]

My blood pressure has finally returned to a safe level and my hands have stopped shaken, whew what a win!! The first thing the Pats need to do next week is re-establish the run. They completely abanded it in the second half today, that won't work next week against Indy. They'll need to control the clock and the tempo to go into the dome and come out with a victory. Indy is no where near as fast as SD which should should take some of the pressure off of NE's OL and LB which really had to battle all day today. Tom Brady should have serious revenge on his mind against Indy. He struggled in the game earlier this year although his WR's cost him 2 or 3 int's. The one late in the game that went off Faulks hands really hurt. Any word on Harrison's status? He would be a huge addition if he can play. I'll make my predictions as the week goes on.

The official word from the Pats is that he was out this week. There are reports he has a partial tear of a ligament and is done for the year.

[ISUMatt]

They were going nowhere with the run today and put the game where they needed it, in Tom Bradys hands.

Next week will be different. Maroney, Faulk and Dillon should have a fieldday against that Colts run defense.

Colts stopped Larry Johnson and the Colts stopped Jamal Lewis...These arent your regular season 32nd ranked Colts rush D

[UNHWildCats]

Colts stopped Larry Johnson and the Colts stopped Jamal Lewis...These arent your regular season 32nd ranked Colts rush D

Lewis 13-53 4.1
Anderson 4-18 4.5


Hardly call that stopping more like Baltimore abandoning the running game.

[ISUMatt]

Lewis 13-53 4.1
Anderson 4-18 4.5


Hardly call that stopping more like Baltimore abandoning the running game.


Looks like 71 rush yards against...looks to me like they did the job!!!

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lewis 13-53 4.1
Anderson 4-18 4.5


Hardly call that stopping more like Baltimore abandoning the running game.

Which gets back to my point about the Patriots need to establish the run and stick with it. I'm really not sure how good the Colts D is at this point because they played two offensively challenged teams. The Chiefs had nothing on offense outside of LJ, yeah Gonzalez is good but Green was dreadful most of the year. Ravens had a few more weapons but Heap doesn't exactly stretch the field and give the safeties something to respect. The Colts most impressive D performance lately was the game against Cincy a few weeks bacl. This game will be won in the trenches IMO. The Pats have a slight advantage on the DL and OL but not big enough to say their units will be better than the Colts on Sunday.

[UNHWildCats]

Looks like 71 rush yards against...looks to me like they did the job!!!

you gotta look at the average per rush not total yards had they run the ball 30 times thats 130 yards at that average.

[ISUMatt]

you gotta look at the average per rush not total yards had they run the ball 30 times thats 130 yards at that average.

But they didnt, the Colts D gave up 83 yards rushing...that is getting the job done...That game was within 1 score for most of the game so its not like Baltimore HAD to pass to win!!! 29 passes/20 rushes...the run game wasnt abandoned

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

But they didnt, the Colts D gave up 83 yards rushing...that is getting the job done...That game was within 1 score for most of the game so its not like Baltimore HAD to pass to win!!! 29 passes/20 rushes...the run game wasnt abandoned


I think the biggest thing there is the fact Baltimore only ran 49 plays. That's pretty anemic. NE most be able to control the ball by running the ball 25-30 times for 125-150 yards in order to win next week. The Pats will test the Colts D a lot more than the Chiefs and Ravens did. With that said the Colts D has been a lot better since they lost to Houston. On paper the Colts only real advantage is at WR. Wayne and Harrison are better than anything the Pats have but past those two there's a big dropoff. I wish this game was tomorrow, i'm pumped!! After Lehigh and ND chit the bed to end the year the Pats basically saved it for me by winning today. The law of adverages says the Colts will win next week IMO but we shall see.

[ISUMatt]

I would think Larry Johnson and the Chiefs would have been a great test

[Cleets]

That Colts "D" has been amazing the last few weeks, actually since they got plowed by Jacksonville for 350 yards (or whatever it was)

I would expect the Patriots will need to pass again to win...

70/30 pass/run

I also expect to see a very good game in the NFC next week!

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I would think Larry Johnson and the Chiefs would have been a great test

But that's all the Colts had to worry about. When all you have to do is key one player it makes it a lot easier. Green had shown nothing of his former self and one still has wonder why Edwards didn't put in Huard to atleast give himself a chance. NE is a helluva lot better than KC and Baltimore. The Colts present more matchup problems than SD did to the Pats too IMO. They have experience all over the place and won't make some the same mental mistakes that SD did. Still Tony Dungy has been brutal in conference title games dating back to his time at TB.

[DaveK]

New England 5-0 all time in AFC Championships

Payton Manning 0-Career against Patriots when it matters



It didn't matter when they played at New England on November 5th? xidiotx

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

It didn't matter when they played at New England on November 5th? xidiotx

Well it matters now because had NE won the game the AFC title game would be in Foxboro. Neither Manning or Brady played great in that game. Brady was killed by his wr's and rb's inability to catch the ball. Both teams are playing their best football of the season by far. These two teams and QB's will be linked together forever and perhaps one day will enter Canton together.

[Grizalltheway]

Well it matters now because had NE won the game the AFC title game would be in Foxboro. Neither Manning or Brady played great in that game. Brady was killed by his wr's and rb's inability to catch the ball. Both teams are playing their best football of the season by far. These two teams and QB's will be linked together forever and perhaps one day will enter Canton together.


No doubt about that, whether Manning gets his ring or not. :nod:

[spelunker64]

It's the AFC game not NFC

[B&G]

Belichek > Schottie/Edwards... Brady > Green/McNair... Dungy/Manning need to have their heads on straight and not let the pressure get to them... Colts have the talent to win this one if they don't play with their hands around their throats.

[UNHWildCats]

It's the AFC game not NFC

If you look at the edit on my fiorst post you will see that in all the excitement i made a mistake and asked the mods to correct it. I was practically still jumping up and down while making this thread last nite

xlolx

[spelunker64]

If you look at the edit on my fiorst post you will see that in all the excitement i made a mistake and asked the mods to correct it. I was practically still jumping up and down while making this thread last nite

xlolx


I understand, my Chargers gave you that win so you should be excited. :rolleyes: :smiley_wi

[UNHWildCats]

I understand, my Chargers gave you that win so you should be excited. :rolleyes: :smiley_wi

Gave?

both teams made mistakes, New England capitalized on San Diegos while they didnt on New Englands so take your "gave" **** and shove it!

[BigApp]

are you going to whine this week too about ticket sales?

[ISUMatt]

so take your "gave" **** and shove it!

This is unnecessary

[Cleets]

I understand, my Chargers gave you that win so you should be excited.

Some teams give games away...
Some teams take games away...

The Patriots tried to give the game to San Diego but the Chargers were to polite to take it...

However!

The Colts should win this next game, I wonder if they will "give it to the Patriots" just to be nice, like the Chargers...




:)

[Pard4Life]

Colts have won the last two meetings, albeit the Pats were banged up last year and this year was a 7-point margin. Nonetheless, I am worried...

[Grizalltheway]

Colts have won the last two meetings, albeit the Pats were banged up last year and this year was a 7-point margin. Nonetheless, I am worried...

Be afraid, be very afraid...

[Lehigh Football Nation]

All I can say is that I really like how the Saints match up with the Pats.

That said, I think the Colts win this. How long with Brady be able to throw to those suspect receivers? And this ain't the Brady of 2002. He made pathetic passes when he was under any sort of pass rush.

The Colts would give me nightmares as a Saints fan.

[RabidRabbit]

Viniteri will be the big difference in this match up, like he has been in prior match ups between these teams. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

This time, my SDSU fellow alumni is in a Colts uniform, and with no wind issues. Doesn't bode well for Patriots. :bawling:

Think that Patriots ARE the dynasty team of the 2000's decade, but Indy needs to shake the asterisk of play-off losses of this same decade. Looking forward to another exciting game!