I didn't catch the game except for the last 5 minutes, but the fact that Indianapolis kept it this close w/o Harrison speaks for itself. I think the Colts are a better team. Manning doesn't lose the ball and Indianapolis wins.
Come on now. First of all, you can't assume that the Colts go 55 yards down the field and score against a great defense like it's nothing. Second, the Patriots made the play. Hell, if the Colts didn't get so much pressure on Brady early, it's probably not close... but it's a pointless hypothetical, because the Colts made the plays. I think these teams are pretty evenly matched on turf, where the speed of the Colts' defensive ends becomes a much greater factor. Outdoors, on a sloppy track (where the game is likely to be in January) I think the Patriots are the better team.
Can the Pats go undefeated? It's definitely possible, with the way they have beaten all of their other opponents, they have the best shot at doing it.
yeah the patriots never catch any breaks like a ball getting knocked forward directly into a defenders chest, the only defender anywhere near the area, to seal the game. since i could only listen, it sounded like the pats got a lot more pressure on manning than the other way around, the pats receivers made a lot more plays than the colts (like gonzalez apparently dropping a TD, guess that's where not having harrison hurts), and the pats special teams had a couple of big returns. i'm surprised the colts played it this close, but it really hurts they they folded at the end and didn't even put up a fight in blowing a 10 point lead with 7 minutes to go. but if harrison is back i guess there's hope the pats won't win it all in the playoffs, but i'm pretty sure 16-0 is a done deal at this point, and 19-0 is all but assured.
I like the Colts more, but I'd really like to see NE go undefeated now that they won. That's something I've always hoped I would witness, and this seems like a team that has a real shot.
And if Brady doesn't throw those 2 picks, New England wins by 3 scores. What's your point? Colts were at home and New England had a slew of questionable penalties that went against them.
I just felt like they would've pulled through. However, like you said, it's hypothetical, so I have no proof. I just dislike the Patriots. Bellicheck is a douche.
You've got a point. From what I saw, the Indianapolis cornerback's were playing a little too conservative. However, the Colts were playing w/o their #1 reciever. I know Reggie Wayne is no scrub, neither is Dallas Clark, but if you put Harrison opposite Wayne, I think it changes how the New England defense was playing. From what the announcers were saying, their were only 2 healthy receivers on the active list, and one of them was sitting out. The one that was in didn't look too great. Like The Cat said, it's hypothetical. You don't know what would've happened if he hadn't thrown those two picks. Maybe they settle for two field goals or their's a fumble on the goal line.
I was ready to pin the blame for the Pats losing on Brady's two interceptions, which both cost them points and led to both of Indy's touchdowns. After playing so well, the Colts defense just laid down the last 7-8 minutes. They got torched. Colts blew a gift game. The Pats are the better team but not by much. No other team besides the Colts can touch them. I'd say it's 50/50 they finish undefeated.
Patriots are the better team, the only thing that kept it close was the game being in the RCA Dome. Colts are pretty much impossible to beat there, and if it was in Foxboro, the Pats would have won by 2+ TDs.
dropped passes in the end zone by Gonzales. No Marvin Harrison. I think the Colts have the formula to beat the Pats. Can't wait for the rematch.
Marvin Harrison is not a difference maker, and the Pats aren't going to get jammed by the refs like that again, or commit thatg many penalties again. Plus Seymour will be back, which is big.
yeah, i am not taking sides for either team. Marvin Harrison is a hall of fame wide out and Peyton's favorite receiver. obviously he was missed.
I think the biggest difference is that the game won't be in the RCA Dome. The Colts' defense is good regardless of where they are, but they're a totally different animal with the home crowd noise and with the turf to give Freeney and Mathis an extra burst. They've always been a step slower outdoors in January (see Ravens game last year, every other playoff game in New England), and that's a pretty significant loss for them. Not to mention the Addai touchdown was pretty flukish... as I said at the time, most high school defenses make that play. The Colts were trying to run out the clock and the Pats had Addai surrounded, and because of casual, lax defense let him slip through. Don't get me wrong, it was a great effort by Addai... but also incredibly fortunate.
True. The Pats are known to shut him down, especially since he doesn't have the physical ability to get loose like a Randy Moss. Sure he's a HOF, I respect him as one of the greatest route runners in the game, but he can be shut down.
