Your take on the game Options

[BlueCrewRealtor]

I like the thread on having a great season and didn't want to get off track on that with talking about the game last night. So here's a clean slate to give your 2 cents without saying the whole season was for naught.

I definitely felt like we got outcoached and certainly there were some areas we got outplayed. Stopping them on a goal line stand before the end of the half was awesome. Not scoring off of that hurt. Allowing them to get some points was a momentum changer and made the onside kick decision (which was probably already made) even that much better of a plan.

BTW, probably not many more questions about why we haven't seen more of Baskett on the offense. Sure it's not fair based on one play, but he's a big boy in a big game.

MVP was Payton for making that call as much as anything. That was the game changer, period. The game may have been close prior to that, and the second quarter may not have been our best work, but the Colts were playing their game the way they had all season, until the onside kick. After that, it just felt different. It felt like we were behind the eight ball and, honestly, it felt a little like the old playoff Peyton. It just felt like we lost a little of the poise that they had shown all season even when we were coming from behind regularly. Maybe not frantic, like the old days, but definitely a little more nervous. jmo

Another great call was the going deep on 3rd and short in the first quarter. Although it didn't work out on that play, it made their second quarter drives. It put us into deep zone coverage and giving their receivers far too much room. We practically went into prevent defense even though we were only up by 10 and it was still the first half. From then on, we clearly were concerned about giving up the long ball or big play. It was a beautiful poker maneuver. They "showed the bluff" to keep us on our toes the rest of the game.

Clearly Freeney was not even close to 100%. No or very little spin in the first quarter. While not even close to being as effective as a healthy Freeney, I thought a Freeney coming at Brees without a spin and straight up was better than most anyone else at full strength. At least in the first half. By the second half and after testing the spin a time or two, his effectiveness and his ankle were diminishing. Another great coaching move by the Saints was noticing this and taking off the double team to help with the rest of the line. Freeney, of course, still got his sack and it was amazing. Pure drive and desire. Ripped Brees down by his shirt with one hand! Amazing talent as he didn't try to pull him down with only arm strength, but grabbed on and used his entire upper body through his torso to pull him down one handed. A thing of beauty!

Addai had one heck of a game! Up until it was apparent all was lost, all I could think was that Addai was going to be this year's Dallas Clark. Probably just as deserving of the MVP that would go to Peyton.

Being an IU fan, I always appreciated Porter's abilities when at IU. Although he didn't always show the best judgement. He clearly has come farther along with fewer poor judgement and still all the abilities. But this is pros, and my football team in the pros is the Colts. I take no satisfaction in a former IU player playing a role in my team's loss. None. If they were playing anyone else, I'd be cheering for him as an IU fan for something to cheer about in a game I'm not otherwise concerned about. But when it comes to the Colts, your a Colt, or your not. He's not, and that sucked.

And one more thing, I'm pretty sure I'm tired of playing "nice" teams in the Super Bowl. When we played the Bears, I was probably one of many that said, "Well, if we had to lose to anyone, I'm ok with it being the Bears". Now it's the Saints, "Well, if we were going to lose, I'm happy for the Saints". BS! I'm not thrilled for anyone else. I don't wish any ill will toward the other team, I don't dislike them, but losing sucks and I don't care who it's to. Can we please play Oakland, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Dallas or another team we can hate to lose to? Or at least someone like Washington, Seattle or San Francisco or other teams we couldn't care less about? Just wait, next Super Bowl we'll be playing the Giants. UGH!!

[Colts__Reds]

Been up a few hours already and I swore after the game last night I wouldn't read any national sports sites, just this site and other Colts sites. I even said I wouldn't watch ESPN or the NFL network as I don't want to relive the nightmare. Well lets just say I couldn't resist temptation and already my blood is boiling. It didn't take long and its already "See, Manning is a choker".. Did these people even watch the game? Manning did have an average game, his pick was bad I admit but what about Garcon's key drops on third down? Caldwell going conservative (that last drive of the first half really sticks out) no blitzing (not saying it would have helped but have liked to see it just see if it would have had an effect)

Just needed to vent. Just tired again of hearing the Manning is a choker talk.

[W.E.R.C. 82]

Diem missed two critical blocks on the drive that ended with a missed FG. A TD on the drive might have meant a Colts win.

Reggie hasn't come up big in a long time.

Don't know why refs allowed Saints players and staff from the bench to get involved physically in the onside kick recovery.

Coyer didn't adjust to the Saints adjustments.

The Colts/Peyton were in too big a hurry on the INT drive. Should have run more.

The Colts need a return man.

[BlueCrewRealtor]

Don't know why refs allowed Saints players and staff from the bench to get involved physically in the onside kick recovery.

Off hand, that was about the only thing that upset me with the officials, yesterday. I'm used to the lack of holding calls, etc., but they lost or never had complete control of that situation. Saints had too many men on the field, they had coaches on the field and in the middle of the mess that were doing more than just trying to clear players. It was a disaster. I'm not convinced that we didn't have the ball, although not sure of true possession/control, prior to the mass of players being allowed to jump in. Several players jumped back in after being removed once. It was chaos and the officials did a poor job controlling it.

[W.E.R.C. 82]

Off hand, that was about the only thing that upset me with the officials, yesterday. I'm used to the lack of holding calls, etc., but they lost or never had complete control of that situation. Saints had too many men on the field, they had coaches on the field and in the middle of the mess that were doing more than just trying to clear players. It was a disaster. I'm not convinced that we didn't have the ball, although not sure of true possession/control, prior to the mass of players being allowed to jump in. Several players jumped back in after being removed once. It was chaos and the officials did a poor job controlling it.

At the very least you have a penalty for illegal participation, unsportsman-like conduct or too many men on the field, not sure which.

[BlueCrewRealtor]

At the very least you have a penalty for illegal participation, unsportsman-like conduct or too many men on the field, not sure which.

Exactly.