Archive for Peyton Manning
Dear Coach Belichick
Posted by: | CommentsDear Coach Belichick,
Having been a Colts fan all my life, I can admittedly say you have caused me a lot of grief over the years. On Sunday night I left my house positive you had handed my team their first loss of the season. My wife can confirm my disappointment as I headed out the door mumbling about the sure outcome of the game.
To travel from the front door of my place to my parents house takes no more than five minutes. In that short amount of time the infamous call came over your headset, and you went for it on fourth and two. I was absolutely floored when I walked through the door and saw my little brother in his Joseph Addai jersey jumping up and down yelling at the television. He was completely elated. I was shocked. Colts win.
Isn’t it funny how many critics have come out of the woodwork to tell you how wrong you were? My work is full of armchair coaches who have done nothing but talk about your failed call from the moment they walked in on Monday morning. It seems as though every sports talking head has had something negative to say. I am truly amazed the negative attention you have received. It’s crazy how simply converting makes you look like a genius, but since you didn’t, you are a villain. This week must be a tough one.
Who knows how much this is going to help coming from a Colts fan, but after watching the highlight for what seems the millionth time, I have to say I don’t blame you for the call. Take this with a grain of salt, but you actually have one armchair coach on your side.
Have you ever watched nature videos of a lioness hunting her prey? When she comes across a herd of gazelle she takes her time to pick out the young and the weak of the group. She knows if she tries to chase one of the healthy strong animals she will tire quickly and may not get to eat. By finding the weakest parts of the herd, her chances for bringing down a gazelle increase greatly. You may not have been thinking about lions and gazelles in the game, but I think it illustrates the point clearly.
With the Indianapolis defense struggling to stay ahead of injuries you had an opportunity to attack the weak part of the herd. All game long you had rookie corners going up against Randy Moss, one of the greatest receivers of our time. The defensive line was trying to plug holes with whomever they had available to stop your attack. Tom Brady kept finding the sick, weak, and young part of the herd. He continued to chase them all game long without showing any kind of fatigue. He was hungry and you were helping him go in for the kill. The only real problem you had was when Peyton Manning got the ball, and he kept coming, never ceasing.
How many times have we seen Peyton Manning march down the field with even less time than what you would have given him by punting? Along with your very own Tom Brady, Peyton is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Why would you give the ball to another lion when you are two yards away from taking down the weak gazelle? I think it is unfair to judge your instinct when taken into perspective. Unfortunately the rest of the herd circled the weak and stopped you short of your prize.
During all the years I have watched Patriots games on television I don’t think I have ever seen you look so angry. I am sure there were tons of emotions running through your body on the walk to the locker room. I wouldn’t have wanted to be a blade of turf under your feet as you stormed off the field let alone someone in your path. Saying you were disappointed is probably the understatement of the year. What a way to go out. For a moment I actually felt bad for you.
I guess the whole point of this letter is to tell you personally I don’t think you deserve the beating you are taking. How can we be the ones to sit here and tell you how to do your job when most of us have never touched the sideline as a coach? It’s unfair and unfounded, especially given the fact you would have been hailed as a coaching genius if you had converted those two yards. Most coaches would have punted, but you took a chance with the situation you were in. I commend you for that.
Keep your head up coach. I hope the rest of your season and your career aren’t defined by this moment. I want you to do well enough to get past this point, but not so well where we have to face you again.
Thanks for a great game.
Logan
Logan Millard works and lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. Aside from his full time job he works for the Utah Jazz as a media relations coordinator on game nights, and also helps Fox Soccer Channel when they are in town.
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4th and 2: What Should You Do?
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Last night, the Indianapolis Colts defeated the New England Patriots 35-34 in a game that was certainly one for the ages. Quarterback Tom Brady finished with 375 yards, 3 touchdowns, and a 110.7 rating. Peyton Manning finished with 327 yards, 4 touchdowns, a 97.4 quarterback rating (and most importantly, the victory). These two perennial stars proved why they are mentioned as the best in the game and already headed for the Hall of Fame.
A game that was seemingly dominated by the Patriots through three quarters took a 180 degree turn 42 seconds into the fourth. Brady threw a jump ball to Randy Moss to put the Pats up 31-14. In any other case and against any other quarterback, this would have probably been the dagger to end it. However, Manning had no intentions of leaving his home stadium with a loss. It took him 2:04 to execute a five play, 79 yard drive that ended with a 29-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Pierre Garcon.
The Colts’ defense got the ball back, and Manning threw an interception on the first play from scrimmage. He was trying to force the ball downfield, and later admitted that this was a bad throw, and a poor decision. His interception led to a Pats field goal which put them up 34-21.
Once again, Manning worked his magic. He drove right down the field on six plays for 79 yards, ending the drive with a touchdown by running back Joseph Addai. This score put the Colts within six points. The amazing aspect of these two fourth quarter drives is that he executed them under four minutes total!
The proceeding chain of events can be seen from both sides of the fence. The Patriots couldn’t get anything going on offense and found themselves in a fourth and two situation, with 2:08 left. Once again, if this were any other coach on any other team, this would have been a no-brainer call; punt the ball!
But, the fact that there is even a decision to make here is what makes this game so special every year. The chess match involved between these teams is unparalleled. Coach Bill Belichick felt that if Manning got the ball back on offense, he was going to score a touchdown regardless of field position. The way the game was going, the Patriots failed to stop the Colts on two key fourth quarter drives.
I believe that this is what propelled Belichick into his decision on fourth down to go for it. Many people saw this as undermining his defense, but Belichick knows his team better than anybody. And if he felt that his team could not stop Manning at that point and time, then his decision was warranted.
On the other hand, people are asking why Belichick would make it so easy for one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. It took Manning only four plays to score a touchdown, and he ensured that it was the final drive of the game by using most of the clock. Had Belichick decided to punt, he would have given Manning a longer field to work with.
In any event, I believe that the results would have been the same. The Pats’ shortcomings came from their inability to gain a first down on that final drive, as opposed to the decision to go for fourth down. Manning is the best quarterback in the NFL right now. Punting the ball would have given Manning over two minutes, with two opportunities to stop the clock (one timeout and the two minute warning). Can you remember the last time Manning was in that situation and failed? I can’t.
Belichick will probably take heat all week for making this decision. In his defense, he is the head coach and it is his decision to make. Everyone knows how capable he is as a coach, so he should be given some benefit of the doubt. There may have been more favorable results but nevertheless, the decision was still made: only this time it backfired.
It is his job to put his team in the best position to win the game, and he felt as though he was doing that. Unfortunately, one team had to lose and that’s just the nature of the business. You win some, you lose some.
With this major victory over their recent rivals, the Colts have put themselves in a prime position to do what their counterparts did two seasons ago; finish the regular season undefeated. They have favorable matchups the rest of the way, with their remaining seven opponents having a combined record of 32-34. And by the way, three of those games will be at home.
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NFL Midseason Review
Posted by: | CommentsI don’t think the 2009 NFL season could have had a crazier start. Storylines aplenty have led to a buzz that I haven’t seen for a few years in this league. Every week a new player emerges, or another top team goes down . . . and the fans are eating it up. I have spent more time this year watching and analyzing than I ever have, and now that we’re at the halfway point, here are my favorite storylines from weeks one through nine.
Brett Favre Shows That Age IS Just a Number
I don’t think there is a Vikings fan (or Packers fan for that matter) that expected this kind of success from an aged veteran like Favre. No matter what we had come to expect from his past success, Favre is outplaying his own precedent. He has led the Vikings to the best record they have had in years, has the second best QB rating in the league by less than a point, and has only thrown three interceptions against 17 touchdowns. He is the reason for the Vikings wonderful success so far, even beating his former team in his former stomping ground. At this point, he is worth the coverage he gets on TV.
Titans Start 0-6
Last year, the Titans started 9-0 and finished at the top of the AFC in just about every category. This year, they seem to have more problems than solutions, starting out with six losses including a 59-0 bloodbath versus the Patriots. There hasn’t been a downturn like this as long as I can remember, and Titans fans are not happy.
There have been some bright spots, including two straight wins to break their losing streak, but the damage is already done.
Chris Johnson Explodes
For as bad as the Titans season has been, Chris Johnson has been just the opposite. He has racked up a 6+ yards per carry average as well as seven total TDs on his way to 959 rushing yards so far. He has had two games already where he has rushed for 200 yards, and is the only reason why the season hasn’t been a complete failure for Tennessee. Chris Johnson is showing with every attempt that he is worthy of consideration with the top backs in the league, and is not showing any signs of stopping.
The Lions Win a Game
It took a long, long time, but thanks to a good game from #1 pick Matthew Stafford, the Lions broke their streak. It was against a struggling Washington Redkins team, but a win is a win. They have had trouble getting win number two under their belts, but there is more promise now with a player like Stafford taking the snaps. It also has hurt that both Stafford and stand out receiver Calvin Johnson have missed games, but at least things are looking up.
Drew Brees and the Saints Continue Right Where They Left Off
The Saints are undefeated in week nine for the first time since the 60s, and Drew Brees is in MVP form. Last year, Brees was just a few yards short of setting the all-time single season passing record, and he hasn’t done anything to hint that he won’t be there again this year. The Saints are now the team to beat in the NFC, but it won’t be an easy run. They still have a few games left that could separate the men from the boys: but as of now, they are at the top looking down.
Peyton Manning Looks Like an MVP Again
A few years ago, Manning set the record for touchdown passes in a single season, and won the MVP. Last year, he did it again, though for he faced a lot more hurdles. This year he looks like he is back to his former self, playing like master on the field. He is second in the league in yardage and TDs, and the Colts are 8-0. Manning is looking like he is primed to win his second Super Bowl, and he may take home MVP number four in the process.
Percy Harvin and Mark Sanchez Take the League by Storm
Every year, there are a few rookies that look like they are in line for greatness, putting up good numbers with relative ease. Last year it was Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco, this year it is Percy Harvin and Mark Sanchez. Harvin is a key cog in the Vikings first place NFC North record, returning two kicks for TDs, and catching three others. He also has a KR avg that is second in the league, in addition to his 28 catches.
Mark Sanchez has had a similar experience, even though his team doesn’t have the wins to show for it. He looks poised in the pocket, he makes veteran plays, and he plays with the tenacity of a champion. Sanchez may have thrown 10 interceptions, but he has 11 total touchdowns to make up for it. For a rookie QB with limited college experience, he is playing way above expectations.
Midseason Awards
MVP: Drew Brees
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Percy Harvin
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Brian Cushing
Breakout Player of the Year: Chris Johnson
Playoff Teams:
Minnesota
New Orleans
Dallas
Philadelphia
San Fransisco
Arizona
New England
Indianapolis
Pittsburgh
Cincinnati
Denver
San Diego
Super Bowl Picks:
AFC: Indianapolis
NFC: Dallas
CHAMPION: Indianapolis
We are far from over with stories from the 2009 season, but it’s already been a wild ride that gets me excited each and every week. Personally, I am hoping that my Vikings will finally make it to and win the Super Bowl, but with teams like New Orleans and Dallas running around, nothing is a safe bet. Maybe when all is said and done, it will seem commonplace to have this much action in one go around, but right now, I’m happy to just sit back and take it all in.
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!).
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Undefeated, But for How Long?
Posted by: | CommentsAfter seven weeks of what has already been an exciting NFL season, three undefeated teams remain: the Indianapolis Colts, the New Orleans Saints, and the Denver Broncos. The Saints expected these results when they first acquired Drew Brees. The Broncos, however, didn’t expect these results for at least a season. The Colts have been there and done that several times throughout the Peyton Manning era. In any event, the fact is that these teams have accomplished their goals up to this point, even though they’ve done it in different ways.
The 6-0 Saints boast the most efficient offense in the NFL, and it all starts with Drew Brees’ arm. He is third in passer rating, fourth in touchdowns, and seventh in passing yards. As a team, the Saints are fourth in total offense and lead the NFL in offense by almost 10 points per game. Without a doubt, Brees is having an MVP season, and this is exactly what the Saints envisioned when they acquired him in 2006. There have been very few shortcomings on offense ever since the quarterback arrived. And unlike past Saints teams, this 2009 version has added an aggressive defense to match their acclaimed offense. The Saints went from being ranked 23rd overall in total defense in 2008 to eighth this year. With a defense that can equally hold its own on the football field, the Saints are definitely a team that is headed in the right direction.
The Saints had sort of a close call this past Sunday when they traveled to Miami to take on the Dolphins. They uncharacteristically fell to a 21-point deficit, the biggest they have faced all season. Yet, the Saints proved that they could win another way. We’ve seen the many different ways this team was capable of winning in the past: it’s no secret that they can do it with offense, as they did in the first game of the season when Brees torched the Detroit Lions for six touchdowns. We have seen them win with defense, as they did against the New York Giants where they forced them into two crucial turnovers. This past week, we saw that the Saints have the ability to fall behind, and depend on the arm of their clutch Pro Bowl quarterback to win the game for them . . . even when he doesn’t live up to expectations to start a game. The NFL’s leading passer inked his worst game of the season to date, throwing three interceptions, losing a fumble, and taking five sacks. However, Brees performed when it mattered, leading his team to touchdown drives of 82, 79, and 60 on successive possessions in the second half. The Saints outscored the Dolphins 22-0 in the 4th quarter to capture their sixth straight victory of the season. Looking ahead at their schedule, their next significant game comes Week 12 against the New England Patriots. Yes, we have to wait four more weeks in order to tell if this Saints team is for real.
If you have been reading my other posts, then you know that the Broncos are well-chronicled on our website. Why? Because they are, by far, the biggest surprise of the year. Nobody expected them to be undefeated this far into the season. But the real test for the Broncos is yet to come. They still have two games remaining against the horrid Kansas City Chiefs, and one game against the Oakland Raiders. Would anyone kill me if I already penciled in three more victories for them? I doubt it. However, the rest of their non-divisional games are against some of the best teams in the NFL, who are also fighting for playoff positioning. The Broncos have a daunting schedule going forward, starting next week with the Baltimore Ravens. After the Ravens, they still have to face the Pittsburgh Steelers, Giants, Indianapolis Colts, and Philadelphia Eagles. We will see what the Broncos are made of after their next two games.
The Colts are the third and final undefeated team in the NFL. To be honest, I completely expected this from a veteran team. Many would argue they have the best quarterback in the league in Peyton Manning. Before the season started, I predicted the Colts would start off 8-0. I didn’t even consider that to be going out on a limb, especially once you looked at their first eight games on the schedule. Their first true test will be against the Patriots in Week 10. Circle this one on your calendar because it will be a game for the ages; that is, if the Colts remain focused on a week-by-week basis, and don’t overlook any teams in-between (such as their division rival Houston Texans in Week 9).
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