Dispelling the Myth That Colts Now Know How To Beat The Pats

From Freeney, and other Colts, to ESPN talking heads like Ditka and some print writers, the idea has been repeated that the Colts "exposed" the Pats and provided the Colts with what they need to beat the Pats should they meet again. Their logic makes little sense.

1- The Pats BEAT the unanimously regarded number 1 or 1A team in the NFL, on the road, despite poor officiating, giving up 200+ yds to Addai, and trailing by 10 points in the 4th quarter. In other words, the Colts lost under the best circumstances they are likely to see against the Patriots, in case Freeny, et al, can't undertsand the basic premise here.

2- It was the Pats, not the Colts, that clearly won the battle of in-game adjustments by finally shutting down Addai, figuring out how to keep Freeney and Mathis off Brady's back, scheming to get more pressure on Manning, and coming up with plays to get Moss and Stallworth open deep down the field against a defense that was speciically designed to prevent such long passes.

So any weaknesses supposedly exposed this past Sunday were mostly fixed during the game - not in a sour grapes post-game locker room like the Colts'. Since it was the Pats who adjusted better and faster, exactly how does Freeney figure the same thing won't happen next time regardless of whatever the Colts believe they can now exploit?

3- Injuries. Blah, so "Marv" couldn't play, boo hoo. The Pats went in without their leading rusher Sammy Morris, precisely the kind of hard-nosed, pile-driving running back the Colts have trouble with, and the Pats still won, on the road, etc. The Colts were missing some dudes on D? Well, we didn't have Eugene Wilson, our best cover safety and top five tackler.

4- Pronouncements that, "next time it will be different," by the folks who think the Colts now have the secrets to beat the Pats, are exactly right! The Colts might as well not even bother to build a scheme based against the defense they saw on Sunday - they know as well anyone that you rarely see the same thing twice from the Pats.

This doesn't mean the Pats don't have things to work on, they do ( to bad re-signing Dan Graham to beat up on Freeney again isn't one of them. I never felt the Pats missed Grambo until Sunday). But don't Freeny and Ditka and the rest realize that it's Colts that have MORE to work on? Like number one straight from Freeney's mouth - 'we've got to figure out how to finish them off.' Bingo, Dwight.

Just get them here for the playoffs...we'll beat that jacka$$ horsefaced Munning like a rented mule

It will be different next time.
Pats 41
Colts 17

It will absolutely be "different" next time.

The Ptriots playing at home will not have to work off of a silent snap count, which should give Light and Kazur the 1/2 step they need to beat Both Freeney and Mathis' outside move. this should give Brady all the time he needs to find the open man. Of course there will be several of them since you know that the Colts main objective will be to take away Moss

That Refereeing crew won't be allowed within a 3 state radius of Foxboro, if they still have jobs.

The crowd noise, that we don't need to augment, will be a distratcion for the colts, not a weapon.

There will be several "differences"

In addition, in last years matchup, I believe either Hobbs or Asante did a good job on Harrison. Wasn't it another of those 'great calls' that gave Indy another chance.

The Dolts don't even know how to beat their own tweezerd!ck half inch johnsons

Patsfan1280 said:

It will absolutely be "different" next time.

The Ptriots playing at home will not have to work off of a silent snap count, which should give Light and Kazur the 1/2 step they need to beat Both Freeney and Mathis' outside move. this should give Brady all the time he needs to find the open man. Of course there will be several of them since you know that the Colts main objective will be to take away Moss

That Refereeing crew won't be allowed within a 3 state radius of Foxboro, if they still have jobs.

The crowd noise, that we don't need to augment, will be a distratcion for the colts, not a weapon.

There will be several "differences"

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Add to this
1. Weather (cold, snow, ice) will negate the speed factor of Dungheap's DL


This is predicated on IF the Colts even make it to AFCCG since they'll need to play Steelers and SD

Right now they better start worring about Titans who are only 1 game back

true_patriot said:

It will be different next time.
Pats 41
Colts 17

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This type of score is clearly possible, assuming the Colts make it to January 20th. It's a long season. I expect the Colts D (small and speedy) to be wearing down a bit and a half step slower.

All else being equal to week 9, I expect a better referee crew, which should even the playing field. (+10 points for the Pats?)

Pat's D gameplan will focus more on Adai and the run, as passing conditions in the NE Winter will likely hinder Manning in the air as it has in the past.

All in all, I believe NE is capable of playing far better than in week 9 but I don't see the same for the Colts.

Of course, the refs may be on the take, so who knows!

Let me play mythbuster now...

1) The Colts dominated except for the final 3 Pats' drives

TOP before: Pats = 24:53, Colts = 25:25
TOP after: Pats = 4:51, Colts = 4:51

Take away Addai's 73 yard scamper (fluke) and the yards/points aren't all that different either:

YDS before: Pats = 198, Colts = 218
YDS after: Pats = 144, Colts = 38

PTS before: Pats = 10, Colts = 13
PTS after: Pats = 14, Colts = 0

2) Pressure led to Brady's 2 picks

Quote from our good friend Mr. Easterbrook:

"Like Manning, Brady is accustomed to standing in the pocket untroubled; hit five times, he became antsy and threw two interceptions."

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This is so totally lazy, it should be criminal. That was his conclusion before the game and the facts weren't going to get in his way. Check out the video. Picks are at 1:16 and 2:55. No pressure, Brady stepped up and delivered both passes with his feet solid under him, anything but "antsy". You can question the wisdom and execution of the plays, but they were not pressure-related picks.

3) The Colts gave the blueprint to beating the Pats

Back to Easterbrook:

"But in the fourth quarter, Indianapolis pass pressure disappeared and Brady reverted to his male model-esque self, casually throwing perfect pass after perfect pass. The Colts never jammed New England wide receivers, lining up soft to prevent long gains. This worked when there was pass pressure and backfired when there was not."

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Let me get this straight...the plan is to have your rush ends (you only have 2) crash into the backfield at full speed on every play. You also want your DBs (you only have 5) to crash into the backfield at full speed on every running play and jam/chase the Pats' receivers on every passing play. AND YOU WONDER WHY THIS DOESN'T WORK FOR 60 MINUTES? They were beat up and exhausted.

Didn't work for Dallas. Didn't work for the Colts. Won't work for Pittsburgh and Baltimore either. Know why? Because you have to build a BIG lead in order for it to work. That is hard to do against any top-tier team. Nearly impossible to do against the Pats considering their offense/defense/ST.

Can the Pats be beat? Sure, but you have to:
a) Do what you do best...don't try to out-scheme them
b) Play for 60 minutes...must have quality depth
c) Don't turn the ball over...not even once
d) Out-execute the Pats in all 3 phases...hope they have an off day

great thread. Thanks Brady... and Metaphors.

DonBlackmon55 said:

Add to this
1. Weather (cold, snow, ice) will negate the speed factor of Dungheap's DL


This is predicated on IF the Colts even make it to AFCCG since they'll need to play Steelers and SD

Right now they better start worring about Titans who are only 1 game back

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Well, if we play the Steelers AND the Bolts, most likely will mean that the Bolts came in to NE and put the smackdown on you. We do have the Titans in the rear view, but we also have a 1.5 game lead on 'em. Certainly, I will be rooting for Jags this weekend. Locking up #2 is the priority, if we do, it's a 2 playoff game year prior to SB.

He Ban Me said:

Well, if we play the Steelers AND the Bolts, most likely will mean that the Bolts came in to NE and put the smackdown on you. We do have the Titans in the rear view, but we also have a 1.5 game lead on 'em. Certainly, I will be rooting for Jags this weekend. Locking up #2 is the priority, if we do, it's a 2 playoff game year prior to SB.

Click to expand...

Most likely true. Pittsburgh should win their division (think Cleveland wants that Oakland game back?). SD should win the west by default unless Denver rises from the ashes (they have a workable closing schedule). I don't expect the wildcards to make much noise on the road.

So this means the likely divisional round looks like:

Pitt at Indy
SD at NE

Looks like solid matchups and I think CBS would be thrilled.

Brady'sButtBoy said:

1- The Pats BEAT the unanimously regarded number 1 or 1A team in the NFL, on the road, despite poor officiating, giving up 200+ yds to Addai, and trailing by 10 points in the 4th quarter. In other words, the Colts lost under the best circumstances they are likely to see against the Patriots, in case Freeny, et al, can't undertsand the basic premise here.

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You forgot to mention the sound thing.

Metaphors said:

Most likely true. Pittsburgh should win their division (think Cleveland wants that Oakland game back?). SD should win the west by default unless Denver rises from the ashes (they have a workable closing schedule). I don't expect the wildcards to make much noise on the road.

So this means the likely divisional round looks like:

Pitt at Indy
SD at NE

Looks like solid matchups and I think CBS would be thrilled.

Click to expand...

1.)NE
2.)INDY
3.)PITT
4.)SD
5.)TITANS
6.)WHO CARES

Pitt>Who Cares

Titans>SD

Pitt at Indy

Titans at NE

He Ban Me said:

1.)NE
2.)INDY
3.)PITT
4.)SD
5.)TITANS
6.)WHO CARES

Pitt>Who Cares

Titans>SD

Pitt at Indy

Titans at NE

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I'm not sure the Tits can beat the Chumps in SD.

What I learned from that game is:
Pats offense and defense = CLUTCH
Colts offense, defense and Manning = CHOKE

He Ban Me said:

Titans>SD

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You might be right. No problems with the Titans D. Their offense still leans heavily (pun intended) on LenDale White and his 3.6 YPC. Would be fun to see if VY can rise to the occasion in the playoffs.

I'll be interested to see what happens in the Cleveland/Pittsburgh game this weekend. If the Browns win (Big IF, but possible) both teams would be 6-3. The Browns schedule the rest of the way is much easier, as the Steelers have both Jacksonville and New England, where Cleveland's toughest game is at Baltimore.

Brady'sButtBoy said:

1- The Pats BEAT the unanimously regarded number 1 or 1A team in the NFL, on the road, despite poor officiating, giving up 200+ yds to Addai, and trailing by 10 points in the 4th quarter. In other words, the Colts lost under the best circumstances they are likely to see against the Patriots, in case Freeny, et al, can't undertsand the basic premise here.

Click to expand...

nuff said, and well put

godef said:

You forgot to mention the sound thing.

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Follow-up: no foul-up in the communication devices of the coaches and Brady.