I’m in Shock

I just cannot get over the Colt’s loss to the Chargers today.  Everything was going the Colt’s way.  Peyton was dominating on offense, starting 11/11 as he hit Marvin Harrison over the middle.  The Colts were already up 7 and going in again.  And then something inexplicable happened. Marvin Harrison pulled some awkward spin move trying to be a hero, and fumbled. In the past 5 years, I can’t remember Marvin Harrison ever doing anything other than laying down after catching a ball, trying to preserve his body.  So how is it that in his first game back from a knee injury that kept him out for 10 weeks he wants to do a spin move and risk being lit up by 3 Charger defenders?  I have no idea, perhaps he felt like he needed to make a play in his first game back.  From that fumble on, everything fell apart.

The Colts picked Rivers on the Charger’s opening possession.  The defender read the route and jumped on it.  After Marvin’s fumble, Rivers had all the room in the world.  The cover-2 was playing extremely soft and Rivers was fitting everything 10-15 yards down the field.  The Colt’s secondary was not aggressive.  To make matters worse, the Colt’s pass rush was awful all game.  I can’t remember them recording a sack or even very many pressures.  The defensive performance is the reason why the Colts lost this game. Both of Peyton’s interceptions were tipped (though I admit the first was overthrown).  I feel Peyton played a good ball game.  Twice he led the Colts to touchdown drives to go on top of the Chargers, and each and every time the NFL’s #1 scoring defense gave it right back.  Inexplicable.  The last time not only was Tomlinson out of the game, but Rivers as well.  How can you give up a score to Billy Volek and Darren Sproles like that?  I will never know.

San Diego heads to Foxboro next week in what will be a rematch of a heated playoff battle last season.  I didn’t think there was any chance of San Diego advancing.  I will make the same statement this week. I can only dream of Tom Brady hitting Randy Moss in stride for an 80 yard Touchdown on the first play from scrimmage..and Tom Brady sprinting out to mid-field to do the lights-out dance in front of 70 thousand screaming New England fans.

Jaguars should be ashamed

Can we send the Patriots to the AFC Title Game already? Coming off Jacksonville’s 31-29 victory (if you can really call it that) over Pittsburgh, I am disgusted. I am beyond disgusted. Here’s a team that came out of the gates and made all kinds of big plays. The Jones-Drew kick return is the answer that set the tone for the whole first half. And then the Mathis INT return for a TD puts them on top and the audience gets the idea that Big Ben is in for a long night. Another interception later and a great touchdown pass to Jones-Drew, and I’m ready to put this one on ice. It was a dominating display and everybody looked justified in taking Jacksonville this week.

Fast forward to the fourth quarter. Fourth and 12 for Pittsburgh in Jacksonville territory. Up pops the obligatory graphic (the largest fourth quarter deficit to be overcome in playoff history was 16 points. The Steelers were down18.) Jags Blitz. Steelers pick it up. Touchdown. Okay, you say, its still an 11 point game, no need to worry. And on most occassions, you would be right. But not with the Jags, no. They’d rather see their fan base collapse of a heart attack than hold onto an 18 point lead. Two more unanswered Pittsburgh touchdowns (with failed conversions, thank God), and the Steelers go up 1. At this point, I want to throw numerous heavy objects at my television. The Jags can’t complete a pass. They can’t run for more than 2 yards. They can’t stop Roethlisberger from doing whatever the hell he wants despite how little of a threat Davenport was all game.

Eventually Garrard would scramble deep into Pittsburgh territory, and the Jaguars were saved of complete and utter embarrassment. One thing is certain. This team will get rocked by the Patriots next week. Garrard looks great on some throws. On other occasions (that interception in the fourth where he was throwing to his 18 foot wide receiver) he looks putrid. I have serious doubts about him handling a Bill Belicheck scheme. While the Patriots have allowed 4.2 yards per carry on the ground this year (26th in the NFL—something that stands to benefit Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor), they have often left ground games dead simply because their opposition cannot afford to run. This is exactly what will happen next week in Foxboro. The Patriots will jump out, pile it on, and the Jaguars will have no choice but to make mistakes through the air and abandon the run. It’s not all that impressive picking the Patriots as a lock to win, but I have a better chance of out-running a Kenyan in the Boston Marathon than the Jaguars do at smelling a victory at New England.