A few shortcomings, a few missing players overcome Colts

By Anthony Bialy  |   Monday, November 05, 2007  |  Comments( 0 )

Indianapolis Colts
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It just got to be too much. Last Sunday, Indianapolis had to face an excessively talented Patriot offense that's impossible to contain indefinitely along with a few core losses in its ranks, factors which merged to bring about the first blemish on the Colts' record. As you may or may not have heard (depending on if you were on Earth the previous week), this matchup between two unbeaten squads was billed as an all-time great regular-season event, one in which the home team didn't do quite enough on either side of the ball to topple a franchise that is now free to cruise toward 16 straight victories.

The thing about the Patriot comeback is that they went by the same model Indianapolis has often followed, namely patiently waiting for chances to pounce. Their two fourth-quarter touchdowns after what had been to then an abnormally inefficient day for Tom Brady showed that it is basically unthinkable to suppress his team for an entire afternoon.

New England's first score of the final quarter was the culmination of a steady progression downfield over the course of seven plays and 73 yards, while the latter was a quick three-play drive set up by a Wes Welker punt return just into Colts territory and highlighted by a 33-yard strike to Donte' Stallworth. Both were lethally efficient in different ways, and both also displayed the remarkable abundance of talent this team has working in sync to overwhelm even top adversaries.

As for the Indianapolis offense, every team can gripe about injuries virtually every week, but two crucial losses contributed to the doomed effort. Most notably, not having Marvin Harrison in the holster ultimately confined the Colts' airborne onslaught. Receiver 1A Reggie Wayne caught five passes for 62 yards, neither total impressive enough to counter the loss of his star teammate.

Worse for the Colts, Wayne's touches accounted for the majority of the receptions by wide receivers, who collectively only hauled in eight catches total: Anthony Gonzalez has played well after being thrown into action as a rookie, but an injury limited him to a single grab, while the buried-on-the-charts Aaron Moorehead caught a pair of passes. Wayne may have had underwhelming numbers, but he didn't get much help in the form of distractions caused by his teammates at the same position.

Tight end Dallas Clark, who's usually proficient when necessary, also only managed two catches; he totaled a meager 17 yards of ground gained. The lack of effective options in the deeper passing game helped keep Indianapolis from frequently visiting the end zone, as the Colts wound up attempting three field goals on the day. The always accurate Adam Vinatieri was, for once, inaccurate on a long 50-yard attempt, and both his makes came after stalled deep red zone drives.

Left tackle Tony Ugoh's absence turned out to be almost as crushing to his team as Harrison's. The leisurely pace at which the Colts are often permitted to pass due to the unsurpassed protection the line provides was disrupted; of course, a fierce Patriots pass rush contributed to that, too.

A collapsed pocket contributed to the turnover Manning committed which effectively ended the game, a case of a player trying to desperately force something at a time when the only other option was to take a sack which would have led to an excruciatingly long fourth down. The brutal pass rush which forced the half-fumble, half-interception summed up an effort that just couldn't overcome the league's obviously unquestioned topmost opponent.

It's not that Joseph Addai didn't try to change the game on his own. Sunday, he evolved from a sturdy workhorse to an absolute game-breaker, gaining 112 yards on the ground and 114 by air, including stupendously turning a check-down throw near the half into a touchdown. He did everything in his power to affect the outcome, especially with the traditional throwing game hampered, but it wasn't enough.

The same can be said of some stellar moments by defenders. For one, Robert Mathis did a 360 in a phone booth on his way past his blocker to bring down Brady on New England's first offensive play, while his second sack was also opportune, driving the opponent out of field goal range early in the second half.

Also, Gary Brackett breaking up that pass would have been a fine result on its own, but his concentrated effort to keep the ball alive and turn it into an interception was a spectacular play that could have potentially changed the outcome. That said, some shining individual defensive efforts weren't enough overall to stop a stocked opponent, especially paired with only 20 points from what is usually a copiously scoring offense.

The Colts will have to settle for hoping to get a second shot at this team in Foxborough after the regular schedule, optimistically with a full complement of players firing on all cylinders. And, it's of little consolation, but the Colts walk away with a 7-1 record and the knowledge that their coach is universally respected, they weren't caught cheating this year, they haven't had a safety suspended for obtaining performance-enhancing drugs or two defenders fined for cheap shots, and they never resorted to trading for a talented hoodlum to play, say, wide receiver. Unfortunately, competing with class and knowing there may be a potential opportunity to avenge this day in January are the only upsides after a game that saw the termination of a perfect season.
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