They're in KC today. Looks like they are having to get creative to fill the injury holes. Of course that's what great teams do when facing challenges. We'll see....

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3114488

Looks like they pulled it off over KC 13 - 10. Vinitari missed two FG's however he made the game winner when it counted. Looks like Atlanta is next on Turkey Day.


The Indianapolis defense was outstanding today in restricting the running space for Kansas City RBs Priest Holmes and Kolby Smith while not allowing explosive downfield plays to QB Brodie Croyle. Even though defensive coordinator Ron Meeks has one of the lightest defenses in the NFL, they Colts are definitely one of the fastest units in the way they swarm the ball carrier in the Tampa 2 system. On the other side of the ball, it is clear that injuries are significantly affecting what the Colts can do to attack opposing defenses, but Indianapolis still got the win it needed to start getting its season back on track.
-- Keith Kidd, Scouts Inc.

The answer is:

YES!!!

Manning is looking like another first round draft pick the Colts had. Anyone remember Jeff George? Seriously, they are not the same team without Harrison. This just makes Brady look that much better with all he did without the big name receivers.

We'll have to see if thay can ride out the storm of injuries and what adjustments they make. If they adjust well, they will continue to be contenders. I was wondering if they kept Harrison out of the last game so he could be fully prepared for Thursday's game on national tv??? Could be a strategy to that.

They could have held Harrison out. I would have thought they would play him against KC instead of Atlanta. KC is a better team. You could be right though, maybe they want to make a statement on national tv.

Oh please. The Colts will be just fine when they get healthy. Take a look not only at some of the names they've been starting at reciever as well as the number of offensive personnel they've been forced to dress. It's practically been an intrmural squad out there.

And aside from Harrison, Manning hasn't had any other "big name recievers". Reggie Wayne is a nice option when Harrison is drawing attention away. When Harrison isn't in the game he's alot less productive. And let's not try and pretend Brady has been forced to play with scrubs. He's had his share of good recievers.

Too bad the game wasn't on regular tv. It looks like their adjustments are working. That's a great thing as they can only improve as the regulars come back on line from injuries. J-ville is next at 7-3.

quote:

Originally posted by shua_b:
The answer is:

YES!!!

Manning is looking like another first round draft pick the Colts had. Anyone remember Jeff George? Seriously, they are not the same team without Harrison. This just makes Brady look that much better with all he did without the big name receivers.

Brady is GOD and everybody shall bow down to his almighty greatness.

Brady for Pres. 2008!

I would be very sad if something happened to his knee or other body part.

Brady is good but needs to shut up. With his comments the other day, he put an even bigger target on his back.

The Pats are a good team. As we see with Indy right now, no one person (in this case Manning) can carry the load. It takes a good supporting cast to fill in. If the Pats key starters get injured, can they adjust and still be successful?? We don't know just yet. If my memory is working right, I think last year they had some key players out in one of the Indy games and was not able to win.

Indy has made adjustments for their many injuires and has proven they can still win. That is a sign of a well rounded team and a great coaching staff.

quote:

Originally posted by TVCJohn:
Indy has made adjustments for their many injuires and has proven they can still win. That is a sign of a well rounded team and a great coaching staff.

It also helps that they play crap teams.

quote:

Originally posted by shua_b:

quote:

Originally posted by TVCJohn:
Indy has made adjustments for their many injuires and has proven they can still win. That is a sign of a well rounded team and a great coaching staff.

It also helps that they play crap teams.

Crap teams????? Maybe the last 2 teams. However, outside of Indy and Dallas, who have the Pats played???? It's back to the strength of schedule debate. I did some quick numbers crunching on the first ten teams that Indy and NE have played. I did not count Indy's game 11 with Atlanta because NE hasn't played Philly yet (their 11th game).

Here's what the numbers show. If I did my cyphering correctly, the combined win/loss record of the first ten teams that NE has played is 50 wins and 53 losses. The combined win/loss record of the first ten teams Indy has played is 56 wins and 44 losses. Now, I don't consider myself a smart fella but I'd say the numbers lead one to believe that so far, Indy has been playing the superior teams based on win/loss records.

Let's see what the rest of the regular season holds just using known records to-date. I won't include each teams game 11 opponents. NE plays: Balt, Pitt, NYJ, Mia, NYG for a combined win/loss record of 20 - 31. Indy plays: J-ville, Balt, Oak, Hou, Tenn for a combined win/loss record of 24 - 26. I dunno....but again, it looks like the rest of the season for Indy still has them playing the better teams. No surprise there.....

Strength of schedule, strength of schedule. I hate that term. I especially hate it in college football, but here it is in the NFL. I counter your strength of schedule debate with the scores of the games and the stats the PATS are putting up. The PATS are blowing teams out. They are destroying the defenses of the lesser teams they are playing.

My point about the Colts playing crap teams was that they are playing them when their "key" players are hurt, thus giving them a better chance of winning.

Back to the strength of schedule, how can that even be an argument in pro ball when the neither the players nor the organization can set their schedule. It is the league that sets it for ALL teams. Let's take a look at the Chargers this year. They were predicted to be one of the better teams this year and look at what they have done. Another team to look at is the Jets, people thought they would challenge the PATS for the AFC East, myself included. The Jets suck this year. This is why I can't stand the strength of schedule debate. Strength of schedule is based upon the previous years standings.

Care to cite those injury-laden teams that Indy had the "advantage" over?

quote:

Originally posted by metallicatz:
Care to cite those injury-laden teams that Indy had the "advantage" over?

I think he was saying that while Indy is injured, they played the "easy teams"?????

I figure while Indy is making injury adjustments, they only puts them slightly better than the other teams vs far superior.

quote:

Originally posted by shua_b:
The PATS are blowing teams out. They are destroying the defenses of the lesser teams they are playing.

quote:

Originally posted by TVCJohn:

quote:

Originally posted by metallicatz:
Care to cite those injury-laden teams that Indy had the "advantage" over?

I think he was saying that while Indy is injured, they played the "easy teams"?????

That is exactly what I am saying.

quote:

I figure while Indy is making injury adjustments, they only puts them slightly better than the other teams vs far superior.

It is definitely the best time to be injured. It should be a good game next week between Indy and Jacksonville.

quote:

Originally posted by shua_b:
It is definitely the best time to be injured. It should be a good game next week between Indy and Jacksonville.

It might, just depends on who wins! I wouldn't take anything for granted anymore. Got to take each game one at a time, keep on making the correct adjustments and hope the injury list gets shorter. If Indy is going to go through a rough spot....do it now and get it over with before the playoffs. It would be cool if they run the table from here on out.

I think if they can beat Jacksonville, running the table is a definite possibility. The only reason I can see for them to faulter is because the Colts like to sit their starters after they have clinched a playoff spot.

As far as the game on Sunday goes, I think David Garrard is a good QB but his youth might get the better of him. What I mean by that is because the division lead is at hand, he might push too hard and make some silly mistakes. Peyton Manning will sit back and take what is given to him and not push to win the game. Of course, Garrard is the only starting QB in the NFL to not throw an interception, so he could prove me wrong.

Another "W" in the column. It was close but they hung in there against a tough J-Ville team who could have won. It was a good test of Indy's adjustments. It seems Indy's 10 for 13 3rd down conversions is what tipped the scales. If (or when) they win the Super Bowl, I could see Coach Dungy getting Coach Of The Year for pulling this off.