Seriously, what the hell? You’ve got a team with an awful defense and a banged up offense. Your biggest strength: one of the greatest quarterbacks ever and a healthy number one wideout—one of the best in the game. Logically, you rely on your all-pro quarterback, and air it out, right? Actually, the Colts did the opposite. They went in with an ultra-conservative game plan and only targeted Reggie Wayne once. Keep in mind, Wayne is the same guy that caught 111 balls for over 1,300 yards during the regular season. Sure, Darelle Revis was covering him, but you would think the Colts would do everything possible to get him open…such as sending him in motion, moving him to the right side (he was on the left the entire game), trying to get Revis off of him. They didn’t, and they lost.
Indianapolis was also poor on third down (6-13) and even worse when facing third and short. They continuously attempted to run on those short third downs, and predictably failed. 29th ranked rushing attack, meet third best run defense. Balance is all well and good, but isn’t it logical in life to stop doing something that doesn’t work? Why is football any different? It was quite obvious going into the game that Indianapolis was going to be incapable of running on the Jets—therefore put the game in the hands of your best player: Peyton Manning. I have no way to prove this, but Peyton Manning was likely involved in many of those run calls, considering what a command he has over the offense and the amount of audibles he calls at the line of scrimmage. Judging by what New York’s defense was doing (dropping 7-8 guys in coverage) Peyton likely thought the best plan of attack was to run against a reduced box. Unfortunately he forgot two key points, the Colts halfbacks aren’t very good and their line is poor at run blocking. You get an A+ for selflessness Manning, but a D for execution…
2. Dwayne Bowe???
Bowe’s stock sky-rocketed this year after catching 15 touchdown passes and amassing over 1,100 receiving yards. He caught zero balls for zero yards for zero touchdowns against the Ravens. Is he really a number one wideout? His three best games this season were against his own division or the NFC west—the two worst in football. Not exactly a resume builder. Fox had a few great clips during the game against Baltimore of Bowe getting knocked on his ass as he began his route. That’s a clear indicator a guy is unable to beat man coverage and shake his man. Based on that, is Dwayne Bowe really a number one caliber wide receiver? I’m starting to think the answer is no…
3. Mark Sanchez is not playing like a Super Bowl caliber quarterback…
Solid defensive play and a strong ground game can only get you so far. Mark Sanchez needs to play at a high level if the Jets have a chance at beating the New England Patriots. He honestly looked awful Saturday night against the Colts. He overthrew something like 60 receivers, give or take a few. Even that last pass to Braylon Edwards that essentially won the game was more a great catch than a great throw. The explosive Patriots WILL put up points and the Jets will need to match them. We have no proof that Sanchez can in fact keep up with the Brady bunch. Sanchez will also need to prove he can perform at a high level in frigid weather—something he hasn’t really done at all during his short career. There won’t be snow (according to AccuWeather, at least) but it will be cold and windy. How will a quarterback who is wildly inaccurate perform in conditions that will only accentuate that weakness?
4. Mike McCarthy…oh boy.
I was legitimately angry after watching the Packers defeat the Eagles. And it wasn’t because of Any Reid’s mustache or Peyton Manning’s annoying new commercials. It was because witnessing Mike McCarthy manage the clock is like watching the unrated cut of the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” After a failed third down conversion by Philadelphia with just under two minutes to go-in field goal range-McCarthy refused to call TO, letting 40 seconds run off the clock. It then gets more bizarre. The Packers reverted between a classic two minute drill drive trying to score points and being content to let the clock run out. What were they thinking? If you’re going to run the clock out, just do it. Don’t run the ball, take a shot down field, then run it again.
5. Despite Baltimore’s big victory, weaknesses are evident…
I know, I’m a buzz kill. But after watching Baltimore defeat Kansas City I couldn’t help notice some of their more glaring weaknesses. Offensively, their receivers are slow and struggle to consistently get open. Joe Flacco doesn’t feel the rush like other elite quarterbacks, and Baltimore’s running game is BAD. Ray Rice seems to get at least 15 yards on every checkdown he catches but can’t seem to get any space on the ground. They were only able to gain the upper hand against the Chiefs when Baltimore’s defense forced a bunch of turnovers and took over the game. If their defense doesn’t dominate can the offense carry the team?
6. How the hell Seattle won:
This is how crazy Seattle’s victory was:
1. Matt Hasselbeck hasn’t thrown four touchdowns since October 11th, 2009.
2. Marshawn Lynch hasn’t rushed for 100+ yards since December 18th, 2008.
3. Seattle hadn’t beaten a team with a winning record since October 17th, 2009.
4. Pete Carroll’s first postseason victory since 1997.
5. The first team with a sub-.500 record to not only make the playoffs, but to win a playoff game.
6. Pete Carroll out-coached Sean Payton. You read that right.
I thought Seattle had a chance to win, yet I also thought it was more likely that after New York defeated Indianapolis Rex Ryan would leap onto Peyton Manning, smell his foot, than rip out his heart Conan style as Jim Caldwell watched passively from 15 feet away. It was late, okay. The Saints have had a top ten defense all season, while Seattle has had one of the three worst offenses all season. Who saw the Hawk’s dropping a 40-burger Sunday? I guess Malcolm Jenkins really is that good, and Roman Harper really is that bad.
But kudos to Pete Carroll for out-coaching Sean Payton, Matt Hasselbeck to playing out of his freakin’ mind and Marshawn Lynch to having one of the five greatest runs ever.
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