Captain Oblivious :: Patriots 20, Colts 3

I didn't expect this. Nobody expected this, except the team that pulled it off. The Patriots didn't just beat the Colts yesterday. They didn't just slow Peyton Manning down. They didn't just outscore the Colts. No, the Pats just turned the Colts offense off, like they were controlled by a light switch inside the Patriots locker room. 49 Touchdowns passing for Peyton Manning during the regular season, zero in this game. I thought the Pats would win, but I expected the Colts to get 28 points and I thought the game would come down to the final seconds. I thought Adam Vinatieri would have to kick a field goal to win the game. My bad. I didn't give our defense enough credit. Lessons learned:

The defending Super Bowl champions don't seem to like it very much when everyone expects them to lose.
Bill Belichick and Romeo Crennel own Peyton Manning.
Corey Dillon doesn't suck.
Tedy Bruschi is the most underrated player in the NFL.
Tom Brady has never lost a playoff game in his career.
The Pats have a lot of injuries, but everyone seems to have forgotten how many injuries they had last year when they won 14 straight and the Super Bowl.

Oh, and finally: give me one game to win, and my choice of quarterback to win it, and I'm taking Tom Brady. Still. Peyton Manning is the Dan Marino of this generation, and Tom Brady really is the Joe Montana. Marino and Manning are both great players, but I'd have taken Montana over Marino, and I'll take Brady over Manning. It matters how well you play against high quality opponents in high pressure situations.

PS Like Declan, I'll be passing on the Sunday night welcome reception at The Sphere. There's no way I can miss the Pats-Steelers game. Unless Ed knows there will be big screen TVs at the party like they've done during Super Bowl years. I doubt that will happen, because this isn't the Super Bowl, but Lotus is historically a New England company so I'm not ruling out the possibility. I'm not sure yet if I'll be at ESPN or if I'll opt for the peace and quiet of my room in the Dolphin.

Comments

1 - Just be sure to wear your hat on Sunday, OK? Let's leave nothing to chance!!!!

Posted by Jackson At 08:24:52 AM On 01/18/2005 | - Website - |

2 - The winner of this years Super Bowl just became very clear I think. I thought the Colts were just TOO explosive... even though I had in the back of my mind the history between Payton and the Pats.

Corey Dillon reminded me very much of Ottis Anderson against the Bills in the Super Bowl 25. The Giants won that game on BALL CONTROL and that's exactly what the Pats did. Give Payton as few chances as possible... put points on the board when you can... and just win the damn thing.

The Jets defense made Rothlesberger look like the rookie he is (although he had a very good 3rd quarter)... Imagine what the Pats are going to do to him???

Damn, I'm going to miss being in Orlando for the big games this weekend.

Posted by Bob Obringer At 08:52:45 AM On 01/18/2005 | - Website - |

3 - I agree, the Jets did make Rothlesberger look like a rookie... Hang on, he is a rookie. It's going to be a very different game between the Steelers and Pats this time around. Maybe Ben won't be starting, maybe they will play a different style of game, maybe they will win, maybe they will loose.

I just know that I'll be somewhere watching it. Somewhere with beer....

Posted by Declan lynch At 11:05:57 AM On 01/18/2005 | - Website - |

4 - Oh, Ben will be starting (assuming he doesn't fall down the stairs during the week and break his arm). He had a bad game. It happens (see: Brady, Miami). But he's definitely Pittsburgh's best QB. And he handled the Pats pretty well the first time around. I'm sure Belichick and Crennel will come up with some new wrinkles for him this time, but I doubt he'll self-destruct.

To me, the question heading into this game is whether or not the Pats can get 80 yards out of Dillon against the best run defense in football. If they can do that, and not turn the ball over, then we'll have one hell of a game to watch. If the Steelers limit the Pats to 6 yards rushing again, it'll be 34-20 just like last time. I don't think that'll happen, though - no way does Corey Dillon run the ball 5 times for 6 yards - so I think we're in for a classic. Wish the schedule played out differently - I'd much rather watch the game on my TiVo.

@Jackson: There is extra positive superstition in this scenario. When the Pats and Steelers played for the AFC Championship in 01, guess where I watched the game: Orlando, Lotusphere week. The hat is packed, and The Squeak will be in her Tom Brady shirt...

Posted by Rob McDonagh At 11:50:17 AM On 01/18/2005 | - Website - |

5 - Dude, I never doubted that the Pats would beat the Colts. Sadly (for me), the Pats are just the most well prepared team in the history of the NFL. I sort of root for them because I used to work with Patrick Pass's mom. She's really nice and I'm glad her boy has done well. I like to see him get playing time.

All bets are off if the Falcons make it to the Superbowl, though. Look out. Not sure if even Bellachick can game plan the DVDs (Duckett Vick Dunn).