Colts go quietly
There were a lot of people who already had the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl, but they went one and out last night in a first-round playoff game the San Diego Chargers seemed determined to lose until the final minutes of regulation.
When Darren Sproles fumbled the ball into the end zone from the 2-yard line in the third quarter and quarterback Philip Rivers followed with a disastrous end zone interception on the ensuring possession, I was sure the Colts had dodged enough bullets to get them all the way to Tampa. Instead, the Chargers made a great defensive stand deep in Colts territory with two minutes to go in the final period and drove back for a game-tying field goal to send the game into overtime.
Which, of course, led to the most decisive play of their season -- the overtime coin toss. The Chargers won it and took advantage of a couple of Colts penalties to get in position for Sproles to sprint 22 yards for the game-winning score.
The Ravens aren't looking beyond today's first-round matchup against the Dolphins, but I doubt any of them are heartbroken that the Colts are out of the picture.
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Comments
I was really impressed by Sproles. His explosive speed was unbelievable.
Posted by: Kevin from Baltimore | January 4, 2009 7:43 AM
Correct!Now it would be nice to see the Steelers take a quick hike.I was delighted that Matt Ryan & co. are now taking their vacations,too.What happened to all the favorites?The 4th qtrs! Get a good lead,Balt,and don't play that "prevent" defense that let's us down almost all the time.Will special teams be the deciding factor in Miami?
Posted by: Dan R. | January 4, 2009 7:49 AM
Only 2 teams we couldn't beat are out it. Colts& Pats. Dosen't mean we will, but Superbowl is within our grasp. Bring on the Titans and 3-match with Armpittsburg.
Posted by: o40don | January 4, 2009 8:16 AM
Ah, the all important coin flip. Fifty years ago a team from Baltimore played a game in NY that went into overtime. They lost the coin flip but I seem to remember that they won that game. I also seem to rember that quite a few people think that that game was rather important.
Posted by: Rusty | January 4, 2009 8:22 AM
hey pete
watching sproles reminded me of ray rice. just because they are both short and play hard.
Posted by: justin | January 4, 2009 8:51 AM
The pessimist says "Oh no! All the road teams lost!" The optimist says, "All right! Every team with a recent NFL award winner (Ryan & Manning) lost. Bring on Pennington!
Posted by: Debbie Romeo | January 4, 2009 9:21 AM
A surprising turn of events since it seems that both the Colts and the Steelers seem to have a horseshoe up their butt and the officials in their pocket. Both teams seem to benefit from intant replay overturning calls on the field without "overwhelming" evidence to the contrary.
Nonetheless I am absolutely delerious the Colts are one and done. If I have the opportunity the next time I am in Indianapolis I am going to visit Bob Irsay's grave and pay my respects. I'll make sure I drink about six bottles of water just before I approach the gravesite.
Posted by: Gil Jr | January 4, 2009 9:49 AM
Second best game ever, from a fan's viewpoint.
I watched most of the 4th quarter, and the intensity shown by both teams was amazing--amazing.
The game was over penalized, for sure, but don't let Dungy cry about the officials. Those calls, especially the holding on the pass and the face mask were OBVIOUS. In fact both penalties bordered on flagrant.
Great game. Even though I was never a Chargers fan, the outcome was a big step for a franchise that has come so close to winning the dance, but has never been able to get over the top.
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Pete's reply: I've got a soft spot for the Chargers, too, since I covered them years ago. They were great then but never got to the Super Bowl. This year, they seem to be gathering steam, but I don't' like Rivers' decision-making. I think he'll let a game get away with a stupid pass...probably next week.
Posted by: logiopath | January 4, 2009 10:38 AM
I'm a diehard Colts fan they looked like they could have won last night, but the Chargers Sproles was the big difference. I'm just happy the Colts had a winning season and won the Super Bowl in 2006.
Now I want to see what the Ravens do today.
Posted by: Bill In Elkton | January 4, 2009 11:00 AM
San Diego coach Norv Turner complained after the Pro Bowl selections came out that his punter, Mike Scifres, didn't deserve to be left off the AFC roster the way he was. In fact, Turner said that Scifres was easily the NFL's best punter this season.
After yesterday's game, the Colts no doubt feel the same way. According to coach Tony Dungy: "He was the difference in the game.”
Scifres was like a machine against Indy:
* Six punts for an average of 52.7 yards (net, 51.7 yds.--his longest, 67 yds.).
* Six punts, of which only two were returned for a total of 6 yards.
* Six punts, all inside the 20.
Scifres' numbers are the best in NFL playoff history for any punter with five or more kicks.
“By far my best game ever,” Scifres said. “I couldn't lay down tonight and go to sleep and dream of something like that.”
The Colts may be having dreams about Scifres, too, for a while, but they won't be sweet ones.
Posted by: Ken Francis | January 4, 2009 11:56 AM
Igot my first season ticket in 1957. The irsays lost. Ain't that too f........... bad.
Posted by: NORM | January 4, 2009 12:08 PM
Gil Jr: Drink another bottle or two for me on your way! So happy to see the Clots dumped in the first playoff game. The Chargers have become my second favorite team. After all, Johnny U finished his career as a Charger, and those throwback powder blue jerseys are, in my humble opinion, one of the sharpest jerseys ever in the NFL. Pete, maybe you know why they changed them to the dark blue. I'd like to know. Go Ravens today!!
Posted by: dave taylor | January 4, 2009 12:27 PM
This was a great game, mostly at the end, but Sproles was impressive the entire time. I cannot believe the chargers won this game... Now all the fairweather fans will be out in full force. At least I was able to get photos of the winning touchdown... to be posted to flicr shortly.
Posted by: Erin | January 4, 2009 3:38 PM
To me the Chargers are Paul Lowe and Keith Lincoln and the old AFL. Don Coryell, Joe Gibbs, amazing talents have come out of that place. And the light blue jerseys are almost too beautiful for football. Go, Bolts ...I almost forgot LT, my favorite fellow Frog alumnus. They're no. 2 in my heart to the Ravens.
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Pete's reply: You wouldn't get any complaint from me if the Ravens play the Chargers in the AFC Championship Game.
Posted by: j. roberts | January 4, 2009 4:19 PM
Anyone else think it odd or unusual that the Colts lost in overtime, 23-17, 50 years after they beat the Giants, 23-17 in overtime?
Posted by: Dave | January 4, 2009 4:58 PM
Pete...I was the guy who called you on the radio a few days before the Ravens-Colts game, and told you my "second favorite team is anyone playing the Colts", and you replied it was like that in SoCal with USC. So, I agree with most of the above replies, that it breaks my heart that those guys will be WATCHING the playoffs. While I have you: Is there anyway the Ravens could pay Ryan head-coach salary, and keep him,? How can the Steelers not keep losing Defensive Coords, and the Colts Offensive ones? Think Savage or Harris will be welcomed back here?
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Pete's reply: I'm sure the Ravens would be willing to give Rex a big raise to stay, but I think he wants the opportunity to be a head coach.
Posted by: Jerry | January 4, 2009 5:24 PM
Didn't Johnny Nash record the song "I Can See Clearly Now"? I mention that because the Colts loss has made me think this current Ravens team has a manifest destiny of going to the Big Dance to face the Carolina Panthers. Will I predict a winner? No, but I will say that Ed Reed will run back a pick for a touchdown. Ahh, life is wonderful when you're omniscient !!
Posted by: patrick lynch | January 5, 2009 6:16 AM
Indy got eliminated by Mini Me. Just desserts, baby! GO RAVENS!
Posted by: Attila the Hon | January 6, 2009 4:12 PM
Hi Pete - I watched the game with some neighbors: a Redskins fan and a Panthers fan. After a couple of beers, we came to the conclusion that it would be downright awesome if Ed Reed was moved to the Offensive side of the ball. He is always so explosive when he touches the ball - whether it's a punt return, kick return, interception, fumble, or whatever. Could he be another Neon Deon? What do you think?
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Pete's reply: Who knows, but keep in mind that running with the ball on offense is different than running it after a turnover. You're running against defensive players who scheme to stop you. Reed's great strength as an open-field runner is the element of surprise and his ability to see the whole field and exploit it. That wouldn't be the same if he was coming out of a pass pattern. I'm thinking, don't mess with success.
Posted by: Mark Griffin the Mailbox Man | January 6, 2009 5:59 PM