Monday Morning Quarterback

Colts 44 - Ravens 20


It wasn't really that close. If Indy hadn't emptied their bench (to include Jim Sorgi in for Manning), it would have been much worse. But there's no reason to run the score up and risk injury to the starters.

There is a lot of mystery surrounding Marvin Harrison's knee, as he missed another game. The word around here is, he will have a good practice session and the next day he will swell a little, the next day. So since they have demonstrated they can win without him, they are letting it take it's time to heel well. MRIs are showing the knee is heeled. (Medicine is not an exact science.)

Manning was able to seriously exploit the experience level of the Baltimore corners. Both starting CBs were out and the subs were sub-par, to say the least. The running game looked good too. Not many teams can run the ball on the Ravens, but the Colts did it well because they were able to open up their defense by forcing them to respect the long ball.

This is exactly what the Pats do with Randy Moss (who I think is the league MVP this year, no matter how deep they go into the playoffs). Maroney is nowhere near the running back Addai is, but Moss makes him look good because defenses are forced to respect the long ball. If it wasn't for Moss's threat the Pats would have had more trouble with Pittsburgh.

Mush to Rocket's chagrin, Dallas found a way to turn a sub-par performance into a win yesterday. Dallas is clearly the best team in the NFC. They have found ways to turn bad games into wins and that is the mark of a winner, right there.

All of the great teams throughout history have found ways to win, despite the fact they didn't play particularly well. The Pats may have had it handed to them last week, but to their credit they cashed it in. They had to make it happen. The Colts had a tough game against KC a few weeks ago, but found a way to do it. And yesterday, Dallas didn't look too good, but still made it happen when the game was on the line.

Jacksonville showed why they are the third best team in the AFC yesterday, bouncing right back from their humiliating defeat at the hands of the Colts last week. This is why I say, if the Jags would run their mouths less and play harder, they could get the monkey off their backs. If they whined and complained less, committed less personal fouls, they would be able to challenge for a division right now. But instead, they are relegated to being the best wild card team in the NFL. They were one cheap shot away from coming back and defeating the Colts last week, when the game was on the line.

One cheap shot from being in a division race, that's something for the Jags and their rabid fans to think about.

It's still too early to make predictions. But if you are a NE, Indy, or Dallas fan, you have to like the way your team is playing right now. (There is one playoff scenario that would have the Jags beating the Pats to play the Colts in the Dome for the AFC Championship. I would take my chance with the Pats in Foxboro, before I would risk trying to beat the Jags for a third time this year.)