Defense disappoints

The Indianapolis Colts spent the days leading up to their AFC divisional playoff game with San Diego insisting they weren't defending a Super Bowl championship, they were trying to win another one.

[Happy]

So much for the loudest crowd in the NFL. Your obnoxious behavior couldn’t help your team this year. Hopefully we won’t have to watch Payton hawking products on TV for the rest of the year…the choke artist needs a little work on his game.

[observer]

i think sometimes that wreckless out of control, flying all over the field and into plays defensive style is good but it causes a lot of injuries. it seemed like every game players were getting hurt on the defense. and the drop off in the talent level from the firts team d-line to the next tier is unbelievable. i love the colts but i think its not a talent difference between the colts and the patriots, but new england plays smarter. many people called it..one and done....

[John]

I have never been so embarrassed for a team than I was yesterday. Specifically, the defense looked inept. I knew Dwight Freeney was a major part of this team, but for our defense to look defenseless yesterday speaks to a larger problem. The prospect of growing from within is limited when you can't depend on the health of your star players. Without Freeney, this defense goes from above average to below average very quickly against good competition. Likewise, we are an average team at CB when we play any single isolation coverage, cover 1 or cover 3 for example. We need to develop better cover corner when we are forced to put an extra defender in the box. Lastly, besides our defensive ends, we do a poor job of rushing the passer. When we blitz LB or secondary personnel, we look inept, like we've never practiced it before. We have small LB trying to bullrush OL, that's not smart football.

[Yeah right]

Luke wrote:

There bums.Send them back to baltimore.

Wow, you are really intelligent. It is "they're" not there. Please don't write on this site anymore you are ignorant.

[Do nott blame Peyton]

Don't blame Peyton for this loss. The defence took the day off.

[Not In WI]

Do nott blame Peyton wrote:

Don't blame Peyton for this loss. The defence took the day off.

It was on everybody, Manning too. He misfired or miscalled on key plays as well as the defense failing to make ANY key stops. It happens. Move on to next year.

[Diane from Pittsburgh]

Does anyone remember the last few minutes before the half when SD intercepted Peyton and ran it back for a TD, only to be nullified by another bogus 'holding' call? I would say the ending score is karma!

[PatsDynasty]

Bob DPOY Sanders- 3 tackles, 0 sacks. His selection is a joke.

[Mike]

ravenjoe52 wrote:

#18 is a choker and always chokes in big games and in big moments and he should never be compared to hall of famer Johnny U because the 2 could not be any different
1.#18 chokes and crumbles in pressure situations and in the playoffs-#19 won and performed well in thos same situations
2. the owner is a loser and a choker as well
3. The Colts team is not that good as a whole and Tony Dungy is overrated as well!!!!

An obvious Baltimore whiner who doesn't know how to let go and get on with life!!!!!

[Mike]

Happy wrote:

So much for the loudest crowd in the NFL. Your obnoxious behavior couldn’t help your team this year. Hopefully we won’t have to watch Payton hawking products on TV for the rest of the year…the choke artist needs a little work on his game.

You'll have to learn to switch channels during the Patsies game next week because Peyton will be on every commercial break.

Go Chargers!!!!!

[Mike]

Do nott blame Peyton wrote:

Don't blame Peyton for this loss. The defence took the day off.

The defense did not take the day off, only the pass rush. We did not blitz at all?

When the QB has the amount of time they had, the defenders will have trouble covering any receiver.

But then it is easy to be the armchair coach, isn't it?

[IndyColtsHater]

Luke wrote:

There bums.Send them back to baltimore.

Baltimore doesn't want the team, just the name, colors and history.

[Corporate Greed]

Colts had a bad day--it happens. Teams in the NFL are generally pretty tough, and the old axiom "on any given day" can happen. The Colts will be back.

[Tom Jenkins]

The defense was rusty. Saga is rekindled should players be rested or play and stay sharp. Colts mainly rested their players to get well. Being off 3 weeks is going to make you rusty. Anyway Dungy knows more about that than I do. Come back TONY Love my Colts

[Mike]

IndyColtsHater wrote:

<quoted text> Baltimore doesn't want the team, just the name, colors and history.

A little cheese? Please get over it. We in Indy, don't glorify the team or the days prior to Indy.

Get over it! Aren't there better things to do in your life than hold a grudge for 24 years?

[MIke Pagel]

Time for a new defensive coordinator and a head coach that wants to be in Indy not Tampa.

[Colts Fan in NC]

IndyColtsHater wrote:

<quoted text> Baltimore doesn't want the team, just the name, colors and history.

I agree, they didn't want the team when they had them or they whould have put up. Not its time to shut up. The Colts made Baltimore the city that it is. They must not appreciate the Ravens that much or they would get over it after almost a quarter century. I was a Colt fan when they moved, Didn't like it but accepted what I could not change. Get over it!!!!!!!!!!

[mjl123_9]

Where are the Florida teams at in the playoffs? If I recall, one team only won 1 game, another got upset in the first round, and the last barely won the first game and did nothing the second. So where is your team at?

Happy wrote:

So much for the loudest crowd in the NFL. Your obnoxious behavior couldn’t help your team this year. Hopefully we won’t have to watch Payton hawking products on TV for the rest of the year…the choke artist needs a little work on his game.

[Colts Fan in NC]

MIke Pagel wrote:

Time for a new defensive coordinator and a head coach that wants to be in Indy not Tampa.

I think that the Colts were outplayed and out coached.
1) That game should not have been Marvin's first game back.
2) Colts history proves statistically; play out- chance to win , rest players 2 or more weeks- sure loss
3) Play the way you always play for 60 minutes

They could have won the game if the defence had played a less conservative sceme. There were few stunts or blitzes. Coverage was terrible. I said for several years that David and harper were killing the defence. Watch Tim Jennings follow in their footsteps. Kudos to the pats for picking up Thomas this year, wish our staff would have been as smart. I think the world of Tony as a coach and Christian, I think its time for a change in several areas. Fans through products, endorsements and ticket prices pay to see them play. Most of them are making millions to play and want to play. No fans = No Game. Give us our moneys worth. I could be wrong but a team with 5 winning seasons of 12 games or more should have more than one Lombardi.

[Road to Defeat]

Guys, you played the most talented offense in the NFL...and got beat. The Chargers are no lackeys. Last year they scored more than anyone. This year, they dipped with a new coaching staff but still put up 51 on Detroit without Gates.