The stout Colts defense came up big again, holding the Ravens to 6 points. The worst rush defense in the league held Baltimore to 83 yards rushing. In two games, they’ve allowed a total of 127 yards rushing and 14 points. Against playoff teams. That’s an astounding turn around. And the mouthy Ravens defense? They were as good as their word against Manning and the passing game, but they gave up 100 yards rushing against the Colts — most importantly, they allowed the Colts to hold the ball for 7 of the last 7.5 minutes of the game. Rhodes ran the ball up the middle 10 times against those arrogant, trash-talking s.o.b.’s, picking up 35 yards and, more importantly, running down the clock. And, to add insult to injury, after the Ravens finally got the ball back with 13 seconds left, the Colts D forced a fumble to end the game.
That’s gotta hurt. You’ve got the best defense in the league with their mouths writing checks their bodies can’t cash. A little known running back runs it right up the gut, chewing up clock. The league’s worst defense holds you to 6 points. And it’s all done to you by the team that snuck out of town 20 years ago.
I wouldn’t feel like rubbing it in if Ravens’ defensive leaders like Ray Lewis weren’t talking so much trash before the game. But, as it is, this was pretty sweet.
I wonder if Bart Scott poured that Tabasco bottle on himself after the game…
Doug,
Go ahead and rub it in.These guys talked all week, along with all the media talking heads about the “soft” Colts and how they would punch the Colts in the mouth and they would fold.Who ran the ball at who on the last drive and couldn’t be stopped?
Great defense by the Colts!Rhodes was great and the O line was excellent!I know people will say Manning did not play well but remember this is the number one defense in the NFL with 7 first round draft picks on defense and while the Colts have spent a lot of money on offense the Ravens have spent their money on defense.
Read my analysis of The Grudge here: http://www.steelsphere.com/?p=450
Its time for Baltimore to let go.
Spot-on Dave.
Last night’s game was the moment where the video of moving vans should stop being shown. The Colts came in and stole the Ravens’ identity last night–ferocious defense, passable enough offense to win, etc. The Ravens, the media, and the city of Baltimore spent so much time on bygones that they didn’t consider we could come in with our shaky recent play, beat them, and basically rob them of their manhood. They have a team to be proud of. They’ve won the title. They have the seeds in place for future title runs. They have an identity as defensive titans that is the envy of the NFL. Why not shut the hell up about the old team, already? It reminds me of that Jessica Simpson’s ex, crooning away on the radio about how he’s only half the man he was because she hurt him. It’s unseemly. It’s embarrassing. To go on in song, if you can’t be with the one you love, Baltimore, love the one you’re with. What do the Ravens have to do to make you forget that old flame that kicked you to the curb? Come on, Baltimore. I understand it up to now. But if the boo-hooing continues beyond now, after the Colts came in and depants you in front of America, then you’re just pathetic.
By the way, can someone explain the brain-fart the refs had with that pass-interference call? To refresh–with the ball in the air, their defender stopped our receiver’s progress, grabbed his jersey with both hands, and pulled him down. The flag was thrown and we were informed that: 1) it was illegal contact, 2)because the illegal contact occurred with the ball in the air, it was pass interference, 3)but it wasn’t quite bad enough to be pass interference, 4)so no penalty at all occurred. What? One, it was as “pass-interference” as it gets. Two, it’s these little brain-farts on the refs’ parts that usually sink us. How much of Peyton’s “choke” label has come from his passes hitting receivers in the back because they got tied up by the defenders a second or two before the pass got there? I hate to say we need a clean game to be called, but we actually do. I don’t think we should have to apologize for our desire to have the rules enforced as written. After all, passing is a legit form of ball movement in the NFL.
Now go Pats. Let’s have a divisional title game in Indy. We’ve had success against them lately, while the Chargers owned us last time we played.
To go back to a thread topic from last year–our defense now is playing exactly as it did last year for the first half of the season, until injuries kicked us down. Swarming defense, high number of turnovers, and big hits. At least when healthy, small but fit can get it done. May it last two more games.
I misread that the first time to read “smart but fit”, and I think that would have been just as right on as what you typed. They’re small(= quick), fit, AND smart, and I think that is the best way to do D.
Sounds like a great matchup for next Sunday. With the Colts having the home field advantage and the Pats having more post-season experience it should be a great game. It’d be a dream matchup if the Colts and the Bears wind up in the Super Bowl.
Pretty unlikely that #1 & #2 would get knocked out in their first games. Maybe there is something to that bye-week rust idea. I hope we pound the Patriots bloody and don’t let them get away with any of Belichick’s dirty play. We’ve gotta give as good as we get.
Somebody once told me, if the other guy is trying to beat you up, and you’re trying to kill him, you’re going to win. I’m all for being sportsmanlike — but only against other sportsman. Sometimes leadpipe cruelty is the only thing that’s called for. I wouldn’t be opposed to just sending guys off into the sideline to bloody up Bill himself.
Well put Doug, it is unlikely that #1 and #2 would get knocked off in their first games. And yet it happened, I guess that is the beauty of the playoffs. You never know what is going to happen next. Everyone here in Louisville hopes Brian Brohm decides to stay at U of L for his senior year. Petrino could have owned this town, at least from what he was able to build up to take U of L to a BCS game, and then to bolt. It’s really a shame that it all comes down to the almighty dollar, Petrino had a 10 year contract at U of L, $24 million over 10 years, so there isn’t a lot of sympathy here for him. I think he’s getting a 5 year contract with the Falcons for $25 million. His leaving probably wouldn’t have rankled so much with U of L here if he hadn’t made such a big deal about how happy he was here. The rumors have been running rampant though, allegedly he has been talking to other places, both college and pro since coming here. Brian Brohm has scheduled a news conference for 9:00 a.m. tomorrow to discuss (presumably) his intent to enter the NFL draft or stay at U of L. The new coach, Steve Kragthorpe, is obviously hoping he stays for his senior year. Michael Bush has already announced he’s entering the draft, but with his broken leg, he may figure it’s now or never. I hope the Colts kick the Pats butt next Sunday.
It’s funny that that article you linked, Doug, thinks the lesson of the 2003 AFC championship was that the Patriots beat up our receivers. I thought the lesson was that they wrapped up our receivers or hit them before the ball arrived–which is generally known as either pass interference or illegal contact.
Hats off to LT for calling out Bellichick. Bill’s a genius, etc., and he’s a success, etc. But he’s also a slob and an insufferable jerk. Let’s hope he loses this week. Tom Brady’s a bit that way, too, although to a lesser extent. He’s a good interview when he wins. But when it’s time to man up after a loss, he’s been known to decline to be interviewed.
The press narrative this week is, No Excuses Indy Fans. How about–the other team is really good and they’re trying to win, too? Either we’ll win or we’ll lose. I feel better about this game than any in the past, though. We’ve beaten these guys twice in a row on the road. We’ve found a defense. Peyton just has to figure out the schemes he’s going to see.
Another dig about New England. I went to Cincy to see them play the Pats this year. I’ve seen a lot of fans in my time in different towns. Hands down, the Pats fans were the biggest assholes I’d seen. Running around, screaming, high-fives from the concourse to the parking lots, non-stop. One group did stop their merry-making long enough to loudly mock a homeless panhandler and scream “Get a damn job!” a couple of times. I think Bellichick must coach the fans, too.
I would love to see the media narrative this week go along the lines of, “Belichick still dogged by perception that he’s an unsportsmanlike asshole: can he shake it?”
But, no, it’s all about the “W”. So, the Colts just need to get away with breaking more rules than the Pats do. And hit them harder. I would love to see a game where we just ground the Pats into mulch, running it up the gut.
Regardless, I think it’s just huge that we beat the Pats in Foxboro earlier this year so that the playoff game takes place in Indy.