swerve13 wrote:
people wanna pick the Colts because of Andrew Luck, but in reality Miami is the better team and has been the better team all year.
The same Jets team that we just destroyed beat the Colts 35-9. I think thats a more telling stat than this 0-12 business. They also just barely eeked by the terrible Browns and titans.
Our defense is leaps and bounds better than Indy's. They have a better top receiver. We have the better backfield and line too.
How they played vs. the Jets has nothing to do with it though. That would be like saying well the Redskins beat the Giants last year in Week 1 and we pummeled the Redskins so we're better than the Giants. This league is all about how the two team's facing each other match up against one another.
IndyPassing Offense: Ranked #11, 265.9 yards/g, 8TD's/8INT's, 18 sacks
Rushing Offense: Ranked #19, 107.1 yards/g, 5 TD's
Points For: 136
Passing Defense: Ranked #5, 213 yards/g, 13 TD's/2 INT's, 15 sacks, 11.5 ypc
Rushing Defense: Ranked #25, 137.4 yards/g, 4.8 yard/carry, 8 TD's
Points Against: 171
Takeaway/Giveaway: #30 (-10)
Special Teams (Returns Against): Ranked #21 Kick returns 26.1 yards/return
Special Teams (Returns): Punt #19 w/7.8 yards/returns & Kick #28 w/19.7 yards/return
MiamiPassing Offense: Ranked #28, 212 yards/g, 5 TD's/6 INT's, 14 sacks
Passing Defense: Ranked #15, 115.9 yards/g, 3.7 yards/carry, 10 TD's
Points For: 150
Passing Defense: Ranked #25, 281 yards/g, 8 TD's/8 INT's, 22 sacks, 12.1 ypc
Rushing Defense: Ranked #2, 82 yards/g, 3.5 yards/g, 2 TD's
Points Against: 127
Takeaway/Giveaway: #21 (-2)
Special Teams (Returns Against): Ranked #14, kick returns 21.8 yards/return
Special Teams (Returns): Punt #5 w/12.8 yards/return & Kick #6 w/27.9 yards/returns
Our edge is clearly in the special teams and defensive department which is why we have been in most games. The team definitely needs it's running game to find an identity again vs. their suspect rush D. Hartline's groin injury could also prove to be an issue for us in the pass game.
I respect their passing offense a little more than you do and the yards per catch we give up still scares me a bit. Luckily we've generated sacks this year which has helped to get them off the field in key situations and we're the best in the league on 3rd down.
As for Philbin and this staff knowing how to keep the team from suffering from coming down off the emotional Jets win? We don't know how they can handle that yet, so this is a huge test. As PR pointed out, historically it's a trap game. That cannot be argued against. Vegas has the Colts getting 2.5 points as a home dog, which is very curious to me, especially with Chuck Pagano being in attendance. Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney are going to be back int his one. The Colts are night and day when play at home vs. on the road, especially Andrew Luck. They also have quality wins vs. the Vikings and Packers there. We have zero quality wins on the season.