Jim Caldwell talks about the plan for Thursday night.

Among his comments are that they are playing this game like a normal week.  There will be no play limitations on anyone.  They are playing the game straight up.  He also mentioned that last week 7 guys couldn't practice until Thursday.  He said that this week, if that were the case, those guys wouldn't play.

He made it clear the team won't discuss their plans for future games, but they are focused on this week like any other week. That's the right strategy, of course.You play this week and worry about next week, next week.

The injury report isn't ready yet, so there's no way to know just how many guys will be "treating it like a normal week", but this should mean that Peyton and company will be on the field the whole game Thursday.

Note: This originally ran last year, but it certainly fits this week!

I can't take it any more.  It's time to set the record straight:

The Chargers don't "have the Colts number".

They don't "pose matchup problems"

Indy should not "be afraid" of them.

The Chargers are a good team. They are the second best team in the AFC.  For that reason, and that reason alone, I hope Indy doesn't play them.  However, should the matchup arise, I have no doubt the Horse will beat the Bolts in a tough, close game.  Let's examine the myths around this matchup, and you'll see why I'm confident.

Myth #1 Going back to 2005...

STOP!  Stop right there.  We aren't going back to 2005.  Why?  The Chargers are a totally different team.  They have a new coach, new QB, new defensive coordinator.  The 2009 Chargers bear NO RESEMBLANCE to the 2005 Chargers.  Why doesn't anyone go back to 2004 when Indy won?  The 2004 Chargers have just as much in common with the 2009 Chargers as that '05 squad does.  If we are going to have this discussion, let's center it on the last couple of years. I'm not sure they are relevant either, but it makes more sense than bringing up the fact that players and coaches wearing Chargers gear did something four years ago even though most of those guys aren't around anymore.

Myth #2 The Chargers have owned the Colts.

Since 2007, the Colts and Chargers have played four times. Three times the game was in San Diego. The scores:

San Diego 23, Indy 21

San Diego 28, Indy 24

Indy 23 San Diego 20

San Diego 23 Indy 17 (OT)

Yeah, see I don't think that beating a team 3 times in 4 games by a total of 12 points (with 3 home games) qualifies as "owning" anyone.  They've played four tough, close games.  Each of them could have gone the other way.  That's hardly something to sweat over.  All that list does is illustrate that the two teams play tight games. It hardly illustrates ownership.

Myth #3:  The Chargers post matchup problems for the Colts

Really?  Name one.  The only true matchup problem for Indy has been NT Jamaal Williams verses Jeff Saturday.  It has kept Indy from running the ball effectively, because Williams is a LOAD.  Saturday is a fine center, but he cannot block Williams to save his life.  Williams is now out for the season, so that's not a problem. Consider Indy's rushing numbers from the four games:  89 carries, 274 yards.  That's less than 3.1 YPC.  Take away the big load and the middle, and I would expect the Colts to be more effective moving the ball on the ground.

Take a look at the Chargers dynamic duo of Jackson and Rivers who I talk about in this week's Hangover (All right, I admit that wasn't even vaguely related to what I was writing about.  It's just a gratuitous link)

Vincent Jackson hasn't play well against the Colts: 3 games, 11 catches 174 yards

Phil Rivers has just played ok against Indy:  71/110, 873, 5 TD, 4 INT, 88.9 rating

They are the heart of the Chargers offense now, and they certainly haven't lit Indy up in the past.

Myth #4:  Manning struggles against the Chargers D.

This is a cutesy one, because he did have that one awful game in the rain when both Marv and Gonzo were out, the O line was a mess and dudes like Moorehead were running routes.  Set that game aside for a moment and look at his numbers in his last three games against San Diego:  90/134, 967 yards, 6 TDs, 3 Ints, 93.7 rating.  Indy's problem against the Chargers has been the utter lack of a run game thanks to Williams clogging the middle.  People will trot out the cumulative stats from now till Sunday, and they'll look ugly.  Any sample can be sunk by just one awful game.  The truth is Manning has been fine against San Diego.

The Truth:

Both teams have had injuries when they've met recently, but Indy's were of a particularly damaging nature.  During the first 2007 game, the Colts lost Dwight Freeney for the season.  They also played that game with O-linemen they just picked up off the street, and WRs that weren't much better.  Last year, Rivers spent all day throwing to Antonio Gates who ran wild because Gary Brackett was out.  Indy/San Diego has been a fluky weird series full of close games.  It's arguable that the 2009 Chargers are a better matchup for Indy than New England is.  The Chargers may not be afraid of the Colts, but there is certainly no reason the Colts would fear San Diego at all.

The Chargers are a good team. I'll continue to root for them to wind up in the worst possible circumstance.  That's not because of anything that happened in the past, however.  It's only about right now.

It's difficult to summarize one of the most exhausting wins in quite some time.  Sunday's game felt like a ten round heavy weight fight, but in the end, it could be exactly what the Colts need to be ready for January.  Really, it was a tremendous game for the Colts with two major exceptions.  First...

Reasons to Smile:

• Clint Session is a beast.  Every week he brings out his sledge hammer and smacks people with it for 60 minutes.  We said before the season that he should make the Pro Bowl this year.  Is there anyone left who disagrees?
• The entire run defense.  The Colts made a concerted effort to stop the run yesterday.  That may have hampered them from stopping Brandon Marshall, but they sure stopped the run.  Denver couldn't score because the heart of their offense was taken away.  Marshall has three 100 yard games this season...Denver is 0-3 in them.
• Bending but not breaking.  Denver crossed the 50 nine different times.  They scored 16 points.  That's the definition right there.
• Dallas Clark laying out on fourth down and also hauling in three TDs...now about those dropped passes...
• Austin Collie making the most out of the few times Manning looked his way.  Collie only had three catches, but one was for a TD on third down and the other was the biggest third down catch of the game on the final drive.
• Indy has now gone on bruising 'game sealing' drives in back to back weeks.  That's how you win playoff games.
• For about a quarter and a half, we saw just how good this team can play.
• Mike Hart on third down.  How big was that broken tackle for the first down?  If he goes down in the backfield there, Indy kicks a field goal to go up 8, and Denver has the ball back with about 2:40 to play and two timeouts.  Instead, they end up having to burn all their timeouts, and are down 12 points.
• Joe Addai was dominating the game until he went out with an ankle injury.  He came back and finished hard.
• Dwight Freeney is having a monster year, and playing hurt the whole time.
• No egregious officiating mistakes.  It's so nice when Ron Winter isn't in town.

Reasons to Frown:

• The rational part of me says, "21 catches for less than 10 yards a catch is no big deal when you only give up 16 points."  The rest of me says, "THEY ONLY HAVE ONE LEGIT WIDE RECEIVER!  COVER HIM!"  I know that the Broncos are 0-3 when Marshall gets over 100 yards receiving.  I know that there were injuries in the secondary.  I just can't figure out why doubling Marshall would have been so difficult.
• Manning's play in the middle of the game was awful.  I get that the Broncos have the #1 pass defense, and a great cover secondary, but a 2/14 stretch for 15 yards, 3 picks and a rating of ZERO?  Not to make excuses for him, but I think his drop off coincided with him having to stretch out his glute on the side line.  It's not like the Broncos were making incredible plays on the ball.  His throw toward Wayne that hit Marshall in the facemask was insanely bad.  I've been saying for several weeks that Manning just looks a little off, and I think something is bothering him physically.
• The injuries.  Mathis and Freeney are banged up.  Yesterday, Foster, Lacey, Powers, and Bullitt all go out (hmm, 21 catches doesn't seem so bad all of a sudden), as well as Addai and Clark getting banged up.  I thought Indy should play all out through the Jets game, but I don't see how you run all these guys out there on three days rest in Jacksonville. They should still play all out against New York with plenty of rest, but the Thursday night thing just doesn't go in their favor.  I see another "San Diego '05" kind of loss where the Colts 'play their starters' on the surface, but there are so many guys missing they can't win a close game.
• Lots of pressure.  No sacks.  But lots of pressure.
• Tough day for Garcon.  Gotta catch that deep ball.  Sure the DB makes a nice play to rake the arms, but if your hands are on it, you have to hang on.

Best Call:

Going for it on fourth and four from the 34.  I don't love it because it worked; I love it because it was the best chance to score.  I have zero confidence in Stover from 51 yards.   Punting gets you nothing there, so going for it is the only sane play.

Worst Call:

Tim Jennings on Marshall on the goal line. I know we were short DBs, but come on.  At least double him with a line backer or safety or something.  He tossed Jennings aside like a rag doll.  You have to do better that scheme wise.

Reasons I'm Flying:

• That was a gutty, playoff caliber win.  Other than 21 catches for Marshall and Manning playing like a goon, there was nothing to criticize in that game. They stopped the run. They ran the ball.  The started fast. They finished strong.  They beat an 8-4 team by double digits.
• The road to Miami runs through Indianapolis.  This is our year.  I can feel it.
• Our dream playoff scenario is one step closer to reality. New England may well managed to catch Cincy for the three seed after all, which would mean the Colts will only have to play the Pats OR the Chargers, but not both. The Pats need to win out, and the Bengals would have to lose to San Diego next week, but it could still happen.

Reasons I’m Dying

• The injuries. They seem to be mounting. It’s time to get healthy.
• Manning’s play is bothering me. That’s 14 TDs and 10 picks in his last 6 games. Something is wrong. His rating has dipped back down below a 100. He’s going to land almost perfectly on my “Old Manning” prediction for the year. Unless Indy goes 16-0 and NO doesn’t, he doesn’t win the MVP. Even so, that might not be enough.
• Eli Manning bounced me from the 18to88 Fantasy playoffs last night. Thanks a lot Brett Favre! You sunk me just when I needed you most.

The Bottom Line:

The best part about all the records the Colts set yesterday is that they can still mean something. If Indy wins the Super Bowl this year, the consecutive wins, the most wins in a decade, ect. All of that becomes significant in the future. When people look back on the ’00 Colts, they’ll see those records and (hopefully) two Super Bowls and remember them as one of the best teams of all time.

For large stretches of the game, Denver didn’t look like it belonged on the same field with the Colts. Indy executed their game plan perfectly with the exception of Manning insisting on throwing the ball to the Broncos repeatedly. I’m thinking that is correctable.

It’s all right there for the taking. Get healthy, stay sharp, and make a run to glory.

The playoffs are coming.

I can’t wait.

Colts 28 Broncos 16

PREGAME:

Mathis, Session, Brackett and Wayne have all been declared to be active per ESPN.  Mathis's inclusion in the active list today is a major boon to the Colts' chances.

FIRST QUARTER:

• The Colts start at the 20 to begin the game.  Garcon starts off hot with a 30 yard catch and run.  Manning completes a key third down to Addai, and the Colts drove the ball inside the 15.  On a huge third and 7 Manning hit Clark for the first down at the four.  A failed run and an incomplete set up third and goal from the five, but Manning found Collie in the end zone to set the Colts up 7-0.  Text book drive despite no running game.  Manning goes 8/10 for 76 of the 80 yards.
• The Broncos pick up a holding call on the return and start around the 11 yard line.  They go nowhere as Brackett and Freeney stuff Moreno on third and two.  After a three and out, the Colts will start at the 40.  The first quarter is halfway gone and the start is perfect.
• The Colts second drive is all Joe Addai.  He got things going by ripping off a couple of nice runs.  On third and two, Manning hit Joe for a 25 yard gain, thanks to a nice pick by Frenchy.  On third and 9 from the 10, Manning finished out the drive by hitting Clark for a TD.  Manning is absolutely on fire and Denver has no answer for him.  he is 10/14 for 111 yards and 2 scores, and a rating of 134.2.  14-0 Colts.  Incredible.  This team seems to be finally hitting its stride.
• Denver responds with a couple of first downs and some nice running, but on third and four, Lacey made a HUGE hit to set up a fourth down from the 42, and Brackett shuts the door on Moreno. This is the Colts team we all envisioned day one of camp.
• The Colts can't turn the good field position into more points as the Broncos finally get pressure on third down forcing Manning to throw the ball at Addai's feet.  A good punt pins the Broncos inside the 15.
• The first quarter ends with the Colts up 14-0.  Denver has the ball at their own thirty, first and 10.  It has been a dominant performance for the the Horse, with the only question mark being Bullitt coming off the field with an injury on the last play. 
  

SECOND QUARTER:

• Another drive, another punt for the Broncos.  They run a draw on third and 6, and the Colts eat it alive.  Denver just doesn't seem to have the horses to compete with Indy early in this game.  Colts ball at the Denver 29.
• The Colts continue their abuse of the Broncos defense as Addai slashes for good yardage.  Indy faced a tough 4th and 4 in no man's land at the 33, and Manning hit Clark all the way down to the 11.  Addai pounded the rock for a first down, and then Manning threw his third TD of the half to Clark who came up lame at the end.  Pray he's ok.   21-0 Colts.  Manning has 144 yards passing and Addai has 50 yards rushing on 10 attempts.  This game is as big a mismatch as you can find.
• Denver finally generates some offense as Marshall beats Jennings on third down and then put up a great run after catch all the way out near midfield.  Orton continued to just hit Brandon Marshall on every huge third down, several with Jennings covering him.  Denver has one real WR.  He has 7 catches for 77 yards.  I'd say taking him away is a key for the defense going forward.  The Broncos will start the third quarter with the ball, so Indy needs to put up a field goal here, or at the very least not give Denver another possession this half.
• Indy starts with the ball at the 19, but screws up the drive six ways to Sunday.  Garcon drops a pass, Diem false starts, and the blitz doesn't get picked up and Indy punts the ball back to Denver who gets it at the 45.  This is the worst case scenario.  Denver gets two more drives before Indy sees the the ball again.  Awful job by the offense.  A run on second and four would have helped.
• Josh McDaniels is an idiot.  Not because he went for fourth and inches and failed.  He's an idiot because he called for the quick snap, when he could have run the clock down under 30 seconds, just in case the play failed. Instead, Indy CRUSHES the fourth down play, and the Colts get the ball back at the 46 with :40 and two timeouts.
• Aw frig.  Darrell Reid makes a great play to bat a Manning pass up in the air where it is picked.  Fortunately, the Broncos lose 15 yards on a stupid penalty by Reid (you can't remove your helmet in celebration, not even for a moment).  Denver starts at their own 37.
• Marshall continues to kill the Colts.  He gets a pass out near midfield, but Freeney gets a good hit on Orton and generates a holding penalty as well.  Marshall picks up two more catches, but time runs out without the Broncos getting into field goal range.  Bullet dodged.

HALF TIME:

Indy was dominant for most of the half, but the Broncos managed to generate some offense behind a huge game from Brandon Marshall.  I would suggest not covering him with Tim Jennings any more.  Just a thought.  On defense, the Colts have shut down the run game, but have struggled to get any real pressure on Orton who has completed 16 of 18 passes.  The Broncos start the second half with the ball, so it is incumbent on the defense to start the half with a stop.

THIRD QUARTER:

• Denver starts inside the 20 thanks to good coverage and a high deep kick.  The Colts D forces a three and out, thanks in part to a nice tackle by Hayden on a short pass to Marshall.  He held him to just a 2 yard gain, and Orton misfired on third down.  Berger hits a HUGE 55 yard punt with no return for the Broncos, so the Colts get to start inside the 20 now.  Big stand by the D.
• The Colts can't do anything with the ball as Dumervil gets pressure on Manning who rolls and throws to Clark.  The ball hits him in the hands, but he's popped at the same moment, and a would be first down goes for naught.  Denver will start at the 34.  Suddenly the Broncos are getting pressure on Manning, and the WRs aren't helping out by hanging on to on target passes.
• Denver threatens all the way inside the Indy 35, but on third and 2, the Broncos implode.  A delay of game wiped out a 2 yard loss, and on the retry Brackett blew through on a blitz up the middle for a sack of Orton. The Broncos have to punt, and pin Indy at the 11.  It feels like 89 yard, soul killing 10 minute drive time for the Colts to put this game away.
• Wow, what was Manning doing?  He just threw the worst possible pick.  He was aiming for Wayne, but threw it way out in front of him. The ball hit Bailey in the face and bounced right to a Bronco.  Denver gets the ball at the 37.  Awful, awful throw. 
  
• On third down, Freeney almost comes up with the huge sack, but Orton pulls away and hits Marshall (well covered by Jennings for once) for a huge first down inside the Colts 30.  Then the Broncos fall apart.  A third and a foot play gets killed on a false start.  Then Indy blitzes Orton who stupidly throws a duck to a double covered Marshall in the endzone where Tim Jennings easily hauls it in, thus erasing the Manning pick and preserving the Colts lead at 14.  Amazing stand by the D.
• News is that Bullitt and Powers are out.  Geeze.  Thursday night looks worse and worse.
• Another three and out for the Colts offense that suddenly can't complete a pass.  Manning was flexing earlier in the game on the sideline, and it certainly seems like something is off with him.  Two more incomplete passes kill the drive, and the Broncos start at their own 40.  The D has been under a lot of pressure today and held up well, but it feels like a score is coming for the Broncs.
• Well, it should have come.  Denver drives into field goal range, but stalls out as Hayden makes  back to back huge plays.  Prater's field goal sails wide, and the Colts stay up by 14.
• WHAT IS UP WITH PEYTON?  Another terrible pick.  I mean TERRIBLE.  Manning throws the ball right at Denver, and the Broncos set up show inside the 25.  Unreal.
• The third quarter ends as Jennings busts up a pass to Marshall, to set up a critical third and 8 from the 10.  That was one of the worst offensive quarters in recent Colts' history, but at the end of it, they still lead by 14 points.  This defense is special.  They have 15 more minutes to prove it.
  

FOURTH QUARTER:

• The Colts HOLD AGAIN!  Indy gets after Orton with Freeney and Broncos have to settle for a field goal.  Prater nails the gimme, and Indy leads 21-10.  Seriously, guys.  A few first downs would be nice.  It seems that Addai is hurt and his absence is killing this team.
• Wow.  Three and out.  Three incomplete passes including a bomb to Garcon that Frenchy dropped after the DB raked his arms.  Awful.  McAfee gets off a huge punt, but it's little consolation.  The offense is DEAD.  Garcon is having a nightmarish game with several key drops.  Manning has been making mistakes left and right, and the Colts have abandoned the run (which was effective early) possibly because Addai is dinged.  This game is all on what has to be a gassed defense.  At some point, someone has to start making plays.
• Mookie gets the Broncos going with another offsides penalty.  They just kept rolling from there.  The drive ends with Brandon Marshall setting the NFL record for catches in a game as he grabs a TD over Tim Jennings.  The D is wiped, but they do hold on the two point conversion attempt.  Indy still leads by 5, 21-16, but the offense HAS to start getting first downs.  The D will eventually give up this lead if they don't get some time to rest.  On top of everything else, Lacey left the field on that drive.  Manning has to find something he can exploit and do his job right now, or the win streak ends.
• It almost ended as quickly as the rest, but Manning hits Collie for a HUGE first down to get the drive rolling.  Peyton then found Wayne and Collie for more good gains moving the ball inside the 15.  An unsung play on the drive was Addai managing to shake free on the first play, turning a 5 yard loss into no gain.  Mike Hart also made perhaps the play of the game when on third and 1 from the five, he broke a tackle in the backfield and drove through for a massive first down that forced the Broncos to start burning timeouts.  In the end, Manning breaks Denver's hearts and wills with his fourth TD pass to Clark.  The Colts just went on an 80 yard, 14 play drive that lasted 7:19 and cost Denver all three of their timeouts.  Incredible.  Where was this drive about a half an hour ago?
• Denver starts at the 20 with 2:25 to play and no timeouts.  Two incomplete passes and a Freeney sack take the Broncos to the two minute warning facing a 4th and 18.  One more play, and the Horse (good version) takes a knee to seal an incredible victory.
• Marshall makes the record breaking catch, and flips to a teammate, but they don't come anywhere near the first down marker.  Indy wins 28-16.

The race in the AFC has changed significantly in the past few weeks thanks to New England's late season swoon.  The Pats are more or less locked into the fourth seed, barring a total collapse.  They have very little chance of moving up in the standings.  With that in mind let's take a look at the important games of Week 14 in the NFL.

Easy Calls

New York (A) at Tampa Bay:  The Jets have an outside shot at passing New England.  I think that's worth rooting for.  Call me crazy, but New England is one of the only teams in the AFC that worries me.  Why are people burying them so early?

Carolina at New England:  A battle of vague geographic regions.  I like the Panthers for the same reasons stated above.

Cincinnati at Minnesota:  I am rooting for the 9-3 Bengals.  Sounds crazy?  I'd rather Cincy get the two seed over the Chargers.  This would make the road much tougher for San Diego.  They would have to win an extra game to get to the Super Bowl (on the road at frigid Cininnati).

San Diego at Dallas:  Again, I'd like to see the Chargers have the three seed.

Tough Calls

Miami at Jacksonville:  This one will at least makes you think for a minute.  Do we really want Miami in the playoffs?  They played the Colts pretty tough.  Personally I'd like to play them.  I can't imagine a scenario where they would beat us in Indianapolis.  Not without Ronnie Brown.  I'd like to see them steal the AFC East and force the Pats to go on the road.  Realistically though we are rooting for who we would rather see play at Cincinnati in the Wild Card round.

Detroit at Baltimore: If the Ravens swipe the sixth seed they would be a tough matchup for Cincinnati.  At the same time I'd be thrilled to see the Colts play them in the divisional round.  Talk about owning a team.

AFC Playoff Standings

1.  Indianapolis  (12-0)

2.  San Diego  (9-3)

3.  Cincinnati  (9-3)

4.  New England  (7-5)

5.  Denver  (8-4)

6.  Jacksonville  (7-5)

7.  Baltimore  (6-6)

8.  Miami  (6-6)

9.  New York  (6-6)

Demond forgot to hit record on the game this week, so there's no podcast.  Instead we bring you 18 Plays the old fashioned way.  It's practically like painting on a cave wall...

FIRST QUARTER

1. 1-10-IND 25 (14:53) 18-P.Manning pass short right to 85-P.Garcon to TEN 48 for 27 yards (22-V.Fuller). TEN-22-V.Fuller was injured during the play.
   • Two WRs right.  Ugoh gives up serious pressure, but Manning steps up (this becomes a major theme of the game) and fires hard out to Collie who can't hang on. The ball goes off his hands and Garcon is in the right place at the right time.  Manning is excellent at avoiding one rusher.  Generally, if four of the five guys on the line can do their jobs, Manning can avoid a sack.  Trouble comes when there are multiple fails.
     
2. 3-6-TEN 44 (13:56) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass deep right to 85-P.Garcon to TEN 8 for 36 yards (33-M.Griffin).
   • Indy goes four wide on third down.  Diem gives up a big rush this time, but Manning steps up and avoids the rush.  The Titans have a safety over the top and they are clearly worried about Garcon going long.  Frenchy stops and cuts inside, running a nice route.  Nick Harper stumbles around and Garcon continues to pick up yardage after the catch.
     
3. 3-3-TEN 36 (11:47) 28-C.Johnson right end to TEN 39 for 3 yards (33-M.Bullitt).
   • The Titans run to the right and Melvin Bullitt does an incredible job making the play twice.  First he cuts in and forces Johnson to the inside.  Then he spin off the block and makes the play knocking Johnson down nearly a yard short  of the yellow line.  The spot is unconscionable.  This was a great defensive stand, and I think that had the Colts challenged, they would have won.  The problem is that the truck never showed the replay, and my understanding is that coaches upstairs are dependent on the game production.  Why isn't there a coach with a DVR in the box who is checking each play himself?  There were lots of terrible calls both ways in this game, but this spot was easily the worst.
     
4. 3-2-IND 2 (6:42) (Run formation) 10-V.Young pass incomplete short right to 85-N.Washington [99-A.Johnson].
   • The Titans' drive stalls as Mookie knifes in and hits Young at the ankles as he throws.  He forced Young to throw quick and without stepping into the throw.  The result is a wild toss and a field goal for the Titans.
     
5. 2-3-TEN 35 (4:10) (Run formation) 10-V.Young pass incomplete deep left to 85-N.Washington.
   • Indy catches a break as Washington just flat drops the ball.  This looked like maybe a miscommunication between Powers and Bethea.  Bethea was back deep, but never bothered to pick up Washington.  Powers just got beat, but shouldn't he have had help?  It's impossible to know without the coaches' tape.
     
6. 3-10-IND 47 (1:15) (Shotgun) 10-V.Young sacked at TEN 45 for -8 yards (93-D.Freeney).
   • Indy comes with the blitz, which means the back who is in to block has to account for Clint Session, leaving Freeney 1 on 1 on the outside.  Dwight wins that battle.
     
7. 1-10-IND 23 (:38) PENALTY on IND-71-R.Diem, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at IND 23 - No Play.

SECOND QUARTER

8. 3-8-TEN 10 (12:34) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short left to 29-J.Addai to TEN 1 for 9 yards (31-C.Finnegan).
   • This time it's Ugoh giving up a serious rush on Manning (our tackle play is the single biggest weakness).  Manning steps up in the pocket (because Saturday is having an incredible year), and finally finds Joe out in the flat.  Addai takes on two guys and spins free down to the one, picking up a huge first down.
     
9. 3-2-TEN 46 (9:59) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass incomplete short left to 44-D.Clark (33-M.Griffin)
   • Indy goes 5 wide with Clark on the outside left.  He cuts in right at the marker and simply drops the pass.  Caldwell elects to punt.  I get mad.  In the playoffs, they had better go for that.
     
10. 3-5-TEN 43 (5:54) (Shotgun) 10-V.Young pass short right intended for 18-K.Britt INTERCEPTED by 27-J.Lacey [41-A.Bethea] at IND 48. 27-J.Lacey ran ob at TEN 42 for 10 yards.
    • Indy goes with the blitz with Freeney lined up at DT (uh, Vince...AUDIBLE TO A RUN!).  Freeney stunts and gets great pressure on Young, forcing him to run to his right.  Bethea drops down as the spy and forces Vince to throw the ball.  Young sees Britt open for the first down, but Britt just stands there.  Lacey is covering him and jumps inside of the receiver for an easy pick.  The more I watched this play, the more I think it was at least as much on Britt as Young. 
      
11. 3-1-TEN 33 (4:49) 29-J.Addai right tackle to TEN 30 for 3 yards (53-K.Bulluck).
    • After another poor spot by the officials (what an awful crew), Indy faced third and inches.  They go with two TEs and run the ball with Addai.  Lilja just gets DESTROYED by Brown who has Addai dead to rights in the backfield.  Joe jukes him, and busts through for the first behind a solid push by the right side (Saturday, DeVan, Diem).  Incredible run by Addai who continues to do everything the team needs.
12. 3-1-IND 6 (:24) 10-V.Young pass short right to 18-K.Britt for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
    • Indy blitzes, but it doesn't land and can't disrupt Young.  Britt just runs a slant and Lacey has great, tight coverage, but the only defense for that route is to disrupt the rhythm of the QB.  A good throw is a touchdown every time.

.   1-10-TEN 45 (:10) 18-P.Manning pass incomplete short right to 85-P.Garcon [97-T.Brown]. PENALTY on TEN-97-T.Brown, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced at TEN 45.

• Major league dumbassery.  After Garcon trips on what would have been a nice pick up, Brown just loses his cool. Stupid.  The 15 yards put Indy in FG range and helped kill any momentum the Titans would have gotten from scoring to end the half and getting the second half kick off.  Brown probably should have been tossed, but the crew was too incompetent do anything right.
  

THIRD QUARTER

14. 1-10-TEN 33 (8:55) 18-P.Manning pass short left to 17-A.Collie pushed ob at TEN 32 for 1 yard (22-V.Fuller). PENALTY on IND-87-R.Wayne, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at TEN 32.
    • Collie lines up in the slot left.  They swing the ball out to him and Reggie Wayne picks up possibly the weakest holding call of all time.  You can sort of see what the official thinks he saw, which was Wayne grabbing the jersey of the defender, but from a better angle you can see it was basically a clean block.  Bad call knocks Indy into no man's land and leads to a missed FG.
15. 3-3-IND 35 (4:08) 10-V.Young pass incomplete deep right to 18-K.Britt. PENALTY on IND-27-J.Lacey, Defensive Pass Interference, 20 yards, enforced at IND 35 - No Play.
    • Hey, it's another awful call!  The safety is late coming over to help Lacey, who puts his hand out and touches the arm of Britt.  Again, you can see what the official THINKS he saw, but it's clear that Lacey did not grab Britt and in no way impeded his progress.  Instead of the Titans facing fourth down, they got the ball at the 15.  This crew had a horrible day.  Ron Winter should not be allowed within 500 miles of a playoff game.
16. 4-2-IND 2 (1:05) 10-V.Young pass incomplete short left to 18-K.Britt (25-J.Powers)
    • Another Indy blitz forces Young to throw quickly.  They run a fade route, and Powers jumps up and clearly smacks Britt in the facemask as the ball is in the air.  It was a stupid play call.  It was probably pass interference, unless the officials were ruling that the ball was thrown out of bounds, and the catch could not have been made.  If nothing else, it should have been illegal hands to face.  Awful crew.  Worst I've seen in a long time.  They simply stank all day in all aspects of their job.

FOURTH QUARTER

17. 4-5-IND 14 (10:41) (Shotgun) 10-V.Young pass incomplete short right to 87-L.Hawkins.
    • Indy goes with the jail break blitz, initially bringing 7 guys (though one drops back into coverage after forcing a blocker to account for him).  Young just panics and throws the ball away.  All this blitzing would have been DESTROYED by Phil River or Tom Brady.  Vince Young?  He couldn't handle it.
18. 3-5-IND 31 (8:32) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short left to 87-R.Wayne to TEN 46 for 23 yards (26-K.Kaesviharn).
    • Indy salts the game away.  The Colts go four wide with Clark in the slot left alongside Wayne.  Manning gets great blocking and Clark runs a pick (legal) to screen Finnegan off of Wayne.  Reggie cuts inside, makes the catch and streaks downfield for big yardage.  Wayne was quiet most of the day, but when the Colts needed him late, he was there.

A couple of years ago I attended a professional conference aimed at educating executives to trends among emerging leaders under the age of 35.  Yes, I was one of the 'under 35s' invited to attend.  It struck me at the time that despite running my own website, blog, and podcast that I was already hopelessly out of date with new trends in technology.  At the time I didn't even have a Facebook account, and though I do now, I still don't really 'get it'.

I bring this up not whine about how insufferably old I am already (33 is the new 70), but rather to mention that while 18to88.com has had a limited Twitter presence for some time, I've finally gotten around to tying the RSS feeds for both the main page and the links into my Twitter account.  So now, for those so inclined, when you follow 18to88 on Twitter, you can be assured that you'll be getting real time updates about happenings here at 18to88.com.

I really wanted to tell you that...and I had to post something to test if it works.

So, sign up to follow 18to88.com by heading over to Twitter.com.  Hilariously, this is my feed, but it's under Demond's name.  Whatever, it works for both of us.

There's so much Colts related stuff here, that I'm putting this on the main page...

The All Decade Team features Manning, Howard Mudd, AV, and Polian

Toughest call, choosing Manning over Brady. Both deserve it. Brady gets the edge in titles 3-1. Manning gets the edge in MVPs 3-1 -- and he's in prime position to win a record fourth this year. Manning gets the edge in raw productivity, with 11,000 more passing yards and 87 more touchdowns. Brady played eight years, Manning 10. If I chose this team at the end of this season and the Patriots had won another title, I'd have to put Brady in this spot. But we're picking it now, and as we sit here, I believe Manning will go down in history as one of the top three quarterbacks, and I can't make a team of the decade, in Manning's prime years, without having him quarterback it. Manning is my Player of the Decade.

Don Banks lists the biggest moments

8. Tony Dungy's ring. Nearly two full decades after Doug Williams became the first African American to quarterback a Super Bowl champion, Dungy wrote his own chapter in history on Feb. 4, 2007, earning the distinction of being the first black head coach to win the NFL's ultimate game. Dungy's Colts beat the Bears in Super Bowl XLI, providing him the highlight of his eventual 13-year head-coaching career. He led his teams to the playoffs in 11 of those 13 seasons, and his legacy as one of the league's most respected figures stands in stark contrast today to the length of time he waited before being granted his first head-coaching opportunity, in Tampa Bay in 1996.

PLAYER OF THE DECADE: Peyton Manning, Colts
The Colts are the winningest regular-season team in the decade, and Manning's immense presence, skill, accuracy and mastery of the offense are the biggest reasons. Twenty years ago, Fran Tarkenton was the all-time leader in passing yards, with 47,003. Barring some surprise in the last month of this regular season, Manning will finish 2009 with more than 42,000 in this decade alone. He is not the leader of his offense; he is the commandant.

Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning finally answered their critics by earning their first trip to the Super Bowl. The fact that it came against their archnemesis -- and featured the largest comeback in championship game history -- made it all the sweeter. The game had many strange occurrences: two scores by offensive linemen off fumble recoveries, a touchdown catch by a defensive tackle, an interception return for a score and a kickoff return for a touchdown. Manning, who threw for 349 yards and a TD, marched the Colts 80 yards in the final two-plus minutes for the decisive score.

Cleaning out my inbox today there are several cool things that I want to call everyone's attention to.

First, Robert I sends us this incredible link from NFL Films.  This is a MUST WATCH clip about the friend ship between Howard Mudd and Titans' D-line coach Jim Washburn.  Just an incredible video.

Secondly, I got an email from Hans Steiniger who is trying to visit all 31 NFL stadiums.  He made a return trip to Indy to take in the Luke.  He has a great write up about his day with the Blue Crew and seemed to really enjoy the Luke.

What struck me as most impressive about the Lucas Oil Stadium gametime experience was the crowd. The 12th man at Lucas Oil Stadium is easily top three in the league. Like many others throughout the NFL, they’re a loud, raucous crowd that supports their defense each time they take the field, supplying a wall of disruptive noise to force mistakes and confusion by opposing offenses. But what sets this crowd apart from the rest of the National Football League is the respect that’s paid to All-Pro quarterback Peyton Manning. Each time the Indianapolis Colts offense takes the field, the crowd silences allowing Manning and the Colts offense to work in an eerie noiseless environment … and I mean complete quiet. I could actually hear a camera shutter going off as a woman in the section over took photos.  She had to be forty feet away!  It’s as if the entire crowd takes a breath when the Colts approach the line of scrimmage. I really didn’t even feel comfortable talking to the guy next to me while Manning was under center, and I was in the last row of Section 613!   People seriously spoke in hushed tones during Colts offensive possessions, but as soon as the ball was snapped it was a completely different story, as this crowd springs to life with each exceptional play.

Moving along, there's some really exciting news from Bloguin about our site.  Bloguin has developed Iphone Apps for some of the bigger sites, including 18to88.com.  You can get the app for the Bloguin main site here.  The 18to88 was supposed to debut today, but the logo had to be redesigned because it had a horseshoe in it and couldn't get approved for copyright issues.  Hopefully, we'll be up and running in the next few weeks.  The app will allow you to easily check up on everything 18to88.com related from your IPhone or Ipod touch.  The next generation (hopefully coming early next year) will enable mobile commenting as well.  The best news of all...the App is FREE!  We'll keep you posted as to when the 18to88 App goes live.  There will also be Android applications for you non-Apple users.

Lastly, we've been blessed with some excellent photos from the official "drunk uncle" of the 18to88 family, JC the Pats Fan.  He attended the Pats/Dolphins game this past week and sends us photos along with this story:

I was so wasted by the time I got into the stadium that pretty much after that is a blur.

I will, however, send DZ a picture shortly that I'll hope he'll post, showing a Dolphin Fan who my crew provoked being arrested after throwing a punch at my chick.

I just sent DZ a picture of me WITHOUT my normal Memorial Day Tren/Deca stack.

I'll kill EVERYBODY who reads this blog in a cage match. EVERYBODY.

I blacked out the face off the offender because I don't want to get sued, and because I'm auditioning for a job as a face obscurer for COPS.  Back in the old days (ie the 1990s), there were more fights and arrests when the Dolphins came to the Dome than any other fanbase I remember.  One of my most vivid memories is of some drunk in a Marino jersey getting hauled out of RCA on a stretcher with a bloody and wearing handcuffs.  You stay classy, Miami.