Statement Game For Colts

[milatown]

By Tim Sullivan
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

There they go again.

The NFL season has hit November and -- surprise, surprise -- the Colts are unbeaten. They are 7-0, just like last season. They are hammering the bad teams, just like last season. They are getting by the good teams, just like last season. And they are running away with the AFC South, just like last season.

But don't tell the coach how good they are. At least not yet.

"We have to get better," Tony Dungy said. "There's no question about that."

The reason for that is quite simple. When you're talking about a franchise that has seemingly barreled through regular season after regular season only to falter in the playoffs under Dungy, even the organization itself gets sick of hearing how tremendous it is early on.

As good as it's been going, as dominant as they look, the Colts flat-out need to prove it in January. Until then, it's just window dressing.

Albeit rather impressive window dressing.

"You can't overemphasize how good the quarterback is," Dungy said. "We're running the same plays that we've been running for seven years."

Dungy uttered those words at Invesco Field last Sunday, moments after his Pro Bowl quarterback, Peyton Manning, shredded the dominant Denver defense en route to a 34-31 victory. It was the Colts' third road win of the season and fifth against AFC competition.

"When our offense has the ball with a chance to win," Dungy said, "we feel pretty good about it no matter who we’re playing."

Dungy can feel confident with his comments, simply because Manning has delivered last-minute victories over the Broncos, Giants and Jets this season with a relative ease and may yet orchestrate another one tonight, when the Colts take on the Patriots (New England is -3 on WagerWeb.com).

But it's slowly becoming more than just the Manning Show on offense. Sure, Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison are up to their usual tricks and the Colts are still most dangerous through the air. But rookie running back Joseph Addai, who replaced Edgerrin James in the backfield, is progressing. Against the Broncos, he ran for 93 yards and could have a big game tonight against New England.

In the end, though, we all know who drives the Colts' train. And, to no one's surprise, he's off to yet another amazing start.

"He just knows," Dungy said of Manning, "where to go with the ball."

If only in the regular season.

So far.

FAILING IN PHILLY: It's still too early to eliminate a .500 team from the crowded NFC playoff picture, but if the Eagles (4-4) don't get their act together, they could be home for the holidays for the second consecutive season.

Sure, it seems that quarterback Donovan McNabb has put together some impressive games and has solid statistics in his comeback season, his Life-After-Owens season if you will. But a closer look at Philadelphia's year shows those numbers aren't that stunning after all.

Consider who McNabb and the Birds have defeated: Houston, Green Bay, San Francisco and Dallas. Only one of those teams, the Cowboys, figures to be in the postseason hunt come next month. And that might even be a stretch,

Then, consider who they've lost to: the Giants, Saints, Buccaneers and Jaguars. On the flip side, only one of those teams, Tampa Bay, figures to be out of the playoff push.

"We are 4-4. We are going to turn this thing around," said safety and defensive leader Brian Dawkins. "This bye could not have come at a better time for us the way we are playing right now. Guys can take a whole week and look at whatever they need to look at, myself included. We can get this thing rolling."

The Eagles are indeed off this week and will play host to the Redskins Nov. 12. Washington plays Dallas today (the Cowboys are -3 on WagerWeb.com).

"I haven't gotten them to the point they need to be," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "We've got to get it together here."
Better hurry.

THE DEFENSE RESTS: San Francisco has the pieces -- albeit young ones -- in place on offense, without question. Perhaps next year, Alex Smith and Co. will be a lethal unit.

But can someone please make a stop on defense? The 2-5 49ers have allowed at least 30 points five times this season -- all losses not surprisingly -- and at least 40 points three times.

Good news for the Vikings, who travel to San Francisco today (Minnesota is -4.5 on WagerWeb.com). Bad news for the 49ers, who seemingly have no answers right now.

"Everyone needs to take a part in getting it rectified," Coach Mike Nolan said.

But, with the numbers as high as they are, the question has to be raised. Do they even have enough talented bodies to do so? And if so, do they even want to?

"I don’t know all the reasons for the mistakes but as far as I’m concerned most of them are excuses right now," Nolan said. "And excuses make it OK to lose, and it is certainly not OK to lose."

It's not OK to allow to 33.5 points per game, either.

[MasterMind]

Interesting reading but a little bit based on theories from my point of view.

[MasterMind]

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Where it says that you can link or syndicate the feed, but nothing about actually reproduce the article or omit the Author's resource box.

[marik]

interesting,
this is a good article and my point of view is very similar with you

[HeadCase]

Even if they Colts went undefeated I doubt that Dungy or anyone else up there would be satisfied because they always choke in the playoffs. Manning isn't a rookie anymore. He needs to at least make it to Superbowl.

[alexross1977]

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This is a one spammer town