October 20, 2015 at 4:32 p.m.
Colts fans should be ecstatic despite loss to Patriots
Rays of Insight
How do you feel?
That’s my question for Indianapolis Colts fans today.
Since Sunday night, it seems there has been quite a bit of vitriol directed toward the team.
I’ve heard some fans say the fake punt with the funky formation — one national columnist is trying to dub it “the snapfu” — was the nail in Chuck Pagano’s coaching coffin. Others have called it the most ridiculous play in NFL history.
Maybe both of those things are true. But I also feel there’s a need for a reality check.
First of all, it was not totally ridiculous for Indianapolis to line up with just two players over the ball and the rest near the sideline.
Plenty of teams have used such a ploy, and used it successfully. (Any fans who want to see an example can search the Internet for a similar University of Maine play that resulted in a game-winning touchdown.)
The first problem with the Colts’ attempt at the play was that the ball should have never been snapped, given that New England was clearly not fooled by the formation. The second was that, even had the play been successful, the Colts had lined up incorrectly.
It was not their finest hour.
However, let’s look at the bigger picture and remember where this team was on Sept. 22.
Back then, Indianapolis was 0-2. They had suffered ugly losses to the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets, and seemed nothing like the team that played for the conference championship a year ago.
We talked at that point. We agreed — well, I wrote, and assumed you’d agree — it wasn’t time to panic yet. If the Colts won their next three games, all against AFC South opponents, and then lost to New England, they would be 3-3, leading the division and in good shape for a run to the playoffs.
Well, Indianapolis is 3-3 and leading the division. And two of their three wins came with Andrew Luck sidelined because of an injury.
So really, what more could you have asked for?
Sure it would have been nice for the Colts to have handed New England its first loss of the season. But before the game, I don’t recall too many local fans who even thought it would be close.
There was good reason for that theory, given that the Patriots had dominated each of the last three meetings to the tune of a combined score of 130-49.
Really, though, if fans are able to block out the one goofy play, Indianapolis put on a strong performance.
Andrew Luck looked far better than he did before his injury. No interceptions was a good sign.
Frank Gore ran the ball effectively (and didn’t fumble).
And T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief played like the receiving tandem most hoped they could be.
Yes, moral victories are thoroughly unsatisfying, but the Colts at the very least proved capable of competing against their archnemesis.
To be clear, I’m still not convinced Indianapolis is a team anyone should be scared of come playoff time.
But considering where the team was a month ago, Colts fans should be ecstatic.
That’s my question for Indianapolis Colts fans today.
Since Sunday night, it seems there has been quite a bit of vitriol directed toward the team.
I’ve heard some fans say the fake punt with the funky formation — one national columnist is trying to dub it “the snapfu” — was the nail in Chuck Pagano’s coaching coffin. Others have called it the most ridiculous play in NFL history.
Maybe both of those things are true. But I also feel there’s a need for a reality check.
First of all, it was not totally ridiculous for Indianapolis to line up with just two players over the ball and the rest near the sideline.
Plenty of teams have used such a ploy, and used it successfully. (Any fans who want to see an example can search the Internet for a similar University of Maine play that resulted in a game-winning touchdown.)
The first problem with the Colts’ attempt at the play was that the ball should have never been snapped, given that New England was clearly not fooled by the formation. The second was that, even had the play been successful, the Colts had lined up incorrectly.
It was not their finest hour.
However, let’s look at the bigger picture and remember where this team was on Sept. 22.
Back then, Indianapolis was 0-2. They had suffered ugly losses to the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets, and seemed nothing like the team that played for the conference championship a year ago.
We talked at that point. We agreed — well, I wrote, and assumed you’d agree — it wasn’t time to panic yet. If the Colts won their next three games, all against AFC South opponents, and then lost to New England, they would be 3-3, leading the division and in good shape for a run to the playoffs.
Well, Indianapolis is 3-3 and leading the division. And two of their three wins came with Andrew Luck sidelined because of an injury.
So really, what more could you have asked for?
Sure it would have been nice for the Colts to have handed New England its first loss of the season. But before the game, I don’t recall too many local fans who even thought it would be close.
There was good reason for that theory, given that the Patriots had dominated each of the last three meetings to the tune of a combined score of 130-49.
Really, though, if fans are able to block out the one goofy play, Indianapolis put on a strong performance.
Andrew Luck looked far better than he did before his injury. No interceptions was a good sign.
Frank Gore ran the ball effectively (and didn’t fumble).
And T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief played like the receiving tandem most hoped they could be.
Yes, moral victories are thoroughly unsatisfying, but the Colts at the very least proved capable of competing against their archnemesis.
To be clear, I’m still not convinced Indianapolis is a team anyone should be scared of come playoff time.
But considering where the team was a month ago, Colts fans should be ecstatic.
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