This looks like the year of the Colt
Very few people gave the Indianapolis Colts much of a chance against the Baltimore Ravens? defense and home-field advantage on Saturday. Being a Colts fan, I too had doubt in the Colts? ability to win the big playoff game, considering their past performances.
Peyton Manning, who is already one of the best quarterbacks of all time, played like a nervous rookie. The Ravens? Steve McNair didn?t fare much better as his team failed to make any big plays, something the Ravens offense has done well all year.
The Raven defense, which has been one of the top-ranked units in the league, buckled while the Colts? suspect defense has played their best over the past two games.
The only thing I predicted correctly in this game was it was going to be won on a field goal. I just didn?t know all the points scored in Saturday?s game would come off of seven kicks. Adam Vinatieri has been one of the best place kickers in league history, especially in postseason games when he played for New England. Now he has given the Colts a real chance to be playing on Super Bowl Sunday.
Baltimore fans were hoping a Ravens win would somehow put closure to the Colts? departure back 23 years ago. Yes, believe it or not there are still a few Baltimore fans out there still holding on to hard feelings for the Colts slipping out of town on that snowy night in March, when Art Modell moved his team out of Baltimore.
The Colts? 15-6 win over the Ravens was like a dagger in the back to loyal Baltimore fans, especially since the Ravens have had the best home-field record in the NFL since the 2000 season. Despite holding Manning to 170 yards in the air and causing him to throw two interceptions. The Ravens? defense didn?t have enough to keep the Colts out of field-goal range.
Manning has yet to work his regular season magic in the playoffs, which explains why the team has yet to reach the Super Bowl. But with out his special quarterback abilities I doubt if the Colts would be the team they are today. Some say he can?t win the big games, but my question is can the Colts win the Super Bowl with Tony Dungy at the wheel?
Dungy has been able to lead his teams to the playoffs for eight straight years, but can he lead a team to a Super Bowl victory?
His coaching abilities aren?t in question. He is respected by everyone in the game. But does he have the emotion and killer instinct to push his team to victory in the big game?
In all the years of watching him on the sidelines, I have never seen him shouting at the top of his lungs or chewing a player out on the sidelines.
He?s no John Gruden or Bill Parcells, and actually I find it refreshing not to see a coach swearing up and down on the sidelines.
His laid-back attitude seems to be a good fit for the Colts. I don?t think what some call his lack of emotion has kept the Colts from winning the Super Bowl. In fact his demeanor on the sideline reminds me a lot of how Tom Landry approached the game. I never was a Cowboys fan, but coach Landry?s success can?t be argued with, he did win two Super Bowls.
No matter what your opinion is, I thinks it?s Dungy?s year and the Colts will prevail. But I?ve been wrong before.