A Taste of Humble Pie for Colts’ Fans
If there is one thing I have learned about being a Colts’ fan, or a fan of any team for that matter, it is: do not get comfy with your team and do not get cocky about your team. Sure, we may be the reigning World Champs, we may have an unstoppable defense, and we may have a quarterback with a laser-rocket arm. But, even still, I believe games like the one played Sunday night are meant to keep us fans humble.
How many of us saw that we were playing the Chargers and anticipated a game like the one we witnessed on Sunday? I feel safe in saying no one looked at San Diego’s 4-4 record as a major threat. We put on our favorite player’s jerseys and crowded around the television expecting to see a little, to no struggle victory.
And the Colts surprised us yet again. So what went wrong? I’m not going to get into the logistics of the game because it was what it was. We had hardly any available, capable receivers able to even play and even if we did, with Peyton’s 6 picks it didn’t seem likely that the ball would even make it into their hands. And of course, the obvious scapegoat in this tough loss: Vinatieri. I think that’s really all that needs to be said. He knows he messed up; we all saw him pull his helmet over his eyes after his miss from 29 yards and I’m positive he saw his team’s reaction, which was enough to probably make him wish he were back in New England.
Outside of our lack of healthy players, a poor performance from Peyton’s laser-rocket arm, and our kicker who seemed too busy slapping all of his confident, faithful fans in their faces, there were a couple of other factors that sealed the deal for San Diego.
1. The weather: When you have an indoor stadium team like the Colts playing in muggy, misty, wet weather, there will rarely be a good outcome. We’ve seen it before, watching our team suffer a loss when playing the Patriots in a near blizzard, so we shouldn’t be surprised. The Colts just aren’t built to endure the elements.
2. The officials: I think it was obvious not only to me, but to majority of Colts fans watching the game this past Sunday, that the referees were not going to make calls in our favor. As the Colts prepared to snap the ball at 4th and 1 at the San Diego 7, Utech was called for a false start and the team was penalized 4 yards, making it unreasonable to even attempt a touchdown pass. Looking at the footage and listening to the commentators, it was obvious that Utech did nothing wrong and no penalty should have been incurred. Although, nay sayers might argue that the Colts own NFL officials, if this is in fact true, after watching this game, the Colts might think about paying them more.
So there it is, it wasn’t necessarily the Chargers that beat the Colts; all of these factors came together to defeat us in the end. Although, it was a hard loss to swallow, it will keep us humble- so we don’t wind up like those other Superbowl Champs, you know, the ones with the video camera.
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7 Responses to “A Taste of Humble Pie for Colts’ Fans”
November 14th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Couple things:
“I think it was obvious not only to me, but to majority of Colts fans watching the game this past Sunday, that the referees were not going to make calls in our favor”
I was shocked with the “inadvertent whistle” call on the dramatic interception in the end zone. I thought that call, more than any interception thrown by Manning, really changed the Colts fortunes.
While I will certainly agree that the officials blew some calls, I PRAY the referees don’t start making calls in ANY team’s favor. Do you think they decide before a game which teams will get the calls that week?
The weather: When you have an indoor stadium team like the Colts playing in muggy, misty, wet weather, there will rarely be a good outcome. We’ve seen it before, watching our team suffer a loss when playing the Patriots in a near blizzard, so we shouldn’t be surprised. The Colts just aren’t built to endure the elements.
A tiny, little question:
Christine did you happen to watch Super Bowl XLI, way back in February? I know the commercials are distracting, but the Colts played the Chicago Bears. It was a dramatic game featuring the Indianapolis Colts, a dome team trouncing the Chicago Bears, an outdoor stadium team in, well, an outdoor stadium. The weather that fine evening? a little chilly, and absolutely soaking wet. I hate blanket statements but, I believe almost all Colts fans would agree the Colts crushed the Bears, in that outdoor stadium, while rain poured from above, last February. The dominating Colts, not the weather was the difference in that game.
it wasn’t necessarily the Chargers that beat the Colts;
Uh, yes it was the Chargers who beat the Colts last Sunday night. Or maybe I was watching the commercials?
November 14th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Brian, first of all thank-you for your comment, I appreciate what you have to say and enjoy hearing other people’s opinions.
That said, I’ll do my best to answer your questions and comments.
No, I do not believe that the officials plan out which teams will get which calls during a game. I was pointing out that during this particular game it seemed as if the Colts were getting far less calls in their favor than the Chargers. Whether this is because the Colts did in fact deserve to be penalized, or if it were for some other reason- we may never know. But, it seemed apparent to me that some of the calls made were not necessarily fair.
Yes, I did watch the Superbowl and I won’t argue (and I don’t think anyone would) that the Colts did dominate. But, look at how poorly the Bears played in that game. Both their defense and their offense seemed to crack under pressure, making it, maybe not easy for the Colts to dominate, but not nearly as tough. Although, weather did play a role in the Superbowl, I wouldn’t say it was a determining factor for the Colts victory. As for the game on Sunday though, I would say that it played a role in the Colts demise. Manning doesn’t throw six picks under just any circumstance. It was obvious that the weather was a major reason for his blunders, making it easier for the Chargers to pull out a victory.
Again, I enjoy hearing from you and I hope you will continue to read and question what I write.
November 15th, 2007 at 1:03 am
It turns out that rocker-laser arm is human after all!
I wish my team had the problems the Colts have!
November 15th, 2007 at 9:52 am
Nice Article Christine!
Welcome to the MVN. I own Bruno Boys Fantasy Football which is powered by the MVN, and I am always hovering over the football articles and noticed it looks like it’s your first article?
That was a tough loss for the Colts to swallow. Peyton struggled, Addai never got it going, and Mr. Automatic Vinateri missed a chip shot. But, it’s football! Anything can happen, look for the Colts to steamroll passed Kansas City this week.
When you get a chance, check out http://www.brunoboys.net, esp. if you are a fantasy football player1
-Marc Caviglia
Owner, Bruno Boys Fantasy Football
www.brunoboys.net
November 15th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
It’s just that you said “When you have an indoor stadium team like the Colts playing in muggy, misty, wet weather, there will rarely be a good outcome.” Was the Super Bowl one of those rare wins? I don’t think so. And I don’t think the weather had much to do with the loss at San Diego.
November 15th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Well then we agree to disagree
November 16th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
I stand corrected. The Super Bowl win was a fluke =o)
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