1. Matchups, Matchups, Matchups: Regardless of San Diego's
record or the fact that the Colts defeated them on the road earlier this season,
the fact remained that the Chargers were a tough draw for Indianapolis.
The Colts simply don't match up well with San Diego
AP Photo/Denis Poroy
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They are a physical team on offense and defense and are naturally predisposed
to giving the Colts a tough game, whether the experts and the people who set the
betting lines agree.
LaDainian Tomlinson's health was not a factor.
Antonio Gates' health was not a factor. The key matchups dictated the
course of the game on the field.
2. Special Teams Continue to Be Key in the Postseason: Mike Scifres
and Darren Sproles played huge roles for the Chargers in terms of field position
and allowed them to hang around despite the fact that the Colts outgained them
significantly throughout the first three quarters.
In the offseason, a
point of emphasis for Bill Polian and his staff will be to identify, possibly
through free agency, though more likely through the draft, a more suitable
punter than Hunter Smith and a better return man for punts and kickoffs than the
underwhelming combination of Chad Simpson, Pierre Garcon, Keiwan Ratliff, and
even TJ Rushing, when he returns from injury.
3. Tony Dungy's First Half Challenge Changed the Course of the Game:
If he didn't squander a challenge on the play to Reggie Wayne by the
sidelines, would he have challenged the non-catch by Chris Chambers before the
two minute warning? The odious spot for Michael Bennett in the fourth
quarter? We'll never know. Once he used that challenge up, every
other potential challenge in the game became less of a priority, yet magnified.
The Colts couldn't run the football when it counted this season
Harry How/Getty
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4. Lack of a Running Game Doomed the Colts: All season, it was apparent
that Indianapolis was going to need to be able to run the ball in order to close
games out and possess the ball. Against the Chargers, they totaled only 64
yards on 22 carries, for an anemic 2.9 yard average.
When push came to
shove with third and two with 2:30 to play and the game on the line, with
Indianapolis only needing a first down to close out the game, they decided to
throw the ball and were sacked.
In a previous life, they would have had
the confidence to run for those two yards and, convert or fail, would have kept
the clock moving and kept Smith away from the chalk of his own end zone.
If the 32nd-ranked Cardinals found an occasion to run the ball today (and win),
then the 31st ranked Colts should have taken the opportunity as well, especially
when mammoth nose tackle Jamal Williams was not in the game.
5. Game Ball Still Goes to the Defense: With all the star power on
the offensive side of the ball, too much attention is often paid to them and
eschewed from a very capable and gritty defensive squad.
Amongst all the
dissection of this game, the perils and the promises, the bad calls and the
missed opportunities, the fact remains that everyone associated with the Colts
knew that 17 points would not be enough to win. Aside from a promising
touchdown drive in the first quarter and a crafty touchdown pass to Reggie
Wayne, Peyton Manning and company simply gained a lot of yards between the 40s.
In a game of this magnitude, against a pass defense as vulnerable as this, they
needed to do better. The defense came up with two turnovers in the end
zone, four sacks, and kept the highest scoring offense in the league to 14
points through 58 minutes.
6. There's Always Next Year: The Colts have a solid defense, a
young and improving offensive line, some of the most accomplished skill position
players in the league on the offensive side of the ball, and the reigning MVP.
They will be back next year. Maybe the bounces will favor them then.
Maybe they'll be a higher seed. Maybe they won't need to face Darren
Sproles and the Chargers.
At 3-4 after seven games, a playoff spot seemed
unlikely. Remember the great things accomplished and the strides made this
season on both sides of the ball.
And think of what this team would be with a decent kick returner and
punter...