Jan

10

AFC Divisional Playoffs - Pre Game Bolts @ Colts

Posted by Charger_Girl

January 10, 2008 |

I will start by cutting to the chase - to the meat of the upcoming matchup Sunday - which is, the Colts struggle against 3-4 defenses, one the Chargers utilize very, very successfully.  Particularly with Shawne “Sackmaster” Merriman on one end and Shaun Phillips on the other, the Chargers’ defense is quite adept at collapsing the pocket and getting to the quarterback.  Just ask Peyton Manning, who felt the pressure both this season in week 10 and in 2005 when a 13-0 Colts team was defeated by the Chargers at home.  Now throw in Antonio Cromartie (named to the 2007 AP NFL All-Pro Team along with LT and Lorenzo Neal) who leads the league in INTs (he had 3 against Manning earlier this season) and I can guarantee the Colts are not feeling as comfortable as they would like.  By the way, did I mention Darren Sproles PR and KR for TDs against Indy?  Oh, and Vinatieri’s 2 missed FGs?

Yes, Indy’s offense is 3rd in the league in scoring (the Chargers are 5th); however, San Diego leads the league in takeaways.  With Dwight Freeney on IR, the Colts will have a difficult time stopping LaDainian Tomlinson, or Michael Turner, for that matter, who is very successful against them.  Analysts assert that the Colts need to shut down the run and force Philip Rivers to win the game; however, that is exactly what Tennessee did last week and Rivers stepped up and succeeded.

Now that the proverbial monkey is off the Chargers’ and Norv Turner’s collective backs by securing their first postseason victory since 1995, the Chargers can focus on what they do best:  jamming LT down the defense’s throat and forcing takeaways.

Frankly, I’m sick to death of hearing how Manning is just so wonderful.  Yes, he’s a great quarterback, but he is very beatable.  The Chargers have done it.  I’m also annoyed with the lack of credit given the Chargers.  Last season they were the best team in the league.  This season they have turned it around, and have gone 11-2 in their last 13 games.  And Rivers, who has more criticism than he deserves did achieve yet another 3,000+ yd. season, tossing 21 TDs; stats too often overlooked.  Anyway, the Chargers’ defense knows it’s dangerous to believe that the game will be a repeat of week 10’s game.  Manning is a professional, and, according to Clinton Hart, “That’s Peyton Manning you’re facing.  He’ll have a whole [different] mentality for this game…It’s probably eating him up that he gave us that many (six interceptions).  We don’t expect him to make as many mistakes this time.” (chargers.com)

Apparently Marvin Harrison will be back from injury; however, I do not see him playing up to the caliber he was prior to his injury.  Not to mention the Colts’ ground game:  Joseph Addai has only rushed for 97 yds and no TDs in his last 3 games; hardly the jaw-dropping stats which would cause a modicum of panic within the Bolts. 

Antonio Gates is questionable with his toe injury, and apparently Neal will be available for Sunday after fracturing his fibula against the Titans several weeks ago.  But as I stated earlier this week, the Chargers have depth; and lots of it. 

So go ahead and tell San Diego they won’t win.  I am confident they won’t give it a second thought.

manning-merriman-donald-miralle.jpg

**Correction:  I had incorrectly listed Bob Sanders on IR, as I meant to put Dwight Freeney.  I have corrected this error, and thank you to CJ for pointing out this oversight on my part.


Comments

2 Comments so far

  1. CJ on January 11, 2008 4:22 pm

    I appreciate your zeal and enthusiasm, but your stats are ’skewed’ and don’t adequately reflect what’s going on. Manning is the real deal, a top tier quarterback only second to Brady at this point. Rivers has thrown 21 regular season touchdowns, yet he did have 15 picks, and 5 fumbles, 3 of which he lost. The fumbles have picked up in 2007 no? Add another pick and fumble in last week’s playoff contest as well.

    Harrison has been resting for the playoffs, you can guarantee he is 100%. Addai has been on cruise control for the end of the regular season, due to the Colts successes, so those rushing numbers are diminished. The Bolts D isn’t the cause of worry though, they will handle their business of that I’m sure.

    Bob Sanders is playing, not sure where the IR rumor came from. And I’m sure that Vinateri doesn’t miss two field goals indoors at home. Just a hunch, but that was the fluke the Chargers needed to win the regular season game… they didn’t have much to do with that irregular event.

    As much as it pains me to say it, the Bolts haven’t accomplished much in 2007 to get accolades for. They were inconsistent and didn’t really have to play to their potential to earn their record. They did prove in the Pats playoff game last year that the team with the best record isn’t always the “best team”.

    That being said, it should be a good game in a cardiac arrest kind of way. If the consistency that has been missing in 2007 finally appears, the Bolts will move on to the Championship. If they play half a game like they did last week, it will be extraordinarily difficult to overcome. Go Bolts.

  2. Steve Alexander on January 11, 2008 7:02 pm

    Call me naieve,but I like the Bolts chances against the Colts.They have the defense to match up against the WR’s and if they get after Manning and disrupte him.Rivers needs to keep his emotions in check and get the the ball to LT as much as possible.
    With that said,it won’t be easy on the road and indoors,but its the playoffs and ANYTHING can happen.
    GO CHARGERS!!

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