Perhaps the Colts should take a page from another Payton’s playbook. For the past decade, the Colts have been nothing short of conservative. Always playing it safe and never taking chances. Being conservative has once again ended the Colts season in disappointments and a handful of what if’s.
I feel like I brought this upon myself. Watching the Colt’s defense, I can’t hate the choice that I made some years ago to be a Colt’s fan. Watching the defense bend and eventually breaking gives me horrific flashbacks of watching UK’s defense. Opponents are able to sustain long drives against a defense that doesn’t give up the big play and doesn’t give the offense a chance to get on the field. In the Colts case, you don’t let #18 do what he does best, control the game.
Ballsy play-calling was the deciding factor in last nights game. The Colts were set to get the ball back to start the 2nd half with a 4 point lead. Had the Colts recovered that kick off, it could have changed the whole complexion and outcome of the game. Manning would have had excellent field position and could have potentially scored and had a 11 point lead. The moment definitely shifted and the Colts no longer had the lead like they are accustomed to having. The Colts team is built on putting up points and forcing teams to throw. Which allows the smaller, faster defense to pin it’s ears back and go after the quarterback. Indy has never been great about playing from behind. The Saints knew that something needed to happen to change the momentum of the game. You weren’t going to win by not taking chances and I commend the Saints and Payton for being aggressive against the Colts. They knew they weren’t going to turn the ball over 5 times like the Vikings did. They came out ready to play and earned their first Super Bowl Championship. Congratulations.