It happened. It happens. It will happen again. I promised myself not to let a Colts loss hurt as much as it used to after they won the Super Bowl just three years earlier. Then, seeing that that was a load of bull, I promised to avoid the NFL (the network, the league, ESPN NFL's stuff) until the draft. I am done talking NFL (except for the Decadium NFL stuff, which will allow me to think back to happier times) until the Summer, when I will do an early power rankings. However, I must write about the game. I must. I hope it will be a cathartic experience.
First, at least it was New Orleans, a team deserving of the label of a Super Bowl Champion, and a city deserving of much, much more. At least the Colts were outplayed in the loss (unlike that bastardization of a loss last year in San Diego in round one). The Saints deserved to win the game, at least more than the Colts. However, when one team outrushes, outpasses the other, where is the loss coming from. The Saints played to win, as shown by that onside kick. While Garrett Hartley was nailing long field goal after long field goal, Matt Stover missed a crucial Field Goal, one that never should have been attempted. The Saints went for it on 4th and Goal. The Colts then conservatively ran the ball when they had all three timeouts and two minutes left in the first half. It was a game that was indeed closer than that 14 point score, yet seemed so far away.
Now, onto the "Clysdale" in the room: the Colts. No one should hammer Manning for this loss. He was probably as good as most Super Bowl winning QBs, and in many ways outplayed his performance in Super Bowl XLI. It was not Manning's fault that Pierre Garcon dropped that 3rd down pass that hit him right in the hands, which would have been a 30 yard gain, inevitably leading to more points to bolster a 10-3 lead in the second quarter. It was not entirely Manning's fault that the interception returned for a TD happened. And before Manning "haters" point to that as another sign of his inability to come up big in a big game, the guy who has come up "bigger" than anybody else in Super Bowl's recently, Kurt Warner, has twiced tossed pick-sixes in Super Bowls, including that game-killer last year.
What Manning has done the last two seasons has been incredible. He may have not had the stats he had from 2003-2006, but he was different. He carried a hurt, wounded team on his back, and willed them to a 28-8 record. Just like the '08 Colts were really a 8-8 or 9-7 team masquerading at 12-4 because of Manning's poise and will, the '09 Colts were really a 10-6 or 11-5 team. They really had no brilliant part of their game, except for Manning. He lost his about-to-explode #2 wideout on the first drive of the season (Anthony Gonzalez, please come back, and come back soon). His running game is now non-existent (yet it did perform well the last two games), and his o-line featured one "starter" pushed in because the real "starter" was terrible (Johnson replacing Ugoh) and 4 other aging guys who cannot run block and whose pass-blocking skills are deteriorating. The Colts defense lost their starting weakside linebacker to IR, and lost one starting corner and Bob Sanders to it as well. They were probably the second most-injured Colts team (after last year's) in this run, and Manning, nearly by himself and the way his confidence effected the rest of the team, led, if not more aptly carried, the Colts to 14 straight wins. They had no business winning some of those games, if not for Manning. Finally, they ran into a team who was amazingly healthy, and just plain as good if not better at every position (Brees is not the player Manning is, but he is easily the second best QB in the NFL).
It will be the longest offseason since 2005. However, I will be able to calm myself during the upcoming seven months before NFL kicks-off again knowing two things:
1.) Gonzo, Marlin, Bob and Tyjuan are all coming back. Honestly, the first three names are all that matter. Gonzo has the best hands on the team (better than Wayne) and would have caught that Garcon drop with his knuckles. Marlin pushes Tim "the 15 yard cushion" onto some other team, and Bob is Bob. The Colts have every ability to be better than they were this year. They are in as good a position as every other NFL team. They will be back.
2.) Instead of asking "Will he ever get it done?" I can ask "Will he get it done again?" a much happier question. This is nowhere near as those lifeless February's from 2004 to 2006, before Manning won a title, where Tom Brady was game managing teams to Super Bowls.
So, why am I still depressed? Something felt wrong about that game. Something in me made me feel like that was the best shot they would get at another ring. My brain tells me they will be back, but my heart is telling my that we are living in a Roethlisberger, Rodgers and Rivers world, and the Brees Brady Manning days are done. I hope to God I am wrong, but all I know is that I will not enjoy my football hiatus.
