Luke Links: The "Saints Come Marching In" Edition

Last night's Monday Night Football game seemed to put Bill Belichick's now infamous 4th and 2 decision against the Colts into perspective. He doesn't trust his defense, and after last night and the fourth quarter against Indy, why should he? For the second time in three weeks, a premiere quarterback has absolutely shredded the Patriots defense. MaPatsFan, head writer at Pats Pulpit, was prophetic when he stated on Stampede Blue Radio that the Pats pass rush worried him. Drew Brees was barely touched by the Pats pass rush last night, completing 78% of his passes for 5 friggin TDs.
Somewhere, one of the original SB Nation writers (a cool fellow by the blog name of Geaux Tigers) is very happy this morning. He used to blog at And The Valley Shook, SB Nation's LSU blog. He was always more of a Saints fan than a Tigers fan, and I always pushed him to write more at the Saints blog. A year or so ago, he quit blogging, which was a shame. He was good. Now, he is smiling and cheering his Saints on somewhere.
Here are the links:
- Peyton Manning's 31 yard completion to Austin Collie in the third quarter of Sunday's game against the texans was a result of Manning catching the Texans celebrating a hit Dunta Robinson made on Joseph Addai. While the Texans celebrated, Manning brought the Colts quickly to the line and snapped the ball. Result was a big completion on a drive that would end in a Dallas Clark TD, giving Indy the lead for good.
"Guy made a big hit," Manning said. "I felt like they were excited, maybe celebrating a little bit, so we quick-snapped them, went deep on them right away.
"That's the thing. You've got to play every play. We know that."
- John Oesher recaps yesterday's Bill Polian show.
- Yes, Jason Cole seems to be on a roll, writing yet another inane and seemingly logic-deprived article about how the Saints beating the Patriots means more than the Colts beating the Patriots. Cole's argument is more suited to college football's silly system of gaining points in coaches and BCS polls.
At 11-0, the Saints are tied with Indianapolis for the best record in the league, one game ahead of Minnesota. But anyone who saw New England play Indianapolis on Nov. 15 will tell you that what the Saints did to the Patriots was scary good by comparison.
So, using Cole's thought process, by comparison the Saints looked scary BAD after they barely won a game two weeks ago against the current 1-10 Rams. Cole is fast writing himself into a ditch, and his total and complete lack of football knowledge is almost scary. This guy is Yahoo!'s national NFL writer, and I think my spouse (who HATES football and loathes Sunday afternoons because she knows I'm glued to the TV watching it) knows more about the game than this guy. More on Cole from readers like you after the jump.
- Finally, Charlie Weis was fired. And no; any talk of him coming to Indy is silliness. Tom Moore is a far more accomplished and better offensive coordinator than Weis. I challenege anyone who disagrees with me on that point. Meet me on the hill at sundown. Bring your jousting rod, a helmet, and a six pack of Blue Moon. I'll bring my Tommy Gun and the oranges.
- Vote for Pierre Garcon's TD catch as best photo of the week.
- Paul Kuharsky is wrong in thinking the game's turning point was the 43 yard pass interference penalty. The turning point was Indy holding Houston to three points after the first quarter Manning INT.
- DevilsReject bashes him some Jason Cole brains.
- Did the Patriots quit against the Saints last night?Our own tenardfight thinks so.
- And finally, Andrew Sharpe of SBNation.com wrote a pretty interesting article on the state of media today, using the confusing and bizarre Tiger Woods car accident story as an example of how modern media systems (like Twitter) are changing the landscape.
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Comments
ProFootballTalk thinks Brees is the front runner for mvp
Not only do they rank Peyton as third on the list, they actually put Vince Young in the top five. No, I’m not kidding, they think Vince Young is the fifth most valuable player in the league.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/12/01/brees-strengthens-grip-on-mvp/
Anyone who has a problem with Joseph should stop watching Colts football. It's unfair to expect a back to replace Edge, and Addai has been excellent in all areas when he is healthy.
But VY just wins and is clutchy!!!!11!11!!!1!
Visit FanIQ.com for sports news, bloggings, polls, and more!
Brees should win it
His play has been fairly consistent all year, while Peyton has been playing only ok the past five games. But as long as Favre doesn’t win it, I’m happy.
Why should Brees win it?
Brees had the EXACT same team last year on offense and went 8-8…
The Vikings one year ago were 10-6 WITHOUT Favre….
The Colts without a healthy Peyton Manning were 3-4….they went 9-0 with a healthy Manning..
The point here is that the Saints and Vikings would still very much be playoff teams with different QB’s….the Colts would not…
by DevilsReject on Dec 1, 2009 12:57 PM EST up reply actions
uhm, reality called
this is Mr. Consistency “all year”:
358yd 6TDs 1 INT
311yd 3TDs 1 INT 2 Fumbles
172yd 0TDs 0 INT 1 Fumble
190yd 0TDs 0 INT 0 Fumbles
BYE
369yd 4TDs 0 INT 0 Fumbles
298yd 1TD 3 INT 2 Fumbles (yes, 5 turnovers, the model of consistency)
308yd 2TD 1 INT 1 Fumble
330yd 1TD 1 INT 2 Fumbles
223yd 2TD 2 INT 0 Fumbles (so far, consistency for Mr. Brees = more turnovers than TDs for 4 straight weeks)
187yd 3TD 0 INT 0 Fumbles
371yd 5TD 0 INT 0 Fumbles
So next on “News at 11”, we’ll discuss what ‘consistency’ means to you.
Never doubt Peyton Manning, he’ll make you look silly
Joseph Addai is a good running back.
Im a douchebag, an asshole, and I'm rarely right.
in 6 games this year
Brees has put up >= turnovers than TDs. He has put up 3 games under 200 yards, 2 games with no scores (and those two games were against the unstoppable Buffalo and Jets defenses, although the Jets game was partly a function of how much Sanchize turned it over).
I would say his game has been pretty inconsistent all year.
Never doubt Peyton Manning, he’ll make you look silly
Joseph Addai is a good running back.
Im a douchebag, an asshole, and I'm rarely right.
Has Peyton been consistent by comparison?
Do you have his numbers handy?
"I am in favor of censorship ‐ not against what is supposed to be sexy or dirty, but against what is idiotic." -Jean Renoir
Random fact of the week from the empty void that is my mind: What should you do if a hot dog vendor gives you a free hot dog? Why, throw it on the ground, of course.
301yd 1 TD 1 INT 0 Fumbles
303yd 2 TD 0 INT 0 Fumbles
379yd 4 TD 1 INT 0 Fumbles
353yd 2 TD 1 INT 0 Fumbles
309yd 3 TD 1 INT 0 Fumbles
BYE
235yd 3 TD 0 INT 0 Fumbles
347yd 0 TD 0 INT 0 Fumbles
318yd 1 TD 1 INT 0 Fumbles
327yd 4 TD 2 INT 0 Fumbles
299yd 1 TD 2 INT 0 Fumbles
244yd 3 TD 2 INT 0 Fumbles
games with no scores: 1
Games with under 200 yards passing: 0
Games with more turnovers than scores: 1 (@Baltimore)
Games with Scores = Turnovers: 2 (Jax, Houston)
Never doubt Peyton Manning, he’ll make you look silly
Joseph Addai is a good running back.
Im a douchebag, an asshole, and I'm rarely right.
so while you'll hear
that Peyton is on this pick streak, Peyton has 11 turnovers this year, compared to 17 for Brees. MSM seems to go out of their way to avoid fumbles in QB turnovers, even though they seem like they yield better field position than most interceptions. (to the defense, and they arent influenced by tipped passes or wrong routes or anything. Even if your OL is bad, hold on to the ball)
Never doubt Peyton Manning, he’ll make you look silly
Joseph Addai is a good running back.
Im a douchebag, an asshole, and I'm rarely right.
That's good data.
Shows pretty clearly that Peyton has having a far superior season to Brees.
"I am in favor of censorship ‐ not against what is supposed to be sexy or dirty, but against what is idiotic." -Jean Renoir
Random fact of the week from the empty void that is my mind: What should you do if a hot dog vendor gives you a free hot dog? Why, throw it on the ground, of course.
if you follow FO's DVOA
the saints have faced a pussycat schedule, too.
Never doubt Peyton Manning, he’ll make you look silly
Joseph Addai is a good running back.
Im a douchebag, an asshole, and I'm rarely right.
I dont know about that
But i’m a saints fan so i’m biased
I’m also a die hard Peyton Manning fan and Brett Favre fan
So put up Bretts numbers
I’m pretty sure it’s
24 td’s – 3 int’s
Thats un-real for 11 games and the Vikes have not been this good in a long time with bad QB’s
With all that said it’s to early to pick an mvp
well, its not my opinion
its fact – if you believe in DVOA. They are playing a bottom 20 in the league schedule.
Never doubt Peyton Manning, he’ll make you look silly
Joseph Addai is a good running back.
Im a douchebag, an asshole, and I'm rarely right.
doesn't that dvoa predict future w/l
and strength of schedule
with that said it loses all credibility
How good is Tiger Woods?
He’s so good, he can hit a fire hydrant and a tree and still drive 300 yards.
"The best defensive player is the sideline." - Trevor Pryce, on how to stop Peyton Manning
*Groan*
------
"How can a pickup truck contain enough mass to unfold into a towering machine? I say if Ringling Brothers can get 15 clowns into a Volkswagen, anything is possible."
laugh my ass off
thats funny right there
As long as we have Peyton we will always have a chance to win.
I seriously disagree with Polian and I want satisfaction!
There is post season momentum….the Cornelius Bennet thing WAS a fluke, and regardless, saying that the whole team relies on ONE player who is “to big to (get hurt)” by injury seems to fly in the face of the Colts Mantra “next man up.” And regardless…..GO FOR IMMORTALITY! Who cares if someone gets hurt in the pursuit of it. It’s football Bill! (who’s ego can barely fit into the Lube by itself.) They aren’t playing Jacks out there…
BBS, I DEMAND you post content on this topic! ( :) ) In understand we may wait until the topic is more germane……but…I want to debate this issue….YOU CAN GET RUSTY, especially the O- Line, how many years of seeing is believing is it gonna take?
What's the definition of insanity?
Doing the same thing year after year and expecting different results. The one year they had to play (2006), and stay sharp, they won it all. Nuff said.
I agree.
If the Colts rest their starters while they’re still undefeated, they’d be doing a disservice to all their loyal fans. (Not to mention season ticket holders)
"Pressure is something you feel if you don't know what the hell you're doing."-Peyton Manning
by P0RKINS2 on Dec 1, 2009 12:30 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Totally Agree
Unlike the 98 Broncos, or other teams that have shown that resting starters in the final game or two will not hinder the momentum of the team, the Colts have shown time and time again that they indeed do get rusty and it takes time for them to regain the “momentum” that they lose by resting. In Polian’s words, the players stay sharp by practicing, but we all know that a lot of these guys are sitting out of practice too. I am all for staying healthy, but would rather give random guys rest NOW instead of waiting until the end of the season and resting everyone for an entire game or even two entire games. It doesn’t work and it’s silly to argue otherwise.
I agreed with the move to rest Freeney last week because it gives him another “bye” week to get healthy again. I wouldn’t mind seeing Mathis or Bethea sit out this week or next week to rest up if that’s what they need to do, but I DONT want to see most of the starters sit out the Buffalo game and then follow that up with a bye week and go into a tough playoff game rusty.
That’s what the bye week is for. It rewards the best teams with an additional bye week to rest players while the wildcard teams have to continue fighting on short schedules.
I feel very strongly about this and it worries me that they will be rusty going into the playoffs. We aren’t going to be playing Houston in the playoffs. Going down 14-0 or 17-0 to the Pats or Chargers will doom this team in a playoff situation where the pressure it at its highest and there is NO margin for error.
AFC South champs .... again.
Jason Cole is getting tiresome.
I don’t always agree with the media bashing, but why just compare our NE games? Why not all of our common opponents? That’s the Dolphins, Rams, and Patriots so far. We’re 104-64 and they’re 112-74. Hey look at that, about the same. It’s silly to just compare one game. Heck we beat STL 42-6 and we didn’t even our best football. Bottom line is we’re both 11-0 and really good. No need to think one team is massively better based on one game. Different teams match up differently.
Any sports writer
Who says this team beat that team by x number of points, and this other team only beat them by x number of points, therefore this team is better than that one,…..is an idiot. That logic is so ridiculous, it’s laughable. The Patriots could play the Saints tonight and win by 20. Every night is completely different.
The Patriots could play the Saints tonight and win by 20. Every night is completely different.
Maybe so, but at what point would Brady leave the game?
How can you not love a team that does this?
4rth Quarter
20 seconds left.
"Pressure is something you feel if you don't know what the hell you're doing."-Peyton Manning
by P0RKINS2 on Dec 1, 2009 12:28 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Just after his third 80-yard bomb attempt to Moss of the final series fell short
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
Well, Brady is a whole other issue,
I think that guy is a complete turd in every respect. The poor sport dodging of the Suzy Kolber interview is case in point.
Agree
But in Cole’s defense, the Saints are playing better football than the Colts are right now. I don’t see how we can argue differently.
AFC South champs .... again.
Interesting note:
The Colts and Saints play five common teams this season: Buffalo, NY, Miami, St. Louis, and New England.
The Colts won’t play the Bills and Jets, so I’m looking at the Miami, St. Louis, and New England games for the moment.
Saints vs. Dolphins: 46-34, vs. Rams: 28-23, vs. Patriots: 38-17
Colts vs. Dolphins: 27-23, vs. Rams: 42-6, vs. Patriots: 35-34
That gives NO an aggregate score of 112-74 against common opponents. The Colts? 104-63.
So, by pure points, the Saints offense is about 8 points better than the Colts, but their defense is 11 points worse.
That being said, the Saints beat the Bills 27-7 and the Jets 24-10, totals I don’t forsee the Colts topping on either side of the ball due to resting starters in preparation for the playoffs.
Manning makes it Wayne on 'dem hoes! Wayne on 'dem hoes! Wayne on 'dem hoes!
http://monkeybiziu.deviantart.com
Some parts of this thread...
sound like BCS crap. Common opponents….points scored, given up…this is the NFL…Playoffs!
"If me and King Kong went into an alley, only one of us would come out. And it wouldn't be the monkey."
"I don't really trust a sane person."
"I never met a man I didn't want to fight." The one and only Lyle Alzado
.............

"I am in favor of censorship ‐ not against what is supposed to be sexy or dirty, but against what is idiotic." -Jean Renoir
Random fact of the week from the empty void that is my mind: What should you do if a hot dog vendor gives you a free hot dog? Why, throw it on the ground, of course.
We'll never know this but.........
I wonder if NO could have played as well from 17 points down?
But we do know that
NE didn’t have what it takes to make that comeback.
AFC South champs .... again.
Random note
I hate Tuesdays… they sit in the middle of the desert between football Sundays and practice day Wednesdays. It is a complete black hole of Indy news (which I suppose is a good thing because that means we won on Sunday, and there are no disastrous injuries to report).
Sigh – is it Friday yet?
How can you not love a team that does this?
Tuesday: The day of the week when 5 days worth of work has to get done
Actually, for me it bleeds into every night.
But I feel your pain.
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
Tuesdays after a BIG New England loss, however, are pretty sweet
I get to shirk my job duties and read articles like this:
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091201/SPORTS/912019999
I think “Colonel” Comey of CHFF is kind of a tool—at least his authorial persona is, like most of CHFF—but this is a great article. No Colts sniping—he saves his ammo for his own.
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
From that article, one of the funnier lines is about the Jags:
“If the playoffs started now, the Jaguars would be the No. 6 seed in the AFC. When the playoffs start for real, the Jaguars will be watching on television.”
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
My favorite quote
Tom Brady threw two interceptions directly into the arms of New Orleans defenders — who were wearing distinctive black and gold jerseys to distinguish themselves from his receivers.
OOOUUUUUUUCH!!!
How can you not love a team that does this?
Speaking on Tom Brady
My mom wanted to see what they had to say on Sportscenter about Tiger Woods (don’t ask me why) and it opened with the TDs by Brees last night with a picture within picture of Brady being interviewed.
She looked and said, “Tom Brady? Who does he play for?”
I said, “The Patriots”.
She said, “Hmm, he’s ugly!”
ROTFLMAO
It’s so funny because she doesn’t know about the Colts-Patriots rivalry, so there’s no bias in her comment!! I guess the chin dimple doesn’t do it for her!!! :-)
Peyton Manning makes it Wayne on them hoes!!!!
Haha
He does clean up nice, but you’re right… I can’t get over the cleft chin
How can you not love a team that does this?
ive never understood the attaction
he doesnt seem to have a ‘dreamy’ face, he doesnt have Jeff Saturday eyes (there’s just something about being lost in sea-foam green eyes…), he doesn’t have ‘soft’ features, he’s sort of scruffy looking, he has an enormous ‘douchebag’ face. I think John Harbaugh is by far hotter than Tom Brady, and we all know where my tastes lie with Harbaugh!
I’m super, thanks for asking!
Never doubt Peyton Manning, he’ll make you look silly
Joseph Addai is a good running back.
Im a douchebag, an asshole, and I'm rarely right.
I must say
Jeff Saturday has the most beautiful eyes I’ve never seen; I could get lost in them for days :-)
My mom and I both agree with you that the John Harbaugh being more attractive than Brady!
Peyton Manning makes it Wayne on them hoes!!!!
as it stands right now
we will not have to play both the chargers and the pats. which is cool. but i think the Bengals could and i say that loudly run all over us i doubt this will stay like it is cause the bengals play both at the chargers and at the vikings which two wins would be AWESOME if we can still keep our run going
Playoff Seeding Prediction
1. Colts
2. Chargers
3. Pats
4. Bengals
5. Steelers
6. Jags
I can see a rematch of 05 with the Steelers beating the Bengals again and coming to Indy. If NE and SD play each other in the Divisional round, that could be an awesome game.
AFC South champs .... again.
And I can imagine nothing better than
1) Revenge on the Steelers for 05 (and 95, and 96, and 76, and 77)
and
2) Revenge on the Chargers for 07 and 08.
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
Absolutely!
Kill two birds (or teams) with one stone (playoff series).
I like it.
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Dec 1, 2009 5:29 PM EST up reply actions
Actually
I think the Broncos will be a wildcard team as they only face 2 good teams in their last 5 games….going 3-2 would give them a 10-6 record which should get in.
I still think the Steelers will make it also.
AFC South champs .... again.
Stick the Broncos in as the 5 seed,
move the Steelers to 6th seed, and I completely agree.
"I am in favor of censorship ‐ not against what is supposed to be sexy or dirty, but against what is idiotic." -Jean Renoir
Random fact of the week from the empty void that is my mind: What should you do if a hot dog vendor gives you a free hot dog? Why, throw it on the ground, of course.
If the Jaguars make it
I will be absolutely stunned. They’re just…even mediocre is probably giving them too much credit.
by eltharion_doa on Dec 2, 2009 11:50 PM EST up reply actions
How do you?
have the Bengals below the Pats when the Bengals have both a better conference and overall record? More importantly, their remaining schedule is absolute feasible for them to go 4-1 over their remaining 5 games…
Talking to me, right?
Just a hunch.
The Bengals have Minnesota and SD remaining, and I don’t think they will win either game.
The Pats are a game behind the Bengals, but I don’t know if they are going to lose another game this regular season. Maybe @ Houston but I don’t see it happening.
AFC South champs .... again.
Very true
but as weird as this is to say, getting Cedric Benson back will give them a huge boost. That guy has turned it on this year. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Pats lost a game or two more as well, though. Their remaining schedule is @Miami, Carolina, @Buffalo, Jacksonville, and finish off with Houston.
Think about it, Miami is tough to play at home, esp. this time of year, for a team used to cold weather, even if it is the Pats. Plus, Miami is not out of the playoff hunt yet, and will throw everything they have at the pats to knock their lead in the East down a game. Carolina is a pretty easy win, but they are a weird team. Usually they look like terrible, yet a few times they have looked like they did last year. Maybe the latter team will show up. Buffalo is another team that is playing hot right now, and seem to play better under the interim. And you better believe they will hold a little bit of a grudge from opening Monday night game. Jax is another team that is in the playoff hunt, they are fighting for a spot, and look good right now. Sims Walker has really given the pass game a boost. Houston COULD still potentially make the playoffs, but that’s a long shot, and I think the pats win there.
Out of those games, I think it’s very possible NE loses at Miami, vs. Jax, and at Buffalo. That doesn’t mean I think it WILL happen, but I don’t think at all that it is a given that they win out. Remember their 0-4 on the road this year two, not counting London.
"A lot of times, Kenny, we have no idea what we're doing. But the DEFENSE doesn't know that we don't know what we're doing.....and that's next level." -Peyton Manning
Pats vs Miami
I’m not a betting man, but my guess is that the Pats will unleash hell on Miami sans Ronnie Brown
AFC South champs .... again.
Also
The Bengals aren’t exactly the model for consistency…they just got beat by a horrible Oakland team and barely beat Cleveland at home.
AFC South champs .... again.
Cleveland is a division game that they always have struggles with.
The Oakland game was an anomaly. Just bad breaks going the Raiders way.
You don't lose to the Raiders because of bad breaks
The Raiders are atrocious, and you only lose to them by having a very off day. (i.e. inconsistency)
Anyone who has a problem with Joseph should stop watching Colts football. It's unfair to expect a back to replace Edge, and Addai has been excellent in all areas when he is healthy.
by DontHateAddai on Dec 1, 2009 7:23 PM EST up reply actions
I'm very glad the Saints
bent Belichick, Brady, and co. over last night like a scene out of a prison movie, ending with Belichick waving the white flag prematurely like a big puss. I loved it, and especially loved the fact that I was up by 22 in my fantasy league and while my team had no one playing, my opponent had Brady and Pierre Thomas. Good effort Pierre, thanks for sucking, Brady.
The PI call was a bad one, I am not too biased to turn away from that, but it was definitely not the turning point, just like the 4th and 2 wasn’t the turning point in the Pats game. The second half scores speak for themselves, but the media is too dimwitted to look pass the “Oooo, Ahhhhh….” passing game of the Saints and try and look at a strategic complex victory by a very gritty and intelligent team in the Colts. But whatever, I will take nothing away from the Saints. That was the first time since the Giants/NE super bowl that I cheered for an NFL team that hard that wasn’t the Colts.
MVP race should be interesting. Peyton, Favre, Brees, and Chris Johnson are on a completely different level than the rest of the league, and three are gonna get left out.
"A lot of times, Kenny, we have no idea what we're doing. But the DEFENSE doesn't know that we don't know what we're doing.....and that's next level." -Peyton Manning
Also, regarding Charlie Weis
I believe the feeling was that should Tom Moore retire, the Colts would then possibly look at Charlie Weis. If he stays, then no.
If Moore does retire, which he has indicated he will not, then I would have no problem with Weis. The guy knows his offense, just not how to run a team. I think if the team, mainly Peyton, signed off on it, then I’d be fine with it. Moore won’t retire, though, in my opinion, so I’d say the topic is irrelevant.
"A lot of times, Kenny, we have no idea what we're doing. But the DEFENSE doesn't know that we don't know what we're doing.....and that's next level." -Peyton Manning
I was perplexed that anyone was even discussing it.
The only ND <→ Colts rumor I’d heard was some people talking out of their ??? about Tony Dungy going to ND. Like that was going to happen in a zillion years.
As an ND fan, and someone who thought Weis could eventually become a good head coach right up to the Navy game this year, I hope the man goes on Biggest Loser and then quietly retires on his millions and runs that charity for his daughter. At the very least, I hope he takes a year off.
"Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals." --Churchill
funny part
is that this rumor started with an ill-advised throw-away comment Dungy made on whatever that football program is that he and Rodney Harrison talk on. Then PFT got a hold of it, then the media started making a big deal as if it there were any truth to it.
How can you not love a team that does this?
Cole needs to just stop trying to justify his opinion with reasons
He thinks the Saints and the Vikings are better. That’s fine. He’s just twisting himself into a corner trying to justify it.

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