Let the fallout begin. Congrats to blitzburg for his guys winning their sixth Super Bowl. Congrats to Mike Tomlin for becoming the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl. Congrats to cgolden for his Cardinals playing like demons.

Talk, talk, and talk about the game. Interesting that it ended on a Kurt Warner fumble.

Not all that jazzed about this Super Bowl, but whatever. Regardless, congrats to Blitzburgh, cgolden, and all the fans of the Steelers and Cardinals. The coach passed over after Bil Cowher's departure (Ken Whisenhunt) gets to face the Tony Dungy protege who did in fact replace Cowher (Mike Tomlin) in Tampa Bay.

Congrats to cbolden, jasonb, blitzburg, and Rexx. The state of Pennsylvannia has two teams in the conference championship games. Arizona is hosting the NFCCG. No #1 seeds won a playoff game. Of the top seeds (#1 and #2) in the playoffs, only the Steelers advanced. LaDanian Tomlinson, for the third year in a row (and really, for his entire career), was a complete non-factor in the post-season. Will people call him a "playoff choker." Doubtful. Everyone is allowed to suck or play average, expect Peyton Manning. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin coached his first playoff win.

Just like the regular season, this has been a wild and crazy playoffs.

Photo: i129.photobucket.com

Yep, it pretty much sucks to lose like that. Last year, it was Michael Turner who beat the Colts. This year, Darren Sproles. The Colts also shot themselves in the foot a bit, committing three big penalties on the final drive to help the Chargers win. The Chargers pretty much own our Colts of late, especially in the playoffs.

It's a tough loss, but no loss is easy. In the end, it was a knockdown, drag out fight between two hot teams, and it went into OT to boot. As we said all week, regular season records mean nothing. If they did, the game wouldn't have been in San Diego. This was the start of a new season, and unfortunately the Chargers get to advance.

For now, drown your sorrows in alcohol. Kiss your wife. Tell your kids you love them. All that stuff. Losses are hard, but our team is resilient and will get better.

Discuss the game, and the season here. Vent if you need to. But always, Go Colts!

Dallas Clark outruns "flag lover" Keith Bulluck Photo: AP

All week leading up to the game, folks like me spent a lot of time calling out the Tennessee Titans and their coach. They acted like immature punks following their win over the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, and spent most of the week prior to this game running from their actions like cowards. While the final regular season game between the Titans and Colts was meaningless in terms of playoff seeding, I gotta say:

It felt damn good to see our guys kick their butts up and down Lucas Oil Stadium for 4 quarters.

Oh, and I hope you noticed that after the Colts used the Titans as their own personal play thing for those 4 quarters, they didn't take a "Titans Towel" and start dancing on it. When they gun sounded, they shook hands, left the field, and started talking about the playoffs. This is what mature, professional teams with long standing, winning traditions do. They don't mock the opponent. They don't act like children making fun of the dorky kid in gym class. They don't act like brats. What they do is act like they've been there. They act as if the expect it.

Here (just to show those who don't know) is how real men look and act when they win:

Photo: img.skysports.com

Now, onto the game itself.

Unlike the laughable posturing of Jeff Fisher throughout the week (when he fooled his own fanbase into thinking he'd play his starters in a meaningless game), Tony Dungy made it clear he would sit several starters going into the game. Peyton Manning played one series. He went 7-7 for 95 yards and a TD. That TD was a 55 yard catch and run by Joseph Addai, who finally looks healthy. Addai outran the entire Titans defense, including Cortland Finnegan. The Titans then get the ball. Against a defense minus Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, and Bob Sanders, the Titans go three-and-out. Though Tennessee sat Chris Johnson today, they still had LenDale White, Kerry Collins, and most of their starting offense. But, even with great field position, they went three-and-out, punted, and Indy got it back. Jim Sorgi was now the QB, and came out throwing the ball well. He guided Indy to a Adam Vinatieri FG, making it 10-0.

Then, Tony Dungy showed that he wanted to win the game early.

The Colts executed an onside kick with 15 seconds left in the first quarter. The Colts got the ball and tacked on another FG. At this point it is 13-0, and Kerry Collins' day was done. Fisher starts pulling starters despite his saying all week that the Titans would "play to win." Fisher's attitude about the game did not sit well with Titans fans.

From hal41605 at MCM:

fisher can talk about "playing to win" to the media during the week before the game all he wants, but that’s not what happened on the field today. we looked like the cardinals in the snow in new england effort-wise.

From BeansCarter at MCM:

The biggest disappointments were losing like that to our greatest divisional rival, and having Fisher misrepresent his intentions. He clearly didn’t give a shit about winning the game and he should have actually prepared for it instead of giving everyone the day off for Christmas and phoning in a gigantic egg.

The rest of us laugh because if you believed Fisher during the week, you were a bit naive. He and the Titans wanted to get in and out of this game ASAP without any major injuries. They could have given a rat's ass about winning it. And what they ran into was a highly motivated Colts team that wanted to stick it to them. After the game, Fisher all but admitted the Titans did little game-planning or preparation for the contest:

"[The Colts are] playing very, very well, but there's a chance we may play them again, so we just lined up and played today," he said.

The Colts tacked on another FG before halftime and a fourth quarter TD to ice the game. Even though most of the game featured a battle of back-ups at key positions, the Colts defense played very well. Rookies Marcus Howard and Curtis Johnson generated good rush from the DE positions, causing 2 sacks and a forced fumble. Tennessee's run game was non-existent, and their defense was pushed all other the field by a kid activated off the practice squad named Lance Ball. Ball had 83 yards on 13 carries. 

Kindly taste my Lance Ball!

Photo: cache.daylife.com

The other tiny element to this game was the Vince Young "factor." Vince played a bit in this game, and looked truly awful. In fact, he looked so awful he was yanked. Yes, the once "great" Vince Young was yanked in a meaningless game he didn't even start in. Vince has fallen very far, and I think his career in Tennessee is over. We'll see.

During and after the game, the Colts achieved some truly amazing milestones:

• Indy set an NFL record by allowing only 6 TD passes all season. In the modern NFL, which is built and geared around the pass, that is a mind-blowing stat.
• Indy set an NFL record by winning at least 12 games six seasons in a row. No team in NFL history has ever done that. Not Montana's 49ers or Bradshaw's Steelers. No one, save our Indianapolis Colts.
• Marvin Harrison passed Cris Carter for #2 all-time in receptions. Sadly, Fanhouse's Michael David Smith proved he is a douche in his little write-up on Harrison's achievement, but no matter. Marvin is one of the greatest WRs ever to play this game, and Michael David Smith is a punk who allows his bias against Harrison to cloud his sh*tty writing.
• Dallas Clark passed John Mackey's single season yardage record for a Colts TE. Dallas got 848 yards this season while Mackey had 829 in 1966.
• Peyton Manning passed for over 4,000 yards for the 9th time in 11 seasons.
• The win gave Indy a winning record in the division at 4-2. Tennessee was hoping to sweep them for the first time since 2002. Didn't happen.
• The 23-0 shutout was the first time in the Bill Polian-Peyton Manning era that the Colts defense shutout an opponent. The last time the Colts shutout another team was a 47-0 smackdown of the Jimmy Johnson-coached Miami Dolphins in 1997, the year before Peyton Manning was drafted.
• The Colts end the 2008 regular season with five players catching 45 or more passes. Had Dominic Rhodes played and caught 5 balls, they'd have had five players with 50 or more catches.

For a Titans fan's take on the game, please`check out Jimmy at Music City Miracles. I may say harsh things about their coach and some of their players, but they are a much improved team from last year. They deserved to win the AFC South, and have had a magnificent 2008 regular season.

For us Colts fans, all in all, this was a wonderful ending to a very roller coaster-like 2008 regular season. As we have seen over the years, starting is important, but finishing is vital. The Colts finish this regular season winning nine straight games. They've beaten New England, Pittsburgh, San Diego, and Tennessee. They have the soon-to-be-or they-better-not-have 2008 NFL MVP in Peyton Manning. After a 3-4 start, this team has risen up and come together. This is why no matter what happens in the playoffs, I'm proud of this squad. This has been one of my favorite regular seasons ever. Next week, the new season begins, with a new tempo and higher intensity

But for now, enjoy and relish in what these guys have done this 2008 regular season. Never doubt.

Go Colts!

Yes, this game was meaningless in terms of the playoffs. But, in terms of enjoyable for us Colts fans, this game had a great deal of meaning. Here is why:

• For the first time since 1997, the Colts have shut out an opponent. Tennessee generated ZERO points. They had their former #3 overall pick in at QB against second and third stringers on defense, and they couldn't score.
  
• The Colts have set an NFL record, winning 12 games for the sixth straight year.
• Indy ended the regular season winning 9 in a row.
• Peyton Manning has thrown for 4,000 yards in 9 of his 11 seasons.
• Indy is assured a winning record in the AFC South at 4-2.
• Marvin Harrison is second all time in receptions, behind only Jerry Rice.
• No AFC South has swept the Colts since 2002.
• Rookies Marcus Howard and Curtis Johnson finally got some playing time. The responded with 2 sacks and a forced fumble.
• Lance Ball, a guy promoted off the practice squad, had 83 yards rushing on 13 carries.
• Joseph Addai looks healthy. That 55 yard TD catch and run was amazing.
• Dallas Clark set a career high with 71 receptions and 789 yards.
• The Colts have the second best record in the AFC, yet will be the #5 seed in the playoffs.

For a Titans fan's take on the game, head to Jimmy and the boys at Music City Miracles. Please, no trolling there please. 

This was a wonderful win to top a wild and crazy 2008 regular season. So proud of these guys. Go Colts!

Run Keiwan! RUN! Photo: AP

Never doubt.

That is now the new, NEW catch phrase for this season. Why "Never Doubt" over "Mr. Manning, he just refused to let us lose?" Here is why:

Adam Schefter: Peyton, you started the season 1-2, you fell behind tonight 14-0. Was this game a microcosm of the season?
Peyton: Well, uh, I think it does say a lot about our team, about how we don’t quit, we fight back, very hostile environment, very emotional….
(Coach smacks Peyton on the back, and Peyton turns toward Coach)
Peyton (to Coach): What are you doing, man
Coach: Great job, great job. (shakes hands, leans in for hug)
Peyton: Way to go. Never doubt, right?
Coach: Never doubt. Hey, that’s a heck of a job
Peyton (to Adam): …um, and we just keep fighting, we keep believing. We feed off of each other. ….

The Archie Manning story is great, but it is specific to Peyton. And while Peyton is indeed the 2008 NFL MVP (if not, junk the award because it is meaningless if P doesn't win it) so many people on this team have stepped up at big times to win big games. Because this season has been about the resiliency of the team, Never Doubt works better. Big tip to Picky for transcribing the Manning interview last night.

I could write a chapter in a book on Peyton Manning's performance last night, but it was not just Peyton that came through for the Indianapolis Colts against the always chippy Jacksonville Jaguars. Yes, Peyton kept them in the game, making big throw after big throw to keep the Jags on their heels even though they led most of the game.

It was the play of the defense in the 4th quarter that sealed this win. Please, take a look at the Jaguars offense in the 4th quarter:

That last drive of 74 yards ended with Dwight Freeney DESTROYING Jacksonville's left tackle as he bulldozes his way to David Garrard for a sack. You know what, SCREW Albert Hayneswoth or DeMarcus Ware for Defensive Player of the Year. When they come up with big, money plays like that in big situations, you can put them in the Dwight Freeney category! Until then, take pleasure in the fact that Dwight Freeney is playing some of the best football in his life. He's been playing all-out from day one.

Sorry, but I have a big man crush on Dwight Freeney now.

Back to the defense overall, this group was getting pushed around for much of the game. Maurice Jones-Drew did his human pinball routine, bouncing off tacklers and bashing his way for extra yards. But, in the 4th quarter, the Colts put them clamps on. Jones-Drew rushed for only 7 yards in the 4th quarter, the quarter you need your RB to rush the most for when nursing a lead. And then there was David Garrard. Garrard had played well most of the night, but, in the 4th quarter, the Colts got into his head and he started to panic.

On Garrard's last four drives of the night, he ended them with an incompetent pass, a pick 6 to Keiwan Ratliff, a sack, and a sack (which ended the game) respectively. 

Now, I personally like David Garrard and I think he is a fine QB. This season is certainly not his fault, but that 4th quarter last night was epically bad for him. His INT to Ratliff was awful, but for us Colts fan it was justice because he threw an equally poor ball to Tim Jennings before halftime that Jennings SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT and run back for 6. The next play Jennings screwed up his assignment and let the Jags receiver catch an easy ball to set up a Josh Scobee FG. So, if you really look at it, Garrard threw 2 INTs for TDs last night, only one was actually caught and returned. It should have been worse for him, but the 4th quarter was where he truly melted down.

The 4th quarter was very, very rough for Jags QB David Garrard

Photo: AP

Raheem Brock and Robert Mathis also brought it last night, Brock in particular. His sack of Garrard at the 3:48 mark stuffed a promising drive for the Jags. They punted, and lost more time to catch up. Really, in all honesty, the game ended when Ratliff ran that TD back. Once the Jags lost the lead, they got desperate. They stopped running and started throwing every down. The Colts then pinned their ears back, licked their chops, and had a late dinner with David Garrard as the main course.

The giant elephant in the room for Indy after the game was their running game. They ran 18 times for 32 yards (1.8 a carry). Joseph Addai did not play, which left Dominic Rhodes to gut it out himself. Dom did a fine job. The Colts o-line did not. Now, in their defense, the Jaguars game plan on defense for this game was nothing short of moronic. Again, this is not a dig at the players. The Jags have some good ballers on D, but the scheme they ran last night was not one you run against Peyton Manning.

This man will kill your football team

Photo: AP

The Jags had 8 players in the box most of the night. They crowded the line and refused to let the Colts run the ball. Why they did this, I don't know. You crowd the line against Peyton Manning and he is going to f@&king destroy you. That crap may have worked in Weeks 1-4 when Peyton was playing on one leg, but trying that junk now is like almost conceding the game. Crowding the line means slants and seam routes are wide open. Manning saw those routes, and completed his first 18 passes. He didn't incomplete a ball until the third quarter. Jack Del Rio: WTF were you thinking?

Oh wait. You're Jack Del Rio. Never mind.

The bad for Indy in this game was the o-line, Tim Jennings in the second quarter, and Buster Davis. God bless, Buster. I like him and I think he can develop into a good player for this team, but last night he was awful. Dungy benched him to start the 4th. This moved Freddie to MLB, Tyjuan Hagler to WILL, and Clint to SAM. The result was a Colts defense that stoned the Jags offense.

For more on this game, check out Chris at Big Cat Country.

Despite the flaws, this team never doubted they would come back in this game. That much I am certain of. Listening to Reggie Wayne after the game, they knew they would battle back. They knew someone on defense was going to make a play. They knew Peyton would be Peyton. They knew Dallas Clark and Gijon Robinson would make those big catches. They knew. At 3-4 after the Tennessee Titans loss, they knew they would battle back and make the playoffs. They knew they had the heart, the guts, and the character to get back into the playoff picture. Now, they are in.

Never doubt. Go Colts!

Before we get into the recap, a story from Mr. Archie Manning:

"One time while [Peyton] was at Tennessee, playing at Kentucky, it was cold and ugly and nasty. Kentucky wasn't a very good team, but they came out and played great and the crowd really got into it.

"Peyton put together a couple of fourth-quarter drives to win it, and I was waiting on him outside the locker room when one of his offensive linemen came up to me and said, 'Mr. Manning, he just wouldn't let us lose.' I've never forgotten that. I still get emotional thinking about it."

More than 10 years after that college game against Kentucky, Peyton Manning continues to refuse to let his team lose.

This game, in many ways, was a complete microcosm of the Colts 2008 regular season. What happens in the playoffs is just that: In the playoffs. They are a new season, and we've seen far too many team re-invent themselves (including our Colts in 2006) in the playoffs for us to put too much stock in what teams did during the regular season.

Hold on. Gotta stop for a second. Gotta let it sink in. We are, indeed, in the playoffs!

After a 3-4 start and many, many supposed sports expects saying our season's end was nigh (yes, I mean you The Big Lead; time to step forward and receive your ceremonial kick to the nards courtesy of every Colts fan who reads Stampede Blue), the Colts have put together one of the best late-regular season runs in recent Colts history. Cue the bullets:

• They've won 11 games, 8 of them in a row.
  
• This is the 7th consecutive playoff appearance, an NFL record
• This is Tony Dungy's 10th consecutive trip to the post-season, also an NFL record. Best coach of his generation? Maybe. Belichick lovers need to be reminded that he did indeed cheat all those years he won Super Bowls. Tony D wins, and doesn't cheat to do it. Just sayin'. Maybe both are the best.
  
• This was Peyton Manning's 31st 4th quarter comeback victory.
• This was the 4th game this season where the Colts battled back to win the game after trailing by 10 or more points

Mr. Manning, he just wouldn't let us lose is now the official catch phrase for the 2008 regular season. More than any other team I've seen in recent memory, these guys absolutely refuse to lose no matter the game or situation. Yes, we are in the playoffs, and DAMN is it sweet!

As always, for a Jaguars fan's take on the game, check out Chris at Big Cat Country. I'm off for a few minutes to find some Emergen-C. Beer has a way of finding me whenever the Colts clinch a playoff berth.

Go Colts!

(Oh, and pleae don't kick The Big Lead in the nards. I was just kidding. He's a great guy. Dumb as a post with making NFL predictions, but a great guy nonetheless. Oh, and his blog gets, like, a ton of hits. I basically called him so so he could link me this morning. I'm a whore, I know. A dirty, fat, ugly blog whore... whose team is going to thep layoffs!)

[UPDATE]: From the comments:

Though I’m in tune to the “Mr. Manning, he just wouldn’t let us lose” phrase, I think there is one that might be just as fitting. At the end of the game Manning was doing an interview and Dungy came up and hugged him and they exchanged the same phrase with each other. I couldn’t hear it well (anyone have the game DVR-ed?), but I think they said “Never doubt” to each other. It was almost as if it was an inside thing the team had discussed together.