Maurice Jones-Drew ran for 114 yards and a touchdown, leading the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 17-3 victory over the still- winless Indianapolis Colts. Blaine Gabbert threw for 118 yards with a score for the Jaguars (3-6), who won on the road for the first time in five games this season. The Colts (0-10), meanwhile, have been unable to win anywhere. The are 0-5 at home and 0-5 on the road heading into their bye week. Indianapolis is winless after 10 games for the first time since the 1997 team also lost its first 10 on the way to a 3-13 record. That was pre-Peyton Manning. With the four-time MVP and Super Bowl champion sidelined by a neck injury, the Colts hardly resemble an NFL team. Source: Sports Network
I MUST BLOW OFF SOME STEAM. I have read in the past few weeks many saying that this team would not be good WITH Manning. Although I am not a stats guru by any stretch, I have watched a lot of Colts games in my life. The one yesterday was one of the worst. Curtis Painter should never be allowed near a football again. He shows no confidence and takes WAY too long to throw the ball. He seems to see only one option, and when that one does not pan out, he has no IDEA what to do. One of his interceptions yesterday was thrown right to the defender. There was NO Colt even close. I feel for the guy. No one wants to follow someone llike Manning, but "Come on, Man"! With Manning on the field this year , the Colts would still be a "contenda". The running game is actually doing well. I can image Manning would be salivating over a running game like this!! His quick release and understanding of defenses cannot be overstated. Most of personel on the team is similar if not impoved from last year. Perhaps the injuries to the O line are not as continuous if they had a QB who releases the ball quicker than 5 seconds. The Colts D in the past has seemed to give up at least one or two long TD drives in most games. They actually managed to contain MJD the first half, but when the offense is on the field for only two to three plays at a time, defenses tire! How many times have we seen Manning take 7-8 minutes to score on a long drive. Then there is the excuse that this team is built around Manning. Let me get this straight. You have a Hall of Fame QB on your roster, so you put together a defense that over the years cannot get off the field to give your guy more chances with the ball..to score more points. Second, where are the 6'5" receivers that can go up and get that ball? I believe the Colts draft postion has been around 26th over the last several years. So what do you do? You are a victim of your own success. And yet despite all this, Manning has astonomical numbers, two Super Bowl appearances, a Super Bowl win, 4 league MVPs, Super Bowl MVP (he deserved this as he was the one who orchestrated the offense!), and numerous records. Down 21 point is the fourth quarter? No problem (Tampa Bay). Have the ball for only 15 minutes in the game? No problem (Miami) He is the heart of this team. The Colts still have good players on this team. They just need Manning back. So do football fans. Sermon over.:cele18:
yes, dpn, no question a better qb/offense would make their defense look better and therefore, the entire team would be playing better. however, i think the bigger picture here is why/how the 'great' drafter Polian appears to have left the cupboard SO bare that they aren't even competitive in the league with Manning gone. For years, we have been told that Polian is such a great g.m. and one of the best drafters in the league yet they appear to have very little talent at almost all positions.
Its what happens when you treat the backup QB position as an absolute joke. When you have a guy at #2 who is so awful you have to lure someone out of retirement before the season even starts, something is very wrong.
Colts would definitely be better...wild card contenders. I think the Texans would still win the division, but it would be a two horse race...not just the Texans... I've been saying the Colts should've taken a QB this last draft...there's no guarantee that Manning will ever play again.
