All week we talked about how great this weekend's NFL playoff games were going to be. After one day, we have to hope the Seahawks and Bears can somehow give us something great, because to be honest with you I was pretty ticked off after the Colts/Ravens and the Eagles/Saints games on Saturday.
How in the world can Peyton Manning have 5 interceptions in the last two games and the Colts have won each. And easily?!?! The pathetic, embarassing, historically bad Colts defense has allowed one measly touchdown against two playoff teams, so even though their offense has been anything but stellar, the Colts now await the winner of Sunday's Pats/Chargers game for a trip to the Super Bowl. You the game they've never reached with Peyton in charge.
I was angered by this game simply because the Ravens did bring much to the table in this one. It's the biggest game of the year and they had literally zero creativity on offense. They haven't run the ball all that well this entire season, yet they saw everyone else run on the Colts (except KC) so they figured they could, too. Sadly like KC they assumed it was automatic that they'd have success - so they just ran up the middle all day long. I thought Brian Billick was some kind of offensive genius - at least thats what he tells everybody. This game plan was very amateurish and the play-calling atrocious. How many 5 yard passes on 3rd and 7 were they going to run?
Midway through the 3rd quarter the Ravens face a 4th and 4 at the Indy 41 down 12-3, Indy is forced to use a timeout because they brought the punt return team on the field, while Steve McNair and gang stayed on. Then Billick punts!!!
The Ravens stopped themselves and I don't mean the horrible mistakes by McNair on his two INTs. They just literally gave themselves no chance to win. Very disappointing. Kyle Boller could have run that offense.
But Billick needn't worry Andy Reid gets the bonehead coaching move of the day. I'm no football coach and I never have been but I know one thing. You win a game you trail unless you have the ball. Do you hear me Andy?
Apparently not, since Andy Reid punted. He punted!!. Great piece on this blunder in the Philly Inquirer.
The same coach that went for it on 4th and 26 in a playoff game 3 years ago. Also down 3 points.
The same coach that went for it on 4th and 10 just moments before and succeeded - only to have the play called back on a penalty.
What in the hell was he thinking punting the ball away with less than two minutes remaining, while trailing by 3 points. The Saints had run all over the Eagles all day long. They ran Deuce McAllister 3 staight times, he easily got a first down and the game was over with the Saints taking a knee.
4th and 10, 4th and 15, 4th and 26, hell 4th and 50 --- what's the difference?? You have the ball there's virtually no time left and you need to score to tie or win. Don't punt. It's really quite simple.
That one botched decision by a very good coach and a very accomplished one, took away from a thrilling game. The players all showed up for this one. For Philly, Garcia, Westbrook, Stallworth among others all came to play. For the Saints, Brees, McAllister, Bush, Colston and even former Texan Billy Miller made play after play after play. I'd like to remember the game for that. But thanks to Reid, I cannot.
---- WEX
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