The Colts headed into a positively dismal Divisional Round matchup in Denver. On paper, anyway. On the field, there’s Andrew Luck, and T.Y. Hilton, Vontae Davis (Give that man the game ball!), and Trent Richar—-scratch that last one. Healthy scratch, actually.
Indy is headed to the AFC Championship game in Bill Belichick’s frozen Death Star (er, uh, Foxborough, Mass) after battering and bruising the Broncos on defense (267 yards, 3-15 on 3rd down). So many eloquent things will be said about this game in the coming hours. But for now, here are the unabridged, soon-to-be-fully-edited, game notes, complete with all the ups, downs, and general snarky-ness you’ve come to expect:
– Andrew Luck and the Colts were a yard shy of getting a first down on their opening drive. It’s certainly not the start you want in a road playoff game.
– The Colts defense had a three and out on Denver’s first drive, but a roughing the passer call on Arthur Jones reversed the early tone of the game. Manning and the Broncos quickly marched toward the endzone.
– On that drive, LaRon Landry was twice matched up in man coverage on a receiver. Both times, including the touchdown, it was like Christmas morning for Manning. Gross. 7-0, Denver.
– Boom Herron was injured on the next Colts drive. Looks like an arm. He only missed two plays, but it’ll be something to keep an eye on.
– Playoff Hakeem Nicks has arrived. Another Colts first down on a nice route.
– Andrew Luck’s beard sticking out behind his chin strap is…really something. #analysis
– 3rd and 12. Hostile crowd. A WIDE RECEIVER SCREEN TO A TIGHT END???? JACK FREAKING DOYLE??? IS THIS MEANT TO BE A JOKE??? As was pointed out to me, the play may have been intended for Nicks. Still, I hate WR screens. They’re a boom or bust (mostly bust) pass play with, in most cases, one option – a guy standing behind the line of scrimmage.
– The Broncos were flagged for running into the kicker on the punt, but it wasn’t enough for a first down. Despite taking the hit, McAfee got off a perfect punt, and Donte Moncrief was able to down it and bury the Broncos at their own 4. Colts declined the penalty rather than re-kick.
– Will this field position be a good thing, or just a longer scoring drive for Denver? …A 22-yard run by C.J. Anderson wasn’t exactly what Colts fans hoped to see there.
– Fortunately, Manning decided to test out Vontae Davis instead of the strong safety Landry (Landry actually plays quite a bit of free safety). Let us hope he keeps doing that. Not long after came the first punt for Denver
– Luck to T.Y. Hilton up the right seam for 20 yards. Luck to Fleener for an easy first down. Offense clicking, clicking, clicking, pass behind the line of scrimmage…for a loss. Ugh.
– No worries. Hilton is taking Aqib Talib to school. 23 more yards.
– Indy marched efficiently downfield, then Boom Herron punched it in for the score from 6 yards out around the left side. [They’re not saying “Boooo.” They’re saying “Daniel.” – some hilarious person on Twitter]
– Herron injured a shoulder on the TD.
– Peyton went at Landry again along the sideline. This time Landry used his size and strength to brutalize Emmanuel Sanders at the line, then stayed with him stride for stride. Nice work, big guy.
– Jonathan Newsome just keeps making awesome things happen. This kid is a gem. Strip sack, recovered by Jerrell Freeman. Colts Nation is jumping around their living rooms right now.
– Boom Herron, meanwhile, wouldn’t let any trainers near him on the sideline after his shoulder injury.
– Commentator: “Luck has hit on his last seven passes.” Next play: incomplete (albeit while impressively avoiding a sack – seriously, that incompletion momentarily sucked the life out of the Denver defense).
– Touchdown Colts. Another brilliant drive in enemy territory, another fearless Luck moment. Dwayne Allen, wearing Aqib Talib like a cheap coat (within 5 yards, I guess), posted up and boxed out not unlike 1990s Patrick Ewing and caught the TD. 14-7 Colts.
– Another Broncos punt. This is real, people.
– The Colts stalled out. In comes Automatic Adam Vinatieri for the…miss? Dang it. Can’t hit ALL of ‘em.
– Next drive…another Denver PUNT. After Denver was bailed out on a ticky-tack holding penalty against Vontae Davis, the Colts held on 3rd and 10, when Manning’s deep pass was intended for…Mike Adams? (Sanders)
– Peyton Manning doesn’t like dealing with physical pass coverage. Heh, heh, heh.
– Unfortunately, the Colts were buried at their own 7. And there was a WR screen. You know the result of that. Then an underthrown deep pass essentially became a punt (picked off).
– Denver had to settle for a field goal after the Indianapolis miss. On 3rd down, Vontae Davis, who’s been absolutely brilliant to this point, intercepted Manning in the endzone but was pushed out by Sanders (incomplete). Davis was injured on the play when Sanders inexplicably dove on him out of bounds as if it would ensure an incomplete pass.
– Back from the half, Broncos with a chance for an epic, momentum-seizing 10-point swing…annnnnd it’s a three and out. Great job by the defense. Peyton Manning is 7-18 for 71 yards and a score. 7 of 18!
– Zurlon Tipton caught a short pass, earned a first down, took a brutal shot from Talib, hopped up and patted the bewildered defender on the back.
– Not long after, Andrew Luck threw his second touchdown of the evening, this one a 15-yarder to Hakeem Nicks.
– The Colts, up 21-10 and holding all the momentum, forced yet another punt, annnnnddd…fumble. The ruling is the defender was pushed into Josh Cribbs by Dewey McDonald, and it was a fumble. After review, it was overturned. CBS ref blabbermouth Mike Carey droned on about how he disagreed. Cribbs, however, was down by contact. Colts ball.
– Luck looking deep for Moncrief (Moncrief has been spectacular thus far)…picked off by Rahim Moore.
– Broncos go for it on 4th and 1, Anderson breaks tackles from Corey Redding (surprising), Bjoern Werner (Arrrgh), and Landry (eh) before picking up 13 yards in Colts territory. Another potential momentum swing.
– 3rd and 4, just when it looks as though Manning might make it a 4-point game, Darius Butler (remember Darius Butler?) came in with a brilliant, and kind of violent breakup. Field goal. 21-13 Colts.
– Pretty sure Chris Harris just groped Moncrief on that last pass play. No flag. Cornerbacks are getting handsy with the Colts receivers. They’ll need to play through it.
– Colts punt after three straight pass breakups. A very tired defense is heading back onto the field, tasked once again, with the nearly impossible.
– Manning picks on Vontae Davis, looking for Sanders, on 3rd down. Incomplete again!
– I want to hug Vontae Davis. Is that weird?
– Guys named Boom and Zurlon (ZURLON!) helped eat up some clock, and the Colts finished off an 8-minute drive with a field goal and a 24-13 lead.
– 4:06 left in the game. CBS’s sideline cameras are showing me what fans of other teams meant when they said “Manning face” all those times over the years. Even now, I feel for the guy. A little. Nevertheless, #ManningFace
– The Broncos sputtered and stumbled. Vontae nearly picked off Manning. Shaun Phillips nearly sacked him. Passes fell harmlessly to the ground, and Denver went for it on 4th and 8 (Desperation, yay!). Great defense. Colts fans (myself included) are so very revved up right now.
– So many heroic moments in this game. Davis’s pass deflections, Herron & Tipton’s running, Pep Hamilton and Andrew Luck’s gutsy play calls, Fleener’s catch on 3rd and 16. And how about a shoutout to that offensive line? Zero sacks. Zero, people. The Broncos pass rushers were Mewhorted (sorry, I just like using Jack Mewhort as a verb).
– One that stands out at the moment (besides Luck, Luck, Luck – hey, those two picks were basically punts), is Greg Manusky/Chuck Pagano’s decision not to load up against the run. Let ‘em get some yards on the ground here and there. Who cares? Just bombard Manning and his receivers and, and, and, WIN the game. That coaching staff was on point today against a formidable opponent.
– The Colts are punting at the 2-minute warning. Manning and company will have to score and recover an onside kick. Never count him out and all, but they’re kinda out of time.
– The game finishes off with Erik Walden sacking Manning. This one is special. And bittersweet.
Finally, a great defensive performance against a great (albeit maybe not entirely healthy) quarterback. The Indianapolis Colts are going to the AFC Championship…in horrid Foxborough, but for now, we shall celebrate.