It has already been reported once or twice that perhaps what the Colts required would have been to have their own backs against the wall. Naturally, it was only last year that the sixth-seeded hungry Pittsburgh Steelers got into this hostile territory at the RCA Dome and played the Colts on their way to a 21-18 win and a birth in the AFC Championship game with Denver. Following monitoring events on Wednesday in Baltimore, I am now convinced that they do not fall that easily after Thursday, not even considering that they play.
Tony Dungy deserves a lot of credit for the last two games. Their defense has stepped up from their heads compared to the regular months, and even Saturday against the Ravens, they limited them to two pathetic Shayne Graham field goals, one of these being from 51 yards. Overall, allowing 244 yards to the Ravens isn’t that bad, and this was following a great outing a few days prior against the Chiefs when they allowed just 7 points. Moreover, allowing only 83 rushing yards could be the turning point of their season, most of which came in garbage time during the playoffs. Most of the local experts thought that two weeks ago Jimmy Manley’s performance was a fluke, believing that Jamal Lewis would have a big day on Sunday. That’s false, as Lewis gained only 53 yards and was stopped on a crucial play late in the game.
Overall, I felt that the Ravens got out of the work too quickly. If you look at the strategy this offense executed, they ran the ball only twenty times, and passed 28 times. Once the Ravens started playing at their full capacity, these numbers were arrested. They likely should have been pounding more with Lewis, but instead, they were adamant about trying to get an office using David McNair, a man who didn't exactly instill fear in the hearts of the Colts' defense.
McNair only averaged about 5.2 yards per pass attempt, and was sacked twice, and could have been sacked 2-3 more times. Again, credit to the Colts defense, a group that entered the 2009-2010 NFL season as the most maligned bunch of players that actually made it all the way to the Super Bowl in 2006. Many thought they wouldn't be able to get past the Chiefs, and now, with two strong performances, they might secure a trophy that most saw as far beyond their reach after giving up 375 rushing yards to the Jags on January 10th.
They are not out of the woods yet, though. Standing in their way is either a testy Chargers squad with one of the best offensive lines in football led by LT, or a Patriots team that will enter the RCA Dome Monday with eighteen months of payback on their mind and a quarterback who doesn't choke (only once in the event he wins again) in the 2009-2010 season with Tom Brady. Additionally, Peyton continues to make smart decisions and handle the ball. He seemed grateful just to be chosen on Saturday rather than Tuesday. He can thank All-World Pounds Linebacker Ray Lewis for some advice that definitely helped him out.
So it comes down to the AFC Championship game, where someone will take charge over the next several months for Dungy and the Colts. This time, though, they will be showcasing something different rather than a high-powered offense; it is the defense that has finally stepped up to the plate in the last two weeks.