Playoffs?? Playoffs?? I just hope we can win another game!!
Posted 02-27-2008 at 02:00 AM by Attyla
Ah yes, the immortal words of former head coach Jim Mora Sr. after the 2001 Indianapolis Colts lost to the San Francisco 49ers that dropped the team to 4-6 on way to a 6-10 season.
Then a funny thing happened. A new coach and a new attitude surfaced and the team that was "wasting" the talents of Manning won 10 games and went to the playoffs. Yes, Jim, the playoffs. The team has not been the same since, going to the playoffs every year of the Dungy era, and winning it all 13 months ago. The monkey was removed from much maligned Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy both who were the subject of many articles questioning their leadership abilities and the ability to "win the big one". The biggest obstacle to the Colt win seemed to be the New England Patriots, who seemed to have Manning's number. In fact, the year they won it all, Manning and Company had to overcome a huge first quarter hole as the Patriots ran up the score 21-3 in the second quarter. The Colts went on to win the game, 38-34.
You might have heard this story before. The last time this happened, it had different names, but many of the same results as a young coach named Madden took a bunch of ballers and created a legend. And, much like the Colts, Ken Stabler had to overcome the mighty 1970's Steelers as year after year they defeated the Raiders when it counted most. Ironically, the year the Raiders won it all, it was the Patriots who almost ruined the plays for Pasadena, going up 21-10 into the fourth quarter. The sure armed "Snake" took defeat and turned it into victory. From there, only the Steelers stood in the way, and that only lasted until the National Anthem was over. The Raiders went on to a well deserved win, and ultimately a Super Bowl win. Again, the team who could not win the big one put the critics on notice as the Raiders beat the Vikings 24-13.
So, why the comparison? After all, the game has changed, and living in the past only creates ire among lost season weary Raider fans. But there is another comparison that bears some scrutiny. Even the harshest Manning critic will admit that the Colts would not be the champions without the talents and leadership of a guy drafted first overall in 1998. The 3-13 Colts were no better in 1998, finishing 3-13 again.
There is an old adage that states "those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it". One could only hope.
Then a funny thing happened. A new coach and a new attitude surfaced and the team that was "wasting" the talents of Manning won 10 games and went to the playoffs. Yes, Jim, the playoffs. The team has not been the same since, going to the playoffs every year of the Dungy era, and winning it all 13 months ago. The monkey was removed from much maligned Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy both who were the subject of many articles questioning their leadership abilities and the ability to "win the big one". The biggest obstacle to the Colt win seemed to be the New England Patriots, who seemed to have Manning's number. In fact, the year they won it all, Manning and Company had to overcome a huge first quarter hole as the Patriots ran up the score 21-3 in the second quarter. The Colts went on to win the game, 38-34.
You might have heard this story before. The last time this happened, it had different names, but many of the same results as a young coach named Madden took a bunch of ballers and created a legend. And, much like the Colts, Ken Stabler had to overcome the mighty 1970's Steelers as year after year they defeated the Raiders when it counted most. Ironically, the year the Raiders won it all, it was the Patriots who almost ruined the plays for Pasadena, going up 21-10 into the fourth quarter. The sure armed "Snake" took defeat and turned it into victory. From there, only the Steelers stood in the way, and that only lasted until the National Anthem was over. The Raiders went on to a well deserved win, and ultimately a Super Bowl win. Again, the team who could not win the big one put the critics on notice as the Raiders beat the Vikings 24-13.
So, why the comparison? After all, the game has changed, and living in the past only creates ire among lost season weary Raider fans. But there is another comparison that bears some scrutiny. Even the harshest Manning critic will admit that the Colts would not be the champions without the talents and leadership of a guy drafted first overall in 1998. The 3-13 Colts were no better in 1998, finishing 3-13 again.
There is an old adage that states "those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it". One could only hope.
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