The Student of the GameGoing Beyond the Stats

The atmosphere was one of the most paradoxical one could imagine with stories intensifying the match-up of the first 2009 sell-out of Jacksonville’s All-Tell Stadium between the Indianapolis Colts and the hosting Jaguars. The Jags fighting against the ‘Collapse of the Cats’ as conjectured by critics killing them in the media by constantly clamoring over close calls against crappy competitors combined with the concept of clashing against the cunning Colts who are competing to cultivate their calamity-free season. The Colts persist the paradox by pursuing perfection in such poetic poise as to posture the pathetic pontiff of the NFL media, NFL Network’s Matt Millen, to quote Shakespeare (albeit accidently). Of Indianapolis, his co-host Bob Papa stated during pregame regarding the quandary endlessly discussed this week on resting their players, “. . .For them it’s to play or not to play” to which Millen responded, “well that is the question, Bob. . .”. But was the game dramatic as the storylines and Shakespeare? – Definitely as the Colts continue avoid their tragedy and continue this season’s perfection 35-31.

The protagonist of the game with the rich plot line was Colts QB Peyton Manning (23/30 (77%) for 308 yards 4 TDs and 1 INT) who commanded his offense in a state of nearly perpetual motion converting all of his team’s first 6 3rd Downs and finishing with a 3rd Down conversion percentage of 67% (8/12). Dallas Clark was his trusty sidekick with 7 catches for 95 yards and 2 TDs save one play where he seemed to betray Peyton the protagonist when he tipped a usually routine pass into the hands of a Jaguar DB for Manning’s only INT of the night.

Colts WR Reggie Wayne was important in his team’s performance with 5 catches for 132 yards and a TD playing the role of the wily veteran waiting for his moment to strike big. Austin Collie as the plucky comic relief had 3 catches for 27 yards and a TD. The ground presence also played a small yet critical role in the game’s outcome as Joseph Addai brought yardage in key moments during his 16 carry for 59 yard night where he had 3.7 yards per carry. RB Chad Simpson even contributed a 93 yard kickoff return in the 2nd quarter that represented the difference in the game.

While Indy’s main attraction was the hero of the game’s drama, Jag’s RB Maurice Jones Drew (better known as Mojo) would certainly be the villain. Mojo bashed those in front of him and showed no mercy as he posted 110 yards on 27 carries (4.1 per carry) and 1 TD while terrorizing the skies with 4 catches for 30 yards and another TD. But it would be his co-conspirator, Jax QB David Garrard, who despite a solid showing while delivering 23/40 (58%) for 223 yards, and 3 TDs , threw his only INT with about a minute remaining to kill the Jags chances. Other soldiers of the Teal Terror posting solid numbers included WR Michael Sims-Walker (6 catches, 34 yards, TD), TE Marcedes Lewis (4 catches, 53 yards), and RB Mike Thomas (2 catches, 20 yards, TD).

With the proliferation of offense in the stats, it’s still hard to fault either defense because whether it was Clark reeling in a TD catch despite taking an inadvertent hand in the face, Mojo pushing piles of 4 players or more for a first down or score, Lewis bodying his way through a big 3rd down conversion catch, or WR Reggie Wayne reminding everyone he’s still a solid player catching his longest pass on the season with a 65 yard TD, BOTH ‘D’s did what they had to late in the fourth quarter. The Jags sent Manning 3 and out to set up a possible game winning drive while the Colts D sniffed out a turnover with the Jags threatening to enter the Red Zone with 1:00 showing on the clock.

The loss knocks the Jags completely out of the playoff bracket for the moment and into ranks of the ‘In the Hunt’ Legion replacing them with the Baltimore Ravens. The Colts earned the right for more bombardment of questions of ‘To play or not to play’ as they hope for a sequel in the continuing saga for their quest for Manning’s 2nd Super Bowl.