It was a team loss

[Chiefnj]

I watched the game again last night in about a half-hour fast forwarding through a lot. Some observations:

1. Whoever the next QB is, the guy has to have some ability to audible. There were times when there were 9 defenders in the box clearly playing run and the Chiefs ran it anyway right into the middle of the 9 guys. I don't care if Indy had the worst run D in the league, that just isn't going to work. Green, Huard, Croyle, Testaverde, whoever it is, has to have the ability to call a pass with the one-on-one matchup on the outside.

2. The OL didn't show up at all. Even without the extra Indy defenders playing he line, the OL was beaten at the point of attack by the undersized Indy line and was never able to get a push.

3. Waters had a horrible day. He was as bad as Black. In addition to poor run and pass blocking, he stepped on Green's foot and was responsible for a critical false start on 3rd and short that put the Chiefs back to a known passing situation where Green got hit and threw a pick.

4. The D played inspired ball but once again failed to come up big when the team needed them to. After the offense finally scored and made it 8-16 they needed to make a stop on the next drive. Instead, they let Manning drive 71 yards for a TD.

5. The dropped passes were inexcusable. What people overlook is that on many of the dropped 3rd down passes, the receivers were running patterns SHORT of the first down marker. Even if they made the catch they likely wouldn't have converted. (Unfortunately that is a Herm run offense trademark).

[HonestChieffan]

That should clear up any questions that remain.

[FringeNC]

More power to you. I couldn't sit through that again.

[htismaqe]

Number 3 is what bothers me most. I mentioned it several times the day of the game and I don't think people wanted to listen.

Waters played that game as if he didn't care. I honestly think he's a good player, but I wouldn't shed a tear if they cut him after that.

[KCTitus]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj

...After the offense finally scored and made it 8-16. Instead, they let Manning drive 71 yards for a TD.

Isnt that the drive they converted that 3rd and 18? Ugh...3rd and 10+ really killed KC this year. I'd be willing to bet that 3rd and 15 conversions were over 60% against KC.

[siberian khatru]

Agreed on all counts.

Although on No. 4, I (and others) predicted at the time the Colts would do that, because at that point it was clear the D was running out of gas from being on the field 3/4ths of the game.

We lost that game in the 1st half, when the D held Indy to 3 FGs and the O totally failed to take advantage of the opportunity (and really it was just two FGs -- the last one was a direct result of offensive incompetence).

[Lzen]

Ref. #3:

I was listening to people on the radio the other day blaming Trent for being too slow to get out of the way. WTF? I mean, I don't have a problem with blaming a player when they play poorly. But some of the stuff that was blamed on Green was simply idiotic. Be glad you don't live near KC and have to listen to some of the local yokels calling in and bitching on the radio.

[Fish]

I'd disagree with #4

We held the smirking man-bitch to just 3 FGs (including a 48 and 50 yd FG) in the first half... sacked him once (only the 9th sack at home all season), and got 3 INTs... one of which Law delivered to the O on the 10yd line.

And considering the amount of time the O made the D stay on the field... I don't think you can fault this D too much.

[Hydrae]

How much was #2 influenced by the loss of Dunn(damnit Carl! )?

[Iowanian]

The offense played like they were at an "all you can drink for $5 Dil-dow Partah" until 4am.

So much for that Team building exercise.


Oh yeah....If I hear Herm making excuses again with the "we only had 18 plays" crap, I'm probably going to throw an object at the speaker.

Herm, maybe, just maybe, the reason you had only 18 offensive plays in the first half, and couldn't get a first down, was because the game plan was bad. If 90% of Chief fans can predict your first down offensive play, I'm guessing Indy's D Coord will have a pretty good idea.


What I can't figure out, was WHY in the hell if they were going to run on every first down, why go straight up the middle, instead of off tackle to try to take advantate of the Speed rushers?

[Chiefnj]

Two other points that I forgot.

6. The Colts offense made the necessary changes on offense at the half. In the third and early 4th quarters they moved the ball at will. They picked the cover 2 apart. They were moving the ball before Law's INT on the first drive and then went 89 and 71 yards respectively on their next 2 possessions.

7. Wesley played a good game.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Agreed on all counts.

Although on No. 4, I (and others) predicted at the time the Colts would do that, because at that point it was clear the D was running out of gas from being on the field 3/4ths of the game.

We lost that game in the 1st half, when the D held Indy to 3 FGs and the O totally failed to take advantage of the opportunity (and really it was just two FGs -- the last one was a direct result of offensive incompetence).

Yep, if we had a gameplan on offense that was anywhere near competent (something that wasn't out of a pee wee football playbook), the halftime score would've been KC 7(at the very least), Indy 6. After that miserable performance, I'm almost ready to ride Herm out on a rail. Perhaps I'll calm down and give him the benefit of the doubt by next preseason. At this point, I'm still pissed at that joke of an offensive performance.

[Chiefnj]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

I'd disagree with #4

We held the smirking man-bitch to just 3 FGs (including a 48 and 50 yd FG) in the first half... sacked him once (only the 9th sack at home all season), and got 3 INTs... one of which Law delivered to the O on the 10yd line.

And considering the amount of time the O made the D stay on the field... I don't think you can fault this D too much.

They were on the field a lot and did a great job in the first half. No doubt. But, you've got to play an entire 4 quarters of football. In the 2nd half the Colts kicked their buts. Were they tired? Sure. Should they have stepped it up for all 4 quarters in the playoffs? Yes.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Lzen

Yep, if we had a gameplan on offense that was anywhere near competent (something that wasn't out of a pee wee football playbook), the halftime score would've been KC 7(at the very least), Indy 6. After that miserable performance, I'm almost ready to ride Herm out on a rail. Perhaps I'll calm down and give him the benefit of the doubt by next preseason. At this point, I'm still pissed at that joke of an offensive performance.

That's what kills me. By any reasonable viewpoint, we should've gone into halftime with a lead. It would have been an improbable lead and the announcers would have been expressing their wonderment, but it would've still been a lead.

When that field goal doinked off the upright, I knew we were doomed. The playoff gods hate Kansas City.

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

That's what kills me. By any reasonable viewpoint, we should've gone into halftime with a lead. It would have been an improbable lead and the announcers would have been expressing their wonderment, but it would've still been a lead.

When that field goal doinked off the upright, I knew we were doomed. The playoff gods hate Kansas City.

Missed FGs in four straight playoff games. By four different kickers.

Has to be a record.