91Èȱ¬

Great blog, really insightful comments.

I do agree that the colts have pretty much been 'under the radar' but I think the main reason for this is that they're expected to be this good. You only have to compare last year's records for the other three teams you mention - and of course Favre is going to generate headlines regardless - to see why the colts aren't in the news.

Ironically though, that's no longer the case with this article!

great column neil, as a colts fan i think its great that we are slipping under the radar, and it was the right decision to cut harrison. but im still slightly nervous about what will happen when indy come up against a really great running offense. we were lucky to edge out the miami wildcat, and apart from that havent yet faced a similar style team of running quality. what do you think?

I look forward to Sunday all week during the NFL season and sure, the game at Lambeau Field will be interesting. But the Vikings will just be too strong for the Packers. I think the highlight of the coming weekend will be the Broncos - Ravens game.

I think the big thing with the Colts this year has been their run defense, which is vastly improved on anything they had going for them in recent years. Manning is always going to put points on the board, but this year, the Colts have shut to opposition offenses extremely efficiently. Any fantasy football junkie will remember how a decent RB was dead cert to rush for 100+ yards v the Colts in years past, definitely not the case any longer.

The stat you showed about the Colts' half time leads is the most revealing, just shows how much they have managed to put Manning in control of game by keeping the opposition offense off the field. Manning, I don't believe, is all that much better than he has been the last 3-4 years - when he was already ridiculously excellent. He gets more time on the field now, and that's mainly down to the D. Big credit though to him for developing Collie so quickly, that's been crucial since Gonzalez got injured.

So I kind of feel that the change in coaching personnel - and a greater appreciation of what extra size can do for you (Dungy always preferred light, fast defenders) - is a large part of the story here. And once Manning has bust open a two-score lead, Freeney and Mathis become a huge factor, and so too Bethea who is one of the smartest safeties in the league, and very dangerous in deep coverage.

Why is this so impressive? Look at the teams they have played! The Jaguars are 3-3 and in serious trouble, the seahawks are 2-4, the titans are winless and got stuffed 59-0 by the pats and the rams are 0-7. They have played the Cardinals who are having a serious superbowl hangover and also the Dolphins are pretty crap once you can stop the wildcat. So I ask again why is this impressive? They have such an easy year - playing San Fran and the Texans next. Then they have the hardest game all year (i.e. game 9) against the Patriots. Everyone was saying how good the giants were. That they were this and that but that came to a complete halt after they played the Saints and now they cant even buy a win. Once they play the Pats and Ravens then a call can be made on how good they really are but until then they are just a good team who have beaten really bad teams.

Ps. Vikings-Packers is on paper all about Favre, but in reality it's mainly about Adrian Peterson. The Pack has never managed to stop this guy. Rogers should do okay (the Minnesota secondary is a little thin, though not sure how well the Pack will complete their drives), and Favre will probably contribute some of his own highlights, but ultimately Peterson decides this contest.

My gut feel... Peterson's due a critical fumble, and the Pack nick it 23-21.

Good read again Neil.
I was one of those who doubted how the Colts would perform after so many changes, new Head Coach, new Def Coordinator and new set of receivers.
I also doubted whether Mannings knees would hold up but I've been proved wrong on all fronts and sadly I put my money where my mouth was and it's painful !
I was expecting Tennessee to be as tough as the 08 Titans were and Houston to have improved, Tennessee have been woeful and Houston as inconsistent as any of their previous 5 years !
Colts still have some tough games but i don't see them losing more than 3 which should be enough to give them #1 seed for the play offs.
As for the game of the week I can see Rodgers and co exacting revenge in a tight game - I don't see it being as high scoring as you but I do see about 60000 cheeseheads taunting Favre as they head off the field.
Shoudl be a cracker

I would never underestimate the Colts and Manning is clearly in fantastic form, and when that is the case they are a match for any team. It is worth pointing out though that the collective record of the Colts six opponents is 11-26. They have played two teams that remain winless - Rams and Titans - and the only side with a winning record they have played is Arizona and at that time Arizona was playing poorly.

I would withold judgment on the Colts until they have played the Patriots and the Ravens in weeks 11 and 12. If they are still winning then then I am a buyer...

As others have pointed out, the reason the Indy Colts are being 'overlooked' Is due to the caliber of teams they've faced so far, and will continue to face. Though this doesn't take anything away from Payton who is still one of, if not the best Quaterbacks in the league.

Denver Broncos get the credit, as some of the NFL shows here in the US predicted they'd struggle to win four games all season... Going 6 - 0 including beating the New England Patriots from there, was always going to be a bigger story, and something they deserve a lot of credit.

While the Saints (in my opinion the best team right now in the NFL) have taken on the Phillie Eagles, New York Jets (unbeaten prior to the game), and the New York Giants (also unbeaten, slightly overrated due to who they'd beaten, but considered one of the best teams in the league going into Orleans) definitely deserve more credit for going unbeaten so far then the Colts.

As for the Vikings? The majority of their wins are against Detroit, Cleavland, St. Louis, and the San Fan 49ers. One has to suspect if not for Number Four, not only would they be not be 6 - 1 (love or hate the guy, he's performed some heroics and given the Vikings some late game wins like only he can), but very few people would be giving the team a lot of thought.

Again, the idea isn't take take credit away from the Colts, in so much they are a very good 'team' (IE they have Manning steering them to victory), but the reason they don't get the attention, is everyone expected them to be 6 - 0 at this point thanks to their schedule (Or at least when it was determined the Titans were not the team they were last season), but thanks to the fact they play the Patriots and Broncos at home, it is a very real possibility they'll go unbeaten all year. A top team? No doubt, deserve recognition? Again no doubt... But as for getting to the Superbowl? They have the talent, but come Play-Off time, they might be as reliant on their schedule to get them home field advantage, or you'd have to favour the Steelers, and Patriots should they meet.

Neil; the answer to your question (From the article title) is Yes.

Unless the Patriots beat them in the AFC Championship. Or maybe the Steelers will get there again? Am going for Colts for AFC Title.

The question is - who joins them?
Saints most probably, though maybe Falcons or even Giants? Hope its not the Vikes! :-(

It's not really fair to say that the Colts are being overlooked, its just that them winning games simply isn't been news during the regular season as they have never won less than 10 games since their division changed to the afc south.

i cant say i'm surprised as most are that they have done well after the changes they made in the off season, as they have done it the way it should be done by growing ther new HC in the previous season. not like the Bucs who have thrown a coaching team together then fired the OC 10 days before the season starts so that now we have a new offensive scheme and the players are having to practice plays in the game. another big story out of the RayJay is that number 1 draft QB Josh Freeman will be starting under center when greenbay go to Tampa after the Bucs bye week following their game at wembley. lot of Buccaneer fans not happy with the offensive co-ordinator Olsen as they feel the rookie is about to be thrown to the wolves.

out of the NFC teams it looks like New Orleans will be marching all the way to the 'Bowl in Miami and probably against the Patriots as they look the most complete team at the moment on both sides of the football.

Good blog Neil, I had my doubts as to whether the Colts would maintain their high standards and if the younger receivers would be able to step-up to the plate now Manning's favourite target has disappeared.

So far for the Colts so good. However, they haven't really been tested and it will be interesting to see how they do playing comeback football.

As for the Superbowl, the Colts have always been consistent enough to get to the post season it just when they get there they dont know how to win the close games. The Chargers (twice), Patriots (twice) and Steelers have all beaten them in the win or go home matches. Im not sure much changes this year and I dont think the team is complete enough to go all the way.

Sorry to mention this but why are the 91Èȱ¬ putting up so many articles and comments about Baseball and American Football? Two of the richest sports in the world with surely enough money to market theselves? There are plenty of places for Baseball fans to go rather than a British Broacasting website aren't there?

If not I still don't see how it really merits leading spreads when its not really at a crucial stage of the year for titles to be decided...

Its too early to say if the Colts will make it to the Superbowl but there is a lot of talent in the AFC this season. Patriots / Steelers... & lets not forget the Colts are'nt to only 6-0 team in the AFC.. what about the Broncos? New Coach, new QB, one of the worst Defences in the NFL last season. They stared wth a fortuitous win over the Bengals but since then have accounted for the Browns, Cowboys, Patriots, Chargers & Raiders from their own division & both Away from Mile High) Still have big games to come against Baltimore & the Steelers as well as The Colts. Every game is going to be tough but so far Josh McDaniels & Kyle Orton have dont what was needed. Jay who ??????

And sorry Hookers Armpit.. the reason the 91Èȱ¬ are posting articles about these sports is because of the growing interest in them on this side of the Atlantic. There are other sites for people to go sure ... but ESPN & FOX Sports in the USA are both giving coverage to minority sports like Soccer & Rugby in the USA sp why shouldnt the 91Èȱ¬ give some covergage here in this timezone ??

Don't get me wrong - I like American Football. I just find it strange that it has been constantly on the front of the Sport page all of a sudden when it is adequately reported elsewhere. The leading comment on a Friday afternoon before a weekend of sports going on in this country? I just find it a little strange and worth questioning...

Whats going on with Kabaddi these days? Haven't seen any leading articles on that and its pretty popular?

No one cares outside USA. Please stop wasting our sports space with this nonsense

Hookers, no offense but do you really want to know whats going on with Kabaddi?

As for the 91Èȱ¬, they now have Sunday night commentary on Five Live so it makes sense to promote the NFL with informative blogs that create discussion.

Much better than pointless football blogs based on a fictional character rambling about the weeks pointless goings on in the world of the Premier League.

Sorry the_Sluiceterer, but you would be wrong about that

The Sluiceterer - did you miss Wembley last week ?
85,000 people watched the game and whilst not all of them came from tehse shores, the vast majority did.
There is a very strong band of followers in the UK and it's growing and I, like many, don't consider articles on the sport a waste of space

garcon means boy

We need to see the Colts in some big games.. they have really only played the rubbish teams and this weekend sees that trend continue.. they will win the division as all the other teams there are awful this year.. let's see how they go against the Patriots in two weeks time before we cast our judgement.. I'd still put them behind the Patriots as a true Superbowl contender as the Pats have played the likes of the Falcons, Ravens and Broncos - all were unbeaten teams coming into their encounters with the Pats and the Pats only lost to the Broncos in Overtime.. the Pats still have to play the Dolphins who are always dangerous, the Jets even though they've started to misfire and have lost Washington and Jenkins for the season, and the Colts of course in two weeks time.. Superbowl winners tend to be teams who have been through tough schedules and emerged winners.. they know how to beat the best teams.. witness Pittsburgh last year..

the_Sluiceterer, you're just clearly wrong.

The interest in American Football in this country is most definitely on the rise, and so the 91Èȱ¬ has an obligation to give it coverage (perversely for the same reason that it needs to put fascists on Question Time I suppose).