NFL Wild Card Weekend

[TruffleShuffle]

Good luck with your new team next year, LT

 

lol yeah right

 

the NFL is a fickle game

 

you think the chargers are going to dump a very good running back who's the face of the franchise because his 5'6" backup had a good game and is now ready to be a feature back carrying the ball 250+ times? get real.

[jaydee]

Good luck with your new team next year, LT

 

lol yeah right

 

the NFL is a fickle game

 

you think the chargers are going to dump a very good running back who's the face of the franchise because his 5'6" backup had a good game and is now ready to be a feature back carrying the ball 250+ times? get real.

 

LT is definitely past his prime though. He has been babied carry wise for quite sometime and is still clearly over the hill. SD should split carries between the two.

[Derwood]

Good luck with your new team next year, LT

 

lol yeah right

 

the NFL is a fickle game

 

you think the chargers are going to dump a very good running back who's the face of the franchise because his 5'6" backup had a good game and is now ready to be a feature back carrying the ball 250+ times? get real.

 

I'm just saying RB's fall off the cliff pretty fast once they start getting injured. See: Shaun Alexander

[Careless]

Good luck with your new team next year, LT

 

lol yeah right

 

the NFL is a fickle game

 

you think the chargers are going to dump a very good running back who's the face of the franchise because his 5'6" backup had a good game and is now ready to be a feature back carrying the ball 250+ times? get real.

If he's expensive and not good? yes.

[CubColtPacer]

Could LT be healthy for one of these games? Sproles just killed the Colts all night long.

 

I knew it was going to be a dogfight all week and be highly dependent on the bounce of the ball. These 2 teams are very evenly matched..really the big difference in their records is that the Chargers have had 2-3 games where every break didn't go their way at the end and the Colts had 2-3 games where every break did go their way.

Tonight, the bounce of the ball favored San Diego. The punter's ball bouncing out at the 1 with 3 minutes left, the coin toss, and the fumble falling directly under Gates's body. Any of those go the other way and the Colts probably win. But they didn't, and that's all right. That's part of the fun in sports to see if those go your way or not. Today, they didn't, and when you have evenly matched teams that means you lose. I would have liked to see the Colts play a couple more games this year, but I enjoyed this season quite a bit and this loss doesn't detract from it.

 

I hope the Chargers get to play the Titans. I think that would be a great game.

[TruffleShuffle]

Good luck with your new team next year, LT

 

lol yeah right

 

the NFL is a fickle game

 

you think the chargers are going to dump a very good running back who's the face of the franchise because his 5'6" backup had a good game and is now ready to be a feature back carrying the ball 250+ times? get real.

 

I'm just saying RB's fall off the cliff pretty fast once they start getting injured. See: Shaun Alexander

 

well then say that RB's fall off the cliff pretty fast once they start getting injured. don't say "good luck with your new team next year, LT", which makes it seems like you're suggesting that LT will be playing for a new team next year, which he won't

 

although i guess "next year" is 2010 and it's conceivable that they could dump him after next season, so maybe you've inadvertently made a plausible suggestion.

[CubColtPacer]

The refs made this ending sort of anticlimactic.

 

you can't let either of those penalties go.

 

The first one (the defensive holding on the defensive tackle on a running play) is the only one that is almost never called. I've only seen it called once this season..but that was also the 1 game that this crew had the Colts game. So the team should know that the crew is willing to call that and adjust and they didn't.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Running backs attrite *fast*. Once the injuries start to hit, it's over. Most running backs get three or four good seasons and that's it.

[SpongeWorthy]

It's not like LT had a bad year (just a down year by his standards). They probably will platoon him with Sproles.

 

The offensive line play for San Diego late in the season has been night and day compared to how they were playing earlier in the year.

[TruffleShuffle]

Good luck with your new team next year, LT

 

lol yeah right

 

the NFL is a fickle game

 

you think the chargers are going to dump a very good running back who's the face of the franchise because his 5'6" backup had a good game and is now ready to be a feature back carrying the ball 250+ times? get real.

If he's expensive and not good? yes.

 

there's a big difference between "no longer the awesomest player in the nfl" and "not good." although i guess if you watched just this game, when he had a detached tendon, you might get the impression that he's now a lousy football player.

 

the seahawks didn't dump shawn alexander in the first season that he began to show a decline. the cowboys didn't do it with emmitt smith, the jets didn't do it with curtis martin, the bears with walter payton (who got really good again after an injury-plagued year), the steelers with jerome bettis, etc. nfl teams don't just can their star players and the face of the franchise because they're starting to show signs of age.

 

plus, if you think that tomlinson is starting to look beat up at the end of a season, wait til you see darren sproles after 300+ carries and returning punts and kickoffs. he might not even be 5 feet tall after all that.

[Careless]

It's not like LT had a bad year (just a down year by his standards). They probably will platoon him with Sproles.

 

The offensive line play for San Diego late in the season has been night and day compared to how they were playing earlier in the year.

tomlinson was 19th in the AFC in YPC(41 in the league). He played in the weakest defensive division in football. He's had a steep decline over the past two seasons and is now injury prone.

the seahawks didn't dump shawn alexander in the first season that he began to show a decline. the cowboys didn't do it with emmitt smith, the jets didn't do it with curtis martin, the bears with walter payton (who got really good again after an injury-plagued year), the steelers with jerome bettis, etc. nfl teams don't just can their star players and the face of the franchise because they're starting to show signs of age.

 

plus, if you think that tomlinson is starting to look beat up at the end of a season, wait til you see darren sproles after 300+ carries and returning punts and kickoffs. he might not even be 5 feet tall after all that.

I completely agree about Sproles being a main RB. Your example of Alexander is amusing, as I'd compare his 2006 to Lt's 2008. Emmitt smith had an incredibly, inhumanly slow decline. I don't remember the end of Payton's career or the details of Bettis's end (although I know Bettis had a slower decline than LT)

He signed his contract 3 years ago, so the guaranteed money should be pretty much paid out. $6.725 next year. Do you pay that much for an aging, below average back with injury issues?

Edited January 4, 2009 by Careless

[Exile on Waveland]

Could LT be healthy for one of these games? Sproles just killed the Colts all night long.

 

I knew it was going to be a dogfight all week and be highly dependent on the bounce of the ball. These 2 teams are very evenly matched..really the big difference in their records is that the Chargers have had 2-3 games where every break didn't go their way at the end and the Colts had 2-3 games where every break did go their way.

Tonight, the bounce of the ball favored San Diego. The punter's ball bouncing out at the 1 with 3 minutes left, the coin toss, and the fumble falling directly under Gates's body. Any of those go the other way and the Colts probably win. But they didn't, and that's all right. That's part of the fun in sports to see if those go your way or not. Today, they didn't, and when you have evenly matched teams that means you lose. I would have liked to see the Colts play a couple more games this year, but I enjoyed this season quite a bit and this loss doesn't detract from it.

 

I hope the Chargers get to play the Titans. I think that would be a great game.

 

Yup, wish LT was healthy this game. Or last year. Sproles spells doom for the Colts.

 

This is why I was concerned about the Chargers. It was always going to be a close game that came down to the end. I don't think the same was true with Denver. The Chargers were the last feasible team I wanted to play in the opening round.

[JimSorgi]

I really hate it when the Colts play the Chargers. Goodbye Dungy?

[dew1679666265]

Could LT be healthy for one of these games? Sproles just killed the Colts all night long.

 

I knew it was going to be a dogfight all week and be highly dependent on the bounce of the ball. These 2 teams are very evenly matched..really the big difference in their records is that the Chargers have had 2-3 games where every break didn't go their way at the end and the Colts had 2-3 games where every break did go their way.

Tonight, the bounce of the ball favored San Diego. The punter's ball bouncing out at the 1 with 3 minutes left, the coin toss, and the fumble falling directly under Gates's body. Any of those go the other way and the Colts probably win. But they didn't, and that's all right. That's part of the fun in sports to see if those go your way or not. Today, they didn't, and when you have evenly matched teams that means you lose. I would have liked to see the Colts play a couple more games this year, but I enjoyed this season quite a bit and this loss doesn't detract from it.

 

I hope the Chargers get to play the Titans. I think that would be a great game.

 

Kinda like last year when it nearly came down to the wire? I still remember some commentator saying Norv Turner was a better coach than Jeff Fisher. That was humorous.

[dew1679666265]

I really hate it when the Colts play the Chargers. Goodbye Dungy?

 

They were starting the stories back up on ESPN this morning about Dungy "considering retirement" again.

 

I would like to see Dungy stick out Peyton's career. The two of them retire together and then Peyton can come coach at UT. :D

[dew1679666265]

This sounds extremely painful:

 

 

San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson has a detached tendon that connects one of his adductor (groin) muscles to his pubic bone, according to team sources.

 

The Colts seem like a gimme today, don't they? Superior team facing an average at best team, who might be missing one of their elite players, and the Norv factor.

 

The Chargers won last year in Indianapolis with Philip Rivers, LaDanian Tomlinson and Norv Turner all on the sidelines. Of course, they did have Michael Turner at that time.

 

I'd rather have LT than either Turner or Sproles. The Colts have contained LT pretty well in the games they have played him. When he went out last year in the playoff game, I knew it had the potential to be a big problem, and it certainly was as Turner and Sproles really hurt the Colts defense. That screen play to Sproles especially is something I'm very concerned about for tonight's game.

 

Oh, no doubt. Sproles has been death to the Colts. Turner also, to a lesser extent. LT has never hurt the Colts the way he hurts others. I was sad to see LT leave the game last year, and hope he plays more than Sproles this year. I certainly didn't expect Rivers to leave the game and Volek to lead a game-winning drive though.

 

The spirit of the Titans remains in Volek! :wink:

 

Volek to Drew Bennett!! TD TITANS!

 

Those memories would be a lot better if the Titans had won more in the Volek era. :D

[dew1679666265]

I haven't decided who I want to see the Titans play yet. The Ravens are probably the better matchup because we play mostly the same style, but the Titans are slightly better. The Chargers, however, are a bit more explosive and could really hurt us over the top.

 

I'm going to be panicked next week no matter, so I guess I'll just try to sit back tomorrow and see what happens between the Ravens and Dolphins.

[Guest]

Could LT be healthy for one of these games? Sproles just killed the Colts all night long.

 

I knew it was going to be a dogfight all week and be highly dependent on the bounce of the ball. These 2 teams are very evenly matched..really the big difference in their records is that the Chargers have had 2-3 games where every break didn't go their way at the end and the Colts had 2-3 games where every break did go their way.

Tonight, the bounce of the ball favored San Diego. The punter's ball bouncing out at the 1 with 3 minutes left, the coin toss, and the fumble falling directly under Gates's body. Any of those go the other way and the Colts probably win. But they didn't, and that's all right. That's part of the fun in sports to see if those go your way or not. Today, they didn't, and when you have evenly matched teams that means you lose. I would have liked to see the Colts play a couple more games this year, but I enjoyed this season quite a bit and this loss doesn't detract from it.

 

I hope the Chargers get to play the Titans. I think that would be a great game.

 

The Colts got killed with punting and subsequently, field position.

 

The two Charger touchdowns in the first half were set up by a poor punt and good field position because of a 15-20 yard return after a punt. Meanwhile, the Chargers got a 67 yard punt that bounced up/sideways instead of down the field that gave the Colts the ball at the five (and led to a punt that gave SD good field position) or the punt that went out of bounds.

 

Not saying all that is luck because it isn't, just that punting/field position cost them the game.

[Exile on Waveland]

Could LT be healthy for one of these games? Sproles just killed the Colts all night long.

 

I knew it was going to be a dogfight all week and be highly dependent on the bounce of the ball. These 2 teams are very evenly matched..really the big difference in their records is that the Chargers have had 2-3 games where every break didn't go their way at the end and the Colts had 2-3 games where every break did go their way.

Tonight, the bounce of the ball favored San Diego. The punter's ball bouncing out at the 1 with 3 minutes left, the coin toss, and the fumble falling directly under Gates's body. Any of those go the other way and the Colts probably win. But they didn't, and that's all right. That's part of the fun in sports to see if those go your way or not. Today, they didn't, and when you have evenly matched teams that means you lose. I would have liked to see the Colts play a couple more games this year, but I enjoyed this season quite a bit and this loss doesn't detract from it.

 

I hope the Chargers get to play the Titans. I think that would be a great game.

 

The Colts got killed with punting and subsequently, field position.

 

The two Charger touchdowns in the first half were set up by a poor punt and good field position because of a 15-20 yard return after a punt. Meanwhile, the Chargers got a 67 yard punt that bounced up/sideways instead of down the field that gave the Colts the ball at the five (and led to a punt that gave SD good field position) or the punt that went out of bounds.

 

Not saying all that is luck because it isn't, just that punting/field position cost them the game.

 

Sproles was great; but Scifres was the player of the game.

[Andy]

This is no knock on Tennessee, but SD should be begging Baltimore to win tomorrow. I think Pittsburgh would be an awful matchup for them.

[weis21]

This is no knock on Tennessee, but SD should be begging Baltimore to win tomorrow. I think Pittsburgh would be an awful matchup for them.

Yeah, they looked pretty bad when they traveled to Pittsburgh week 11. They only lost by one, but I think I'd rather see them in Nashville next week. Either game will be extremely tough though. Maybe the Pro Bowler can make a prediction next week too

[dew1679666265]

This is no knock on Tennessee, but SD should be begging Baltimore to win tomorrow. I think Pittsburgh would be an awful matchup for them.

 

The Titans won't be a great matchup either, though. A worse Titans team last year (with Vince at QB and no Chris Johnson) went to SD and led the entire 1st half and was down just 10-6 until a late Charger TD sealed the 11-point win.

 

This year's Titans are much better and the game would be in Nashville. The Chargers scare me, but I think the Titans can win it.

[Exile on Waveland]

This is no knock on Tennessee, but SD should be begging Baltimore to win tomorrow. I think Pittsburgh would be an awful matchup for them.

 

The Titans won't be a great matchup either, though. A worse Titans team last year (with Vince at QB and no Chris Johnson) went to SD and led the entire 1st half and was down just 10-6 until a late Charger TD sealed the 11-point win.

 

This year's Titans are much better and the game would be in Nashville. The Chargers scare me, but I think the Titans can win it.

 

The Titans have been overlooked by most, methinks. They "slumped" at the end of the season by losing three of six, but won the only game they had to by 17 points over a 12-4 team. To me, that's far more indicative of the team they are and the team they'll be in the playoffs. Of course, if the Colts had won last night I would be rooting for the Dolphins today (more because the Colts won at Pittsburgh and not Tennessee and duplicating road wins is extremely difficult -- see last night).

[dew1679666265]

This is no knock on Tennessee, but SD should be begging Baltimore to win tomorrow. I think Pittsburgh would be an awful matchup for them.

 

The Titans won't be a great matchup either, though. A worse Titans team last year (with Vince at QB and no Chris Johnson) went to SD and led the entire 1st half and was down just 10-6 until a late Charger TD sealed the 11-point win.

 

This year's Titans are much better and the game would be in Nashville. The Chargers scare me, but I think the Titans can win it.

 

The Titans have been overlooked by most, methinks. They "slumped" at the end of the season by losing three of six, but won the only game they had to by 17 points over a 12-4 team. To me, that's far more indicative of the team they are and the team they'll be in the playoffs. Of course, if the Colts had won last night I would be rooting for the Dolphins today (more because the Colts won at Pittsburgh and not Tennessee and duplicating road wins is extremely difficult -- see last night).

 

I hope and pray you're right. The end of the season worried me a bit, but we played with no intensity whatsoever against the Colts and, the week before, we played great against a terrific (and I think ultimately better) Pittsburgh team.

 

The Titans have certainly been overlooked much of the year, but when you play the style we do, you expect it.

[Exile on Waveland]

This is no knock on Tennessee, but SD should be begging Baltimore to win tomorrow. I think Pittsburgh would be an awful matchup for them.

 

The Titans won't be a great matchup either, though. A worse Titans team last year (with Vince at QB and no Chris Johnson) went to SD and led the entire 1st half and was down just 10-6 until a late Charger TD sealed the 11-point win.

 

This year's Titans are much better and the game would be in Nashville. The Chargers scare me, but I think the Titans can win it.

 

The Titans have been overlooked by most, methinks. They "slumped" at the end of the season by losing three of six, but won the only game they had to by 17 points over a 12-4 team. To me, that's far more indicative of the team they are and the team they'll be in the playoffs. Of course, if the Colts had won last night I would be rooting for the Dolphins today (more because the Colts won at Pittsburgh and not Tennessee and duplicating road wins is extremely difficult -- see last night).

 

The Titans have certainly been overlooked much of the year, but when you play the style we do, you expect it.

 

I'm guilty of it too. I thought, and probably still believe, that if the Colts could get by San Diego (and subsequently Pittsburgh, depending on today's outcome) they'd win at Tennessee.