AFC Playoff Contenders

Over here in Southern California we get to see San Diego play quite a lot. Their offence with LaDainian Tomlinson seems to be able to score at will especially against the weaker defensive teams. Early in the season against, Baltimore and Pittsburgh, LT was held without a touchdown. San Diego's pass attack is flawed by aging or inconsistent receivers and inexperience at quarterback. Their only serious receiving threat is tight end Antonio Gates. San Diego has a pretty decent defense. However, they can be scored upon with a balanced attack that keeps the pass rush at bay. The San Diego Defense is ranked 7th against the rush and 11th against the pass.

For me Baltimore has the best balanced team in the NFL thus far this year. When Jamal Lewis and the rushing offence is on their game, Baltimore is hard to beat. Steve McNair and the pass offense is versatile. The Raven's have high quality receivers as good as can be assembled in the NFL. The Baltimore defense is awesome. They are ranked 1st in the league, 2nd against the run and 6th against the pass. The Raven's can be beat by a team with a quality passing game who can build a good lead. When you stop or neutralize the run and force McNair to pass the offense balance is lost. Baltimore has not shown itself to be a quick strike team. The scary part is that the Baltimore offense seem to be vastly improved in the second half of the season. This indicates that McNair has become completely familiar and comfortable with the offense and the players in the scheme. The QB fumbles, sacks, and interceptions are down to zero in the last three games.

The Colts run defense seems flawed. The general consensus is that losses at defensive tackle combined with poor tackling at linebacker has exposed the safeties to unacceptable injuries. We are now down to the 5th and 6th safeties in the depth chart. I fully expect Dungy and the coaching staff to make final adjustments on defense to make us competitive should we make the play-offs. If coach Bill Belichick can modify the defensive scheme to match the available players, I don't understand why the Colts brain-trust cannot make appropriate adjustments until we find something that works. There is still 3 games left in the season. The Tampa 2 works but if an alternate can be played situationally lets at least try it before we have to compete for the Superbowl. Being consistent in execution is required to win a championship, but being predictable or one dimensional will also hurt our chances.

Finally, Dungy and the coaching staff need to find a way to motivate the Colts players for the play-off run. If not, the players themselves need to dig down deep and make a supreme effort for 3 or 4 straight games. The difference between a good team and a great team is heart and consistent effort. If you want examples of heart and supreme effort review Robert Horry during the NBA championship series when San Antonio Spurs last won the championship. See Eddie George in the NFL playoffs against Baltimore in 2003 when he came back into the game after a shoulder injury to seal the Titan's win. Management and coaches put you in position to compete for a championship, but players win the games.