Post Game Thoughts
OK, so I had a lot of thoughts run through my head right after the game so here we go.
1. Cutler and Favre can have their Pro Bowl Bids and Peyton can have his MVP award our QB and our team is showing the country what we can do.
2. Our defense had their best and most complete game of the season tonight which is fitting since it was the playoffs. Everything except that one mistake was awesome. Weddle had a great game tackling. We only had one sack by Dobbins but it was a HUGE one. Even when we weren't getting sacks we usually were getting enough pressure to throw off Peyton just enough.
3. Which brings me to my next thought. Cromartie is still talking way too much. The whole defense got caught off guard on that play but he was staring at the sideline. He is talking smack after every play, he needs to take a page out of Jammer's book in order for him to get better.
4. Jacob Hester had a whale of a game blocking. I nominate him for Best Supporting Actor. He was involved in every big run. He spring LT on his TD and on all of Sproles' big runs.
5. Mike Scifres is the best punter I have ever seen. There is no way in hell we are even close in this game without him. I think the average starting positions for the Colts was round the 15 yard line. That guy is a beast and a half. Also, Nate the Great made a postseason FG, yeah!
6. What can you say about Sproles? I still maintain that it is good for us to get Bennett in there to give him a breather especially since Darren is returning punts and kickoffs as well. Bennett didn't look too shabby. Sproles finishes one yard short of 2nd all time for all purpose yards in a playoff game. Behind a Chargers of course!
7. The O-Line struggled with the pass rush but was not too bad run-blocking. Which is strange since it has been the other way around most of the year. Rivers didn't have the best game of his career and made a few mistakes which were half his fault half having not a lot of time to make a decision. He did do a good job of throwing the ball away when the screens didn't develop and when the receivers were covered.
8. Which brings me to my next point. Rivers had a shitty game, LT was out most of the game, VJ had no catches, we had two awful turnovers, we made a huge mistake on defense, and WE STILL WIN THE GAME. This is a team that never ever gives up whether it be on a season or on a game. Remember that last KC game? We never gave up.
9. The Norv Turner criticism needs to officially be put to sleep by the entire world. A 4-8 team making the playoffs and beating the hottest team in the NFL? The best coach in the world would have a hard time keeping a team together at 4-8 with the huge expectations that we had. This team never gave up, never looked back, never listened to the naysayers. He took us to the AFC Championship game which we nearly won with all of our stars hurt. He is taking us to the divisional round this season after starting 4-8 and LT out. Norv Turner is officially a great head coach.
10. Do we want the Steelers or Titans? Last season we beat the Titans twice including in the playoffs. We lost a close one point decision this season at Pittsburgh when we weren't playing as well. If the Ravens win twice and we win once more the AFC championship game will be at Qualcomm Stadium.
11. Injuries are going to be key. Is LT done for the postseason? How about Gates? Tucker and Phillips were hurt late in the game too. Injuries always seem to be a big factor in our postseason runs.
OK that's enough. Eat your hearts out. Take that America! Take that ESPN! Take the MSM! Take that everyone who picked against us!
This FanPost was written by a member of the Bolts From The Blue community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Bolts From The Blue editors or SB Nation.
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23 comments
Comments
I want to add one more thing
I was scared of the Colts more than any other team in the AFC playoffs in this tournament. I’m not saying that we are going to blow anyone out, but I think the highest scoring team in the AFC versus some of the best defenses is going to score more points than a couple of awful offenses agaisnt our defense, especially the way we played tonight. That being said, the Titans have a great running game and the Steelers have a decent passing game. We’ll see what happens.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 3, 2009 9:52 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Not to be a "correcting charlie" (??)
Is there a phrase/nickname for that? Anyway, need Ravens to win twice for home AFC Championship. That’s what I’m rooting for. Even if there’s bad weather in Pitt.
by Lenny Suckerpunch on Jan 3, 2009 10:05 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
my bad i'm so excited
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 3, 2009 10:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm so happy
I love everyone!
And I haven’t even started drinking yet!
by 'Eaters on Jan 3, 2009 10:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
That was a great game
Thank you for knocking off Indianapolis. It was great to see.
Just a correctionto the post, as others have said, you need my Ravens to win twice to get that home playoff game. If Miami wins twice and SD beats Pitt then Miami hosts the Conference Championship.
Needless, to say, I would love to see the Conference Championship in Qualcomm Stadium (even if it means the Ravens have to fly to the West Coast). That is definitely something I can root for.
by math_geek on Jan 3, 2009 10:20 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
my bad
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 3, 2009 10:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Woooooooo
Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play
by Axion on Jan 3, 2009 10:48 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
lets not forget my man antonio gates
two big first down catches near the end of regulation to set up nates FG. the man is clutch
by stezo on Jan 3, 2009 11:17 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Overheard at the OT coin toss, after learning the Chargers won the toss
Jamal Williams: Game Over.
Hilarious….but I love the confidence.
I'm not in denial, I'm just selective about the reality I choose to accept.
by lab_mouse on Jan 3, 2009 11:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
They said on EsPN it was Mcniel
But I didn’t notice it during the game. I wish I had recorded the game. I saw it on Sportscenter.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 4, 2009 12:22 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Highlights on NFL.com
You can see and hear it’s Jamal. lol’d.
Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play
by Axion on Jan 4, 2009 12:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I heard it on NBC
and I said to the cat “I hope this isn’t a Hasselbeck moment”
by Lancers46 on Jan 4, 2009 12:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Good stuff.
I cleaned it up a bit for you and added tags.
Bolts from the Blue // "It is what it is." - A.J. Smith
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken
by Richard Wade on Jan 3, 2009 11:34 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Just Got Back from the Q
That was the greatest game I’ve ever been to! No other playoff game in SD come close (unless before my time).
The Crowd was awesome, crazy loud. And walking out of the stadium it was as if the stadium got louder. Everybody kept on cheering like nuts through the halls and down the sidewalks. I so fired up right now! I don’t know what to do with myself.
Also, nice to see we kept it classy, there were a decent amount of Colt fans and from what I saw SD fans played it cool after the game.
by Jonny Dub on Jan 4, 2009 12:00 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Great to hear
That the fans were keeping it classy. I was starting to lose faith in San Diego fans when I went to a Mets game at Petco with my friend (who wore a David Wright jersey). Even though my friend is 6’5" and about 270, he had plenty of things said to him (by people far away) and even had a beer thrown on him from the section above. If there’s one thing I’ve always liked about our fans it’s that we usually understand that it’s just a game and shouldn’t be a reason to act poorly towards someone else.
I also didn’t know what to do with myself when the game ended at 1am ET last night. I was going to take a walk around the block, but the 30 degree weather kept me inside. I wound up watching NFL Network for about an hour afterwards and going to sleep. If anyone else saw their coverage, you know now that Willie McGinest is a bit of an asshole. He kept saying that the Colts got robbed by the referees at the end with the holding call on Jennings and the facemask call on Sessions. Deion kept telling Willie that he’d regret saying that when he saw the replay later.
by John (obviousman) on Jan 4, 2009 8:19 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
We watched the SuperCross after the game here.
Bolts from the Blue // "It is what it is." - A.J. Smith
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken
by Richard Wade on Jan 4, 2009 12:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I loved
The Scifres wink after the most amazing punts the world has ever seen. Classic. Mr. Clutch. I think this game guaranteed than Shane Lechlers pro bowl choke hold will end next season.
1-10-DEN 18 (9:52) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right intended for 19-E.Royal INTERCEPTED by 93-L.Castillo (95-S.Phillips) at DEN 18. 93-L.Castillo to DEN 14 for 4 yards (62-C.Wiegmann). 6-J.Cutler pouts ob to DEN 25 for 11 yards.
by Wonko on Jan 4, 2009 12:19 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Couple things to add...
1) Nobody’s mentioning this…..Anyone remember last year’s playoff victory against the Colts? The Volek-Sproles games are eerily similar.
2) Agreed about Cromartie. I can’t stop worrying about him because he never seems to get his “game face” on. He never just goes about his business and he never gets mean. He’s more worried about highlights than anything. With that being said, he still played a good game (not a great one) and the Wayne TD was not his fault. He was looking at the playcall like everyone else. One of the defensive captains should’ve seen the Colts lining up and called a timeout. Same thing happened in the Falcons/Cardinals game (with the Falcons calling a quick play when there were on 10 guys on defense). One of the Cardinals linebackers saw it and got the timeout, preventing a Michael Turner touchdown.
3) I want Pittsburgh. At least this week I want Pittsburgh. Because our first game with them went similar to our first game with the Colts and we’re a better team now. Plus, I think Ben will be affected by that severe concussion. Tennessee would be fine though because Haynesworth’s knee is messed up and I think we can shut down their offense.
4) Best Gates game of the year. He definitely plays next week. I bet Tomlinson doesn’t practice or play, but only after testing out the groin before the game next week. He’ll get surgery the next day. Just a prediction. Tucker came back in after his injury I believe and I didn’t even see the Philips injury.
5) Good news/bad news that nobody’s discussing. The last 2 years we’ve been knocked out of the playoffs by New England. Now I know the whole team would love a chance at redemption by beating them, but it’s probably great news for us that they’re not there. They always seem to beat us after we outplay them anyways.
by John (obviousman) on Jan 4, 2009 8:14 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
"...severe concussion..."
Ben got a mild concussion FYI.
As a Steelers fan, let me say that your punter (Sproles not withstanding) won you that game. You guys have a definitive advantage over us in that position and could account for 10-20 yard swings in field position every time we trade punts. We definitely will need to force TO in order to get the short field bc a 3 & out will still lead to a 65+ yard field.
by _ET_ on Jan 5, 2009 8:09 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
My bad
Never checked the full injury report. Just saw them unscrew his facemask, then take him off in a stretcher to a hospital. I assumed from that it was severe, considering back in the day Aikman had to be dragged out of the game when he could barely keep his eyes open.
by John (obviousman) on Jan 5, 2009 9:58 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

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