Packers, Colts going in opposite directions to NFL History Book
The 2011 NFL season will be over with in less than three weeks, and it could be an unprecedented year; as for the first time in NFL history, a team could the finish 16-0 and 0-16 in the same season. I believe this will happen, as the Packers are too good and the Colts are so bad. The Packers are so loaded and deep at every position, and lead by the best quarterback in NFL Aaron Rodgers, who is on pace for the one of the greatest seasons ever by a quarterback (39 TD, 6 INT, 4,125 YRS, and a 123.3 Passing Rating, which if held up would be the highest Passing Rating in a NFL season.) Of the Packers 13 victories through 13 games, 7 have been by double digits, and 4 have been more than 20 points. The Packers 38-35, down to the wire victory over the New York Giants in week 13 has given the Packers a little adversity and confidence they can win the close games as well as the blowouts. The Packers should win their 3 remaining games with ease to become the 2 nd team in NFL history to 16-0 in a season (The 2007 New England Patriots being the 1 st). The Packers go to Arrowhead on Sunday (12-18-11) to play the 5-8 Kansas City Chiefs, who just fired Head Coach Todd Haley on Monday (12-12-11). Aside from all the dissension the Chiefs have off the field, The Chiefs also lost their best offensive player (RB Jamaal Charles) and best defensive player (SS Eric Berry) early in the 2011 season. The Packers should have the game wrap up by early in the 3 rd Quarter. The Packers then host their Divisional rival in the Chicago Bears, who they’ve already beaten 27-17 at Soldier Field on September 25 th. The only 2 good players on the Bears limited offense (QB Jay Cutler, and RB Matt Forte) are essentially out the rest of the season, meaning there is no way the Bears can conceivably keep it close against the Packers. The Bears have a good defense, but Aaron Rodgers and the offense score just enough to make it a rout. The Packers then close out their Season hosting another Division rival in the Detroit Lions, who they’ve also beaten 27-15 at Ford Field on Thanksgiving. The Lions have definitely improved from the also-rans they were as recently last season, but the Packers are superior to them in every facet of the game. Aside from being clearly superior to the Lions, the Lions haven’t won in Lambeau Field in over 20 years. (The Lions last win in Lambeau was a 21-17 victory on December 15 th,1991). The Packers will roll to 16-0 to finish the 2011 NFL season.
I’ve already gone into details into some of my previous columns ( http://www.profootball-fans.com/football-articles/2011-nfl/two-teams-on-rise-two-teams-on-downfall_092311.html and http://www.profootball-fans.com/football-articles/2011-nfl/three-coaches-that-need-fired_103111.html ) on how the Colts are a one-man team built around Peyton Manning, and when Manning was lost for the season with a neck injury they were nothing, in addition to how Jim Caldwell has failed to inspire and uplift the team in Manning’s absence, and should have been fired for not properly doing the job he was hired to do. Of the Colts 13 defeats through 13 games, 7 have been by double digits and 3 have been by more than 20 points.
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. The Colts’ are overall a bad team, as they are 31 st in total offense and 28 th in total defense, scoring 14 points per game, while allowing 29 points per game. The Colts remaining 3 games are against their 3 Division rivals, who after years of losses to Indianapolis will gladly do their part to insure the Colts are the 2 nd team in NFL history to finish 0-16 (The 2008 Detroit Lions being the 1 st.) On Sunday (12-18-2011) The Colts host the Tennessee Titans, who are fighting for their playoff lives and have already beaten them 27-10 on October 30 th at LP Field. The Colts give up an average of 144 rushing yards per game, so expect Titans RB Chris Johnson, who’s had an up-and-down year, to be up around 150 rushing yards as the Titans wear the Colts down to win the game. Next Thursday on NFL Network, the Colts then the Houston Texans, who after years of trying to break through to become a playoff team, are the 2011 AFC South Champions and are playing for home field advantage throughout the AFC Playoffs. The Texans blew out the Colts 34-7 on opening day (September 11 th) at Reliant Stadium. Under new Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips, the Texans have the top ranked Defense in the NFL, and will have little trouble shutting down the Colts’ low-octane offense. In the Colts season finale, they go to EverBank Field to play the Jacksonville Jaguars, who beat Indy 17-3 at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 13 th. I trying to avoid a distinction no NFL team wants, the Colts will the Jaguars everything they can handle, but as the underwhelming Jags showed when they dismantled the sinking Buccaneers 41-14 on Sunday (12-11-11), they are a team with a lot of heart and will defeat the Colts to make them 0-16 for the 2011 NFL season. History will be made this NFL season.
By: Gerald M. Britts
Pro Football Fans Staff Writer