Colts only lost because Marvin Harrison didn't play

Dakstang

WC's Resident Redneck

This comes from msn.foxsports.com

Playmaker Moss rescues Patriots


INDIANAPOLIS - They were committing a franchise-record in penalties. Their star quarterback had matched his season total in interceptions. A normally sure-tackling defense was whiffing far too often. And the New England Patriots trailed by 10 points inside a deafening RCA Dome Sunday with 8:59 remaining.

But in a performance chock with errors, the wide receiver whose off-season acquisition was perceived as a potential mistake made everything right.
This is when Randy Moss became the deciding factor in New England's 24-20 victory over Indianapolis. He made eye contact with Tom Brady, who touched his belt before the snap. Moss got the signal and ran the corresponding deep route, snaking through Indy's secondary with no resistance. He snared a 55-yard rainbow pass from Brady, setting up a touchdown to permanently swing the momentum in New England's favor.

"We knew they were going to go deep that one time to get that drive going," Indianapolis cornerback Tim Jennings said.

The Colts just couldn't do anything about it.

Moss is the main reason why the Patriots remain undefeated at 9-0. He caught nine passes for 140 yards, making his final reception on New England's game-winning scoring drive. Moss scored the first Patriots touchdown, out-muscling the much smaller Jennings on a 4-yard reception that left Cols coach Tony Dungy smiling in resignation on the sideline. There also was a fabulous one-handed Moss catch on a third-quarter drive capped by a field goal.

Moss even hurt the Colts as a decoy. With the Patriots facing a third-and-six while trying to run out the clock, strong safety Bob Sanders charged Moss thinking he was being targeted by Brady. That helped free wide receiver Wes Welker for a 10-yard Brady completion to clinch the victory.

"We didn't have an answer for Randy Moss," Dungy said.

Moss didn't have answers for the media after the game. He continues to break NFL rules by regularly refusing interviews. This adds to the sour image he built during previous stops in Oakland and Minnesota.

Brady, though, insists perception and reality are two different things.

"I think everything that has been written and said about him is the complete opposite of what we've experienced," Brady said. "He's a great teammate, a great player. He's very coachable. He's selfless. He's a great worker. He leads by example. He's got a bunch of great qualities."

If other teams felt the same way, Oakland could have traded Moss for far more than a fourth-round pick. But such praise is understandable with Moss already tying New England's single-season touchdown record (12) after just nine games. Brady sorely lacked this kind of weapon when the Patriots fell to Indianapolis in last season's AFC Championship. Now, the off-season additions of Moss and fellow wide receivers Wes Welker and Donte' Stallworth are proving the difference in New England's jump from being a very good team to a great one.

The Colts (7-1) entered with the league's No. 1 pass defense and are clearly an improved unit from the 2006 regular season. For three quarters, the Colts kept the Patriots off-balance with defensive tricks that included changes from its trademark cover-2 scheme. Brady said the Colts used man coverage on inside receivers and running backs to eliminate New England's quick-hitting passes. An off-rhythm Brady threw two interceptions and got sacked twice while being forced to hold onto the football longer than normal.

But with the game slipping away, Brady turned to Moss again — and again and again and again and again and again. Brady targeted Moss on the three previous plays before his 55-yard strike and the two snaps that followed.

"We saw the concept they had," said Jennings. "They ran two dig routes across the middle to Moss. On the third play, they went right back to him. Instead of a dig route, he took off. He kind of sucked our safeties up a little bit and went deep.

"It was crunch time. You've got to get the ball to your playmakers. That's what they did."

It's what New England will continue doing until someone finds a way to stop Moss. That includes Indianapolis, which squandered the chance to gain a tiebreaker for home-field advantage during the playoffs.

"Any time you throw to Randy it helps," Brady said. "He was a big part of the
plan."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Suntan Superman

WC's Resident Samoan

Exactly Simon, my comment was towards IF the Pats had lost. Instead of you saying the Colts supporters or the people who wanted the Colts to win to suck it up. However I have this odd feeling that if the Pats had lost we'd be having a 10-page thread on how "the world is against the pats" or "how the colts paid off the officials" Anyway...

It would appear some of you aren't too bright, I'm going to type slow and maybe you'll understand...

TVDinner, did you know that the Colts played offense to? I know it's a crazy notion right? Peyton Manning is the QB. Ok enough with the tidbits of facts. PEOPLE PLAY DIFFERENT WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE. Wait, Mike, that's obvious!! REALLY?! You mean instead of Aaron Morehead being unable to beat a DB or Manning not even checking and throwing the ball away, he might've thrown it to Harrison who might've scored? Oh my, that's such a novel concept. I guess in your world, Harrison is as good as Morehead. Or maybe there's only one side to the ball? Dunno, have yet to figure that out about you.

CM Drunk, what you're saying is, say hypothetically, Moss has done nothing against the Raiders his entire career and played numerous games against them. If you're the Raiders, you're going to cover him the same as a normal WR? Oh wait? You mean every game is different? Oh my, such a novel concept. I just seem to be full of these today. By the way thanks for the 360 and the bowl

To say that Harrison wouldn't have effected the game is completely asinine or you're just a really blind Homer.

Anyway, Pats won, congrats to them. They beat the Colts, and have showed that for now, they are the better team. Come the AFC Championship Game, I'm pretty sure we'll find out again.

If this post was too heavy, or introduced too many new concepts, the Tylenol is the General Discussion & Hot Topics Board.

Slimdust

There really is not much for me to say cause its already been said in this thread. But I guess I will say this...

Congrats to the Pats. I had them picked to win, but as soon as the game started it was almost all Colts it seemd. They looked much better at times. I thought they had them beat for sure. But I guess you cant count out brady and moss.

And if you really dont think it would of mattered if harrison was playing or not, then I am not sure how much you know football. With harrison in there do the colts win? idk, maybe they do maybe they dont. Do they have a MUCH better shot at winning? Yes. It is that simple.

CM Drunk

^^^Now, thats just uncalled for.

Blitzkrieg

Administrator

haha. I knew this would spark debate and the only reason why it did is because the Pats' fans know how important Marvin Harrison is.

Look, who the hell knows what would have happened if Harrison was healthy, but to tell me there's no way he could have affected the outcome of the game is rediculous. Yes, I know he's been hurt most of the year, but WHAT EVIDENCE do any of you have that when he comes back he won't be the same player? This injury he has is not season-threatening at all..

Also, one more point and I'm out of here. I love the argument that the Pats didn't play their best game and still won. YOU THINK THE FUCKIN COLTS PLAYED THEIR BEST GAME? Another insane argument.

*Awaits AFC Championship Game*

Suntan Superman

WC's Resident Samoan

No one has anything left to say on how Harrison would've not made an impact?