Week 7: Colts @ Packers.

huevonkiller · Oct 17, 2008

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Some notes before the game:

Colts Team Report

Yahoo! Sports Oct 17, 3:52 am EDT

Inside Slant

Peyton Manning can certainly remember his only trip to Lambeau Field as a member of the Indianapolis Colts.

On Nov. 19, 2000, Indianapolis rallied after falling behind 19-0 before eventually losing 26-24. Manning remembers that game as clearly as if it happened a week ago.

“I remember being excited to go up there (to Lambeau Field), first time playing up there and playing against Brett (Favre). It didn’t start out well. It was the elements. It was kind of a light snow, but the first play of the game I dropped back and the ball fell out of my hands in our own end zone for a safety,” he said recently.

“That’s not exactly how you want to start a game out on the road. But I do remember we came back. In the second half, I threw a few touchdowns. (Fullback) Jim Finn caught a touchdown and so did (wide receivers) E.G. Green and (Jerome) Pathon. We had a chance to win at the end. Favre converted a third down late and put the game away. I remember it was exciting to play up there.”

Manning, who completed 25 of 44 passes for 294 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, in his first matchup with the Packers, is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to the history of the NFL. So he understands the aura that surrounds Green Bay and Lambeau Field probably much better than most players of his era.

“I think, certainly, you appreciate the opportunity to be able to play in a place as historic as that place, with all of the game great players and coaches that have been there. Being a guy that appreciates the history of the game, it is special,” Manning pointed out.

“Obviously, when you get down to it, you’re still focusing on reading the (middle) linebacker or the strong safety and going out there and playing football. But you do get excited about the opportunity to play there.”

He also recalls the last time the two franchises hooked up at the RCA Dome, with the Colts winning a 45-31 shootout on Sept. 26, 2004. Manning and Favre put on quite a show, combining to complete 58 of 84 passes for 753 yards and nine touchdowns.

Indianapolis threw the football on its first 22 plays and scored 35 points in the first half. Manning doesn’t expect that kind of game to develop this week.

“There aren’t many of the same players from that game (still around). It’s a different (head) coach and a different coaching staff,” he said. “They wouldn’t stop blitzing. They blitzed all 22 of those plays, so we just kept throwing. That was one of those shootout-type matchups. You never know how the game will dictate (what a team will do), but I doubt the same thing would happen again.”

Manning, though, admits he will miss looking over on the Packers sideline and not seeing Favre.

“I’ve only played against him twice. I haven’t seen much of their offense, just their defense. But I’m sure it will be a little bit (weird). (Green Bay quarterback Aaron) Rogers, from what I hear, sounds like he’s playing well. They still have lots of good players around him. But, yes, it will be a little different,” he said.

Series History: 41st regular-season meeting. Colts lead series, 20-19-1. Green Bay won the only postseason meeting between the two franchises, posting a 13-10 overtime victory on Dec. 26, 1965 in the Western Division Playoff. The Colts and Packers used to meet annually from 1953 to 1966. But they have played each other only nine times since the 1970 NFL merger and six times since the Colts moved from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1984. Indianapolis has won two of the last three meetings, with both wins coming at the RCA Dome. The Packers, however, have won three of the last five matchups, including a 26-24 decision at Lambeau Field on Nov. 19, 2000.

Notes, Quotes

• Colts coach Tony Dungy has a 5-9 career coaching record against the Packers. He is 1-0 with the Colts (9/26/04) and was 4-9 when he was the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2001. Dungy has an 0-7 career coaching record at Lambeau Field while with the Buccaneers. This will be his first trip to Green Bay as Indianapolis’ head coach.

• Indianapolis has a 20-6 record against NFC teams under Dungy.

• The Colts have won 13 straight games in the month of October.

• Indianapolis has a 37-13 road record under Dungy since 2002.

• The Colts have won five straight road games dating back to last season. Indianapolis’ last road loss came at San Diego (11/11/07, 23-21).

• Indianapolis has won nine of the last 10 regular-season road games dating back to 2006. The Colts lost its final road game of the 2006 season at Houston (12/24/06, 27-24).

• QB Peyton Manning has completed 53 of 84 passes for 687 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception in his only two career meetings with the Packers. Manning has completed 63 percent of his passes and a 115.5 passer rating in those two games.

• “We just need to try and establish some consistency. There are still some things from the (Baltimore) game Sunday that we need to improve on. We still need to find a way to convert more on third downs. Be a little more balanced. Try to improve our running game. Those kind of things.”—Colts QB Peyton Manning, on what the team needs to do this week at Green Bay.

• Since 2004, the Colts are 38-6 when Manning has two or more touchdown passes in a game.

• “I started to see it come after the bye. We had some routine practices. We weren’t game planning, we weren’t dialing up plays against another team’s defense, we were just out there practicing. I thought we got a little sharper over the bye, made some progress against Houston and every week have been a little bit sharper on offense. Having a number of guys playing together is probably the reason for it, including Peyton. It’s probably a combination of everything, throwing more balls to these guys, being more comfortable and just feeling in sync.”—Colts coach Tony Dungy, on Manning appearing to have his timing back with the team’s receivers.

• In three career games against the Packers, WR Marvin Harrison has caught 15 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns.

• “I really haven’t noticed that much difference. He’s been behind the defense a lot. I think we’re a little sharper all the way around (on offense). His first play of the (pre) season, he’s five yards behind the guy at Carolina and we get sacked. It had been that way and now we got a couple of balls to him. Other than our timing being a little bit better, I don’t see a whole, whole lot of difference.”—Colts coach Tony Dungy, on if he’s seen any big difference from WR Marvin Harrison after his knee injury of a year ago.

By The Numbers: 8—In the last five quarters, Indianapolis has totaled eight takeaways and has not turned the ball over. The Colts forced two fumbles and picked off one pass against Houston two weeks ago. Last week, Indianapolis picked off three passes and recovered two fumbles against Baltimore. The Colts are now tied for second in the AFC and tied for third in the NFL in turnover ratio (plus-4).

Quote To Note: “Maybe things are averaging out. We went a long time without getting any. We feel like we can stress that and get it done and that we have takeaway players and we weren’t getting them. That was one of those things; the field position was tough on us in the first four games. We made Baltimore start a lot of drives inside their 25-yard line. We got the ball for our offense in the midfield area. That helps you, definitely. I wish I knew why. I thought we hustled. We played faster (Sunday), for whatever reason. Usually, when you’re playing faster and playing better, you get those takeaways.”—Colts coach Tony Dungy, on defense forcing eight turnovers over the last two games.

Strategy And Personnel

Despite initial media reports, there appears to be an outside chance that running back Joseph Addai might be able to play Sunday when the Indianapolis Colts travel to Green Bay.

Addai suffered a hamstring injury last week against Baltimore, although the full extent of the problem has not been disclosed. Colts coach Tony Dungy, though, admits that he has heard about media reports that indicate that Addai incurred a torn right hamstring.

“I hope not. I read that. I hadn’t heard that. I’ve had pulled muscles that kept me out a week or two. I would think a torn muscle would be a problem,” Dungy said, adding that a final decision on Addai’s availability won’t be made for a day or so.”

PLAYER NOTES

• DT John McCargo, picked up in a trade with the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday, failed his physical with the Colts. He has been returned to the Bills. McCargo was found to have had a bulging disk in his back.

• LB Tyjuan Hagler may be activated for Sunday’s game with the Packers. Hagler is on the Colts’ physically-unable-to-perform list after suffering a torn pectoral muscle in late June. He returned to practice on Wednesday and was able to take part in Thursday’s workout.

• LB Gary Brackett did not practice Thursday. Brackett was given the day off to rest old injuries. He will start Sunday against the Packers.

• DE Dwight Freeney returned to practice on Thursday. Freeney had been given Wednesday off to rest old injuries.

• DE Robert Mathis took part in Thursday’s practice. Mathis was held out of Wednesday’s workout in order to rest old injuries.

• LB Freddy Keiaho practiced on Thursday after sitting out Wednesday’s workout to rest a groin injury. Keiaho is expected to start Sunday at Green Bay.

• CB Tim Jennings was given Thursday off in order to rest old injuries. Jennings is expected to be available to play Sunday at Green Bay.

• TE Gijon Robinson (ankle) has not practiced Wednesday or Thursday. An update on his availability for Sunday’s game at Green Bay is expected Friday or Saturday.

• CB Kelvin Hayden (knee) has not practiced this week. He will not play Sunday against the Packers.

• WR Roy Hall (hamstring/knee) did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. He will not play this week.

• S Bob Sanders (ankle/knee) has not practiced this week. Sanders will not play against the Packers on Sunday.

• RB Chad Simpson will most likely be the primary backup to starter Dominic Rhodes Sunday at Green Bay if Joseph Addai isn’t able to play. Simpson has been on the Colts’ practice squad since the beginning of the season. He spent training camp and preseason with the team.

• RB Clifton Dawson continues to become re-acclimated to the Colts offense after he was signed on Tuesday. Dawson was with Indianapolis as a rookie in 2007 and spent the offseason and preseason with the team. He was released the final week of training camp.

Game Plan: Continue to improve.

The Colts offensive attack started to come alive in last week’s win over Baltimore. Now, the hope is that Indianapolis will be able to expand on what they accomplished against the Ravens. Improvement in the running game will be important, especially since Green Bay’s run defense has been struggling this year.

Defensively, Indianapolis has to control the line of scrimmage and try to hold down the Packers’ run game. Green Bay has three very good receivers, so getting pressure from the edge will be important. The Colts will want to dictate the tempo of the game.

Matchups To Watch: Colts QB Peyton Manning vs. Packers CB Charles Woodson. The 1997 Heisman Trophy winner (Woodson) and the runnerup from that year (Manning) will face off against each other once again. This will be the fourth meeting between the two in the NFL, with Manning have a 1-2 career record in games facing off against Woodson.

Packers QB Aaron Rogers vs. Colts DEs Dwight Freeney/Robert Mathis. Rogers has gotten off to a good start as a starter for Green Bay. Freeney and Mathis have both been on a tear over the last five quarters in games with Houston and Baltimore.

Colts CB Marlin Jackson vs. Packers WR Greg Jennings. Jackson usually takes on the opposing team’s hottest receiver. Jennings is certainly that, currently fifth in the NFL with 34 catches for 653 yards and four touchdowns so far this year. He has a league-leading 19.2 yards per catch.
Click to expand...

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Prediction:

They just lost to Atlanta in Green Bay, and they beat three bad teams to be honest. With the way Peyton has been clicking with the wide outs on deep routes, I don't see any reason to not have confidence at the moment. I do think Green Bay can be explosive in their own sense, but our O-Line is gelling and we will simply outscore them if that is what it comes to. 34-24 Indy.

DP · Oct 19, 2008

We just won to the Seahawks when Rodgers was hurting and did very well... I see a close game with the Packers on top.

DP · Oct 19, 2008

I agree, but Rodgers played very well injured. That was my point =/ Im not up for arguing anymore at Nfl-forums I mean SportsTwo anymore... =D

Universe · Oct 19, 2008

We will get killed but least we can learn something.

DP · Oct 19, 2008

Haha 17-7? =P Rodgers is doing his thing, Grants kicking ass, and so is the rest of the team. Go Pack Go. Oh and nice spamage =P

DP · Oct 19, 2008

Got it on the thread posting. =D I used to do this but I always got yelled at

Collins to the house? =D

DP · Oct 19, 2008

No, no its not your day. At first it looked like Blackman could of INT that tip from Collins. But eh, whatever, FG no good, back in your face? -hates these wireless service commercials-

DP · Oct 19, 2008

A. Rodgers 19/24 with 173 yards 1 Touchdown and 0 Interceptions so far. Grats A-Rodges.

DP · Oct 19, 2008

NOO THOMPSON! We need our DL men! Go Pack Go!

DP · Oct 19, 2008

That man is our second string Safety. Good catch, 98 yards?

Universe · Oct 19, 2008

Woooooooooo!

DP · Oct 19, 2008

The Jets-Raiders game poped up! WTF!

DP · Oct 19, 2008

Thats my Packers playing. =D

DP · Oct 19, 2008

Yep yep, wish the Jets Raiders game didnt cut in!

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Week 7: Colts @ Packers.

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Week 7: Colts @ Packers.

huevonkiller Change (Deftones)

DP He shoots, he scores!

DP He shoots, he scores!

Universe Hall of Fame

DP He shoots, he scores!

DP He shoots, he scores!

DP He shoots, he scores!

DP He shoots, he scores!

DP He shoots, he scores!

DP He shoots, he scores!

Universe Hall of Fame

DP He shoots, he scores!

DP He shoots, he scores!

DP He shoots, he scores!

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