Is this Colts loss to the Steelers similiar to Denver's loss to Jacksonville in 1996?

[ro_50]

I've heard a comparision between the two and I can see a little bit of why some would compare the two? Do you guys see this comparision to be true as well?

[Mile High Shack]

I stated it once before back in week 15

Colts were going to be the 1996 Broncos, you take the year off you lose the momentum, we learned the hard way

the only difference is, they aren't going to make it next year either ;)

[ludo21]

It is VERY similar IMO. But just as Shack said, they wont do what we did the following year.

[bloodsunday]

Worse, IMO. No one knew how good that Denver team was. This shaped up to be the chance for a team destined to win a title to get through a closing window. We were kind enough to take out their arch rival and everything...

[ro_50]

Thats true BloodSunday, most werent sure how good that Denver team was, despite being 13-3 during the regular season.

But Denver had salary cap room back then and added battle tested veterans Howard Griffith, Willie Green and Neil Smith to aid their Super Bowl run of '97.

This Colts team was expected to make it and they have a lot of offseason questions to answer? Do they resign Edgerrrin? How about Reggie Wayne?

What about Vanderjagt?

Denver was able to add pieces to their team while it seems this Colts team will lose some important pieces.

[ludo21]

Thats true BloodSunday, most werent sure how good that Denver team was, despite being 13-3 during the regular season.

But Denver had salary cap room back then and added battle tested veterans Howard Griffith, Willie Green and Neil Smith to aid their Super Bowl run of '97.

This Colts team was expected to make it and they have a lot of offseason questions to answer? Do they resign Edgerrrin? How about Reggie Wayne?

What about Vanderjagt?

Denver was able to add pieces to their team while it seems this Colts team will lose some important pieces.

They are going to lose either Wayne or James, maybe both if they want to go another direction.

And Vandy is gone accoridng to the Colts guy on PTI, no surprises there as he hasnt been a model teammate.

[Dr. Broncenstein]

The Colts had the officials doing everything under the sun in their favor...

[bloodsunday]

Thats true BloodSunday, most werent sure how good that Denver team was, despite being 13-3 during the regular season.
In hindsight, if we had gotten past J'ville, we may have been the first team ever to win 3 in a row. We were that good, but no one knew until the following year. Of course, it helped that we we just starting to peak and added some good players the following year. I still remember Shannon saying that loss would mark the history of the franchise... good thing he was wrong. Winning the next two took the sting out of it.

Anything is possible with the cap, but Indy has some tough questions to answer in the personnel arena and they clearly have some housecleaning issues. If I was an Indy fan, I'd be worried about Peyton's attitude. He seems to pout when a team gets a lead on them and dictates the style of play. Then he blames those around him. That's a bad combo for a guy you gave 100 million dollars. Peyton is starting to act like a good frontrunner, IMO.

[Arkie]

Terrell Davis said he knew how they felt and it would make them a better team next year and years to come. Sounds like he may have been alluding to our two Super Bowls.

[horsepower]

will vander end up on a nfl films tape.

steve sabol interviewing him,as he gives a second by second account, of the 5 mins leading up to the kick,the minute before,the kick,how it came of this part of his shoe(points to shoe), then the tears all spread out over 45 mins...

will he wake up having nightmares...

[elsid13]

It really depends on the players. If the Colts pull a Romo and practice harder every day staring at pic of Big Ben and getting pissed yes. If the sulk into a corner no.

[Old Dude]

In some ways yes, but in most ways no.

A similar question was posed about year when some folks were concerned about the Eagles late season troubles. Here's a really accurate account of the '96 debacle, and what led up to it:

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/ramblings.php?p=2229&cat=1

There are several obvious differences. First, the '96 Broncos were struggling
with some significant injuries down the stretch. This year's Colts were a much healthier team, all in all.

Also, Denver wasn't really the media darling that Indy was this year. In fact, after getting whopped 41-6 by Green Bay in early December, most people saw the Packers as the more likely S.B. candidate (and they were right).

[bloodsunday]

It really depends on the players. If the Colts pull a Romo and practice harder every day staring at pic of Big Ben and getting pissed yes. If the sulk into a corner no.
Man this AFC is tough. New England will be back. Pittsburgh looks to be early on in their "up cycle". Denver is always tough. J'ville is getting better. You just can't blow a chance like the Colts had. They could wind up like San Diego in that they could be a better team next year and wind up out because of the tough competition they'll face.

[Taco John]

I think it's very similar. I just knew that was going to be our year to get the monkey off our back, and having Jacksonville at home seemed too good to be true. Being the number one seed, and getting knocked off by the #6 seed... I'd crawl into a fetal position right now if I wasn't so excited about this weekend's game...