Is it as simple as...

[TripleTilde]

The offensive line giving Peyton time and Peyton cracking their code?

It's often said that Peyton is like a computer. Is the singular variable, that is paramount in this game, whether the offensive line gives Peyton enough time to process what's happening?


It seems we have Peyton 3.0. 7ish years ago he faced a Bears team that was also stout and Peyton's team won the Super Bowl. But that was Peyton 2.0.

[Blart]

Good question!

Here are the sacks from Manning's playoff losses since '04:


Indianapolis Colts 14 at New England Patriots 24
Sunday, January 18, 2004

4 sacks.

Indianapolis Colts 3 at New England Patriots 20
Sunday, January 16, 2005

1 sack.

Pittsburgh Steelers 21 at Indianapolis Colts 18
Sunday, January 15, 2006

5 sacks.

San Diego Chargers 28 at Indianapolis Colts 24
Sunday, January 13, 2008

0 sacks.

Indianapolis Colts 17 at San Diego Chargers 23
Saturday, January 3, 2009

0 sacks.

New Orleans Saints 31 vs. Indianapolis Colts 17
Sunday, February 7, 2010

0 sacks.

New York Jets 17 at Indianapolis Colts 16
Saturday, January 8, 2011

0 sacks.

The game that shall not be named

3 sacks.


stats via http://www.pro-football-reference.com/


I didn't see any stats for being hurried or pressured or anything like that. All I see from these stats is a QB that became smarter as time went on, knowing when he had to get the ball off.

[TripleTilde]

Good work and thanks for the research! What's telling is that, for a large span of time (beginning the year he won the Super Bowl, which is not represented here) is that his internal clock has accelerated. He had 0 sacks for a 5-6 ish year span in the playoffs. But last year, his first after spinal surgery, he had 3 sacks. Maybe this is something specific to the quality of the Ravens defense (with Ray Lewis) or maybe it was a timing re-calibration stemming from his surgery? I think, this year, his passes have been stronger and more precise than last year.

[Blart]

He had 0 sacks for a 5-6 ish year span in the playoffs.

Those are just playoff losses I listed. For kicks, here are the wins since '04:

Denver Broncos 10 at Indianapolis Colts 41
Sunday, January 4, 2004

0 sacks.

Indianapolis Colts 38 at Kansas City Chiefs 31
Sunday, January 11, 2004

1 sack.

Denver Broncos 24 at Indianapolis Colts 49
Sunday, January 9, 2005

1 sack.

Kansas City Chiefs 8 at Indianapolis Colts 23
Saturday, January 6, 2007

1 sack.

Indianapolis Colts 15 at Baltimore Ravens 6
Saturday, January 13, 2007

1 sack.

New England Patriots 34 at Indianapolis Colts 38
Sunday, January 21, 2007

3 sacks.

Indianapolis Colts 29 vs. Chicago Bears 17
Sunday, February 4, 2007

1 sack.

Baltimore Ravens 3 at Indianapolis Colts 20
Saturday, January 16, 2010

2 sacks.

New York Jets 17 at Indianapolis Colts 30
Sunday, January 24, 2010

2 sacks.

San Diego Chargers 17 at Denver Broncos 24
Sunday, January 12, 2014

0 sacks.

New England Patriots 16 at Denver Broncos 26
Sunday, January 19, 2014

0 sacks.


What have I learned from this? Nothing. I need a site that keeps track of pressure/hurries to learn anything, or someone to go over recaps.

Sack rate during post-season wins (since '04): 1.09 / game
Sack rate during post-season losses (since '04): 1.62 / game

[TD4HOF]

I’m the same age as Manning and I’m 1000x smarter now than I was even 7 years ago. Smartest QB in NFL history.

[spdirty]

Turnovers. Don't turn it over, or give them anything cheap, and we will win.

[AZOrange 1]

Turnovers. Don't turn it over, or give them anything cheap, and we will win.

Strong point........I recieved the NFL package for free this season, and as a result of the fishing being so crappy here in Phoenix, have had the opportunity to watch a lot of Seahag games. I did so with a purpose thinking that this scenario had a strong chance of happening. My season long observation; Don't give them turnovers and they are VERY beatable. Period. They did not impress me, especially when playing away from that zoo.

[Kaylore]

Turnovers. Don't turn it over, or give them anything cheap, and we will win.

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[ludo21]

Chris Clark was pretty much owned by Robert Mathis vs the Colts.

That is the only chink the armor Seattle has hope of. If one of their DL get off on a few crucial third downs.

[spdirty]

Chris Clark was pretty much owned by Robert Mathis vs the Colts.

That is the only chink the armor Seattle has hope of. If one of their DL get off on a few crucial third downs.

Mathis was pretty much all world this year...they don't have anyone like that, but a bunch of very good defensive linemen.

I'm glad we have Alex Gibbs.