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What Does The Colts-Patriots Game Mean? Nothing. - Oct 30, 2007
posted by: Josh
There’s a good deal of hoopla in Indianapolis right now, as the Colts faithful are counting down the minutes to Sunday’s showdown with the New England Patriots. In case you don’t follow professional football, here’s a quick recap: New England is 8-0, Indianapolis is 7-0, and the two franchises have combined to win four of the last six Super Bowls. The Colts have gotten the best of the Patriots recently and came from behind in last year’s AFC Championship game to earn a Super Bowl berth. With 15 victories and no losses between the two teams this season, Sunday’s game at the RCA Dome has garnered a great deal of media attention – and deservedly so. This is the biggest game of the NFL season and none will be bigger until the playoffs begin in January. Ah yes, the playoffs. Unlike the highest level of college football, the NFL has a structured, exciting playoff season that determines Super Bowl participants and the eventual world champion. It’s an exciting month of football with important games between good teams, week in and week out. The NFL regular season is important, as records determine which teams will earn berths to the postseason. While Sunday’s game between Indianapolis and New England is exciting, it actually doesn’t make a bit of difference who wins. Both teams will easily qualify for the playoffs and will likely meet again in the AFC Championship game for the third time in five seasons. As much as I’d like to see a playoff replace the bowl structure in college football, I have to wonder (out loud) whether that would take much of the excitement out of the regular season. If the top two college teams in the country were undefeated in week nine and went head-to-head, a chance to win a national title would be on the line. There is a good chance for a rematch in the NFL, but regular season games are for all the marbles in college football. That’s pretty exciting. If you asked any player on the Indianapolis and New England rosters whether they would rather win Sunday or in January, the answers would all be the same – they want to win another Super Bowl. In college, winning in the regular season is your only chance at winning a national title. There are no alternatives. There’s no reason to quell the excitement for Sunday’s game – I’m as excited as anybody. I’ve lived in Boston and Indianapolis and both teams are undefeated. It’s going to be amazing. But the truth remains that the game just doesn’t matter that much. It’s fun for the fans but nothing is really at stake. If it were undefeated Ohio State and Michigan teams on the gridiron this weekend, it would have a much more significant meaning. 
CommentsThis game actually does matter a great deal. Home field advantage in the playoffs is huge! I personally don’t see anyone beating the Patriots, whether it be at Gillette, Indianapolis or in London. But a win for the Pats would most likely cement their home field throughout the playoffs. I agree that overall this game means nothing compared to when they play in the playoffs, but there is something at stake; home field advantage, and for the fans, bragging rights. Josh, if you don't think a rematch game between Michigan and Ohio State in a playoff would be huge, then you are sadly mistaken. Playoffs rock my face off. 4 and a half points? Childs play. New England will dismantle the colts. Darn it I'm sick of Boston sports. -Magglio I understand your argument, however, the game does hold high implications. A home field advantage in the playoffs is determined by overall record during the regular season. Home field advantage between these two clubs will be huge as one will be playing in New England where the weather will play a factor, and the other will be in a dome on a turf-based field. Just my two cents. Kasey Keenan Of course a postseason rematch between Ohio State and Michigan would be huge. That's exactly my point. That doesn't happen now, so the regular season game means that much more - it determines who will compete in the Rose Bowl, for a BCS national title, etc. If there were a playoff, wouldn't the luster come off that regular season game a bit? As for home-field advantage, quite valid points from Jordan and Coach Keenan, but I can't get there. This is the biggest regular season game in years, and I will be in the stands going bonkers. But here's the deal - the Colts and Pats are playing for home-field advantage, not an actual spot in the Super Bowl. Doesn't that make the college regular season games more important in the grand scheme of things? I am not sure that you can compare the two. College football is run by an intricate points system, whiles wins and losses are all that matters in the NFL. The NFL is far superior to all major sports, the only one that rivals it is the NCAA 64 team (or 65) tournament. Josh, I have some major issues with your argument. Now I will freely admit that I think college football desperately needs a playoff system akin to that of the NFL (or NCAA basketball if you will), and while I have a litany of reasons in favor of this position I'd rather focus on the severe deficiencies of the current landscape. For more of Cal's comment, read his featured post. I think that the Colts Patriots game does not mean all that much. The only thing that will come from the game is that the winning team will be overhyped for the 8 weeks. All the talk will be about one or the other going undefeated. Jordan vs. Bird, Ali vs. Frazier, Sampras vs. Agassi...Colts vs. Patriots. I was present when the Steelers lost to the Patriots 41-27 at Heinz Field in 2004. The once riotous crowd was more silent walking out of the stadium than people at a library. That being said, I despise the Pats. But come on, let's be realistic. Yeah, yeah the Colts won the Super Bowl and defeated New England in the process, but there isn't a chance the same result will occur. People forget that New England was winning for 59/60 minutes that game. People also forget the injuries on defense and the "no-names" on offense. All the big, off-season free agents are wearing navy, red, and white now. If they came that close with Reche Caldwell, Jabar Gaffney, and Troy Brown, what is life going to be like for Indy against Moss, Stallworth, and Welker?? I know...trouble. Post a Comment |
  
Sox-Yankees happens 18 times a year; this is Figgy's second major league start in four years. Always take the chance to see something you've never seen before.
- Adam
   
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