Colts @ Ravens AFC Wild Card Playoff Game Thread

[LucasOilStadium]

Happy New Year, Indianapolis  Colts fans!    Colts are back in the NFL playoffs in two years after finishing 2011 at 2-14 without Peyton Manning on the field, and finishing their  just concluded 2012 NFL  regular season at 11-5. Colts officially start their postseason, and their journey into Super Bowl XLVII as the fifth seed, as they are in Baltimore to play the fourth seed and 10-6  Ravens. Today's matchup is also the first playoff game between the teams since the Colts franchise left Baltimore to Indianapolis in the early morning hours of March 24, 1984.

 

Colts lost an opportunity to host a playoff game, and the AFC North division title, as the Texans defeated the Colts 29-17 back on December 16.  Indianapolis however, clinched and earned their berth in the AFC Playoffs by defeating the Chiefs 20-16  in Kansas City the following Sunday on December 23.

 

This afternoon's game  is more emotional to both the Colts and Ravens,  as Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano returns to Baltimore where he was the Ravens secondary coach and defensive coordinator for four years between 2008 through 2011, and returned last week to the sidelines for the Colts season finale at home versus the Texans last week, since Week 3 of the 2012 regular season.   Former Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell also faces his former team as the Ravens offensive coordinator.

 

Pagano was out of the sidelines for three months as he was diagnosed, and recovered from leukemia, while offensive coordinator Bruce Arians took over the daily leadership of the Colts, and did a spectacular job in his tenure, leading the Colts to a 12-3 record, prior to Coach Pagano's return last Sunday. Colts hope Coach Pagano's inspiration and example  in beating his leukemia and cancer, can carry with the team in the playoffs on their journey to Super Bowl XLVII.

 

Colts rookie QB, and #1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft Andrew Luck was one of many factors for the Colts 11-5 record, compared to Peyton Manning's 3-13 record with the Colts in his rookie season.  Luck may have been the most talented prospect since Manning, Dan Marino, or even John Elway, and he has  already exceeded Manning's single-season NFL rookie record in completions with 339.  Luck's 11-5 record is also by far the best record for a rookie NFL quarterback has ever accomplished, and his seven game-winning drives both in the fourth quarter, and in overtime are the most in a single season by any NFL QB since 1970. Luck however, must not get baited by the Ravens defense, as he also committed 18 interceptions during the 2012 regular season.

 

Reggie Wayne, who accomplished catching 100 receptions for the fourth time in his NFL career, Vick Ballard,  Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, and rookie wide receiver T.Y. Hilton may also make an impact for the Colts.

 

Colts lead the all-time regular season series over the Ravens 7 games to 3, and 9 games to three including winning two playoff games over the Ravens. Colts won the first game 26-21 at the RCA Dome back on October 13, 1996 since the original Cleveland Browns team moved to Baltimore.  Colts last road win in Baltimore was more than three years ago, where they defeated the Ravens 17-15, back on November 22, 2009. Colts scoring in that game included a Manning 3-yard TD pass to Austin Collie, a Joseph Addai 5-yard TD run, and a 25-yd field goal from Matt Stover.

 

Colts two postseason wins over the Ravens were AFC Divisional Playoff Games.  Colts won the first game 15-6 at M&T Bank Stadium back on January 16, 2007. Colts again defeated the Ravens  three years later by the score of  20-3 back on January 16, 2010. In that game, Peyton Manning completed 30 of his 44 pass attempts for 246 yards, including two touchdowns and one interception on their way to defeating the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLIV  in Miami after a 14-2 regular season record.

 

Indianapolis dominated Baltimore during Peyton Manning's career with the Colts, winning eight straight regular seaon games, before the Ravens halted the Colts winning streak with their 24-10 win in their last meeting back on December 11, 2011, while Manning was sideline recovering with his neck surgeries.

 

Baltimore started their season at 9-2, and eventually became the AFC North Division Champions, before losing four of their last five games.  Ravens QB Joe Flacco is also the only NFL QB to reach the playoffs in his first five seasons.  Ravens linebacker and future Hall-Of-Famer Ray Lewis also announced Wednesday he is retiring from the game after  17 years in the NFL.

 

Jim Nantz and Phil Simms are announcing the live TV commentary for The NFL On CBS, seen nationally in the US, and around the world, including WISH CBS 8 in Indianapolis, live on HD.

 

Bob Lamey, our 'Voice Of The Colts,' and Will Wolford are also announcing the live radio game play-by-play and color analysis, along with sideline reporter Kevin Lee, simulcast on Colts flagship stations WFNI ESPN SportsRadio 1070AM, and WLHK  Country 97.1FM, and the Colts/Vectren Radio Network.

 

Sunny and clear skies at 49 degrees, feels like 45 degrees, is the local forecast at M & T Bank Stadium in Baltimore for the 1:05PM Eastern Standard Time kickoff, along with 42%  humidity, 0% precipitation, and  winds at 9 miles per hour.

 

Visiting Colts are wearing their matching white jerseys and pants, whhile the host Ravens are wearing their purple jerseys, and black pants.

 

NO injuries to both the Colts and Ravens, but let's hope our Colts can upset the Ravens in their 'nest,', and make this afternoon's contest Ray Lewis's last NFL game on the football field.  Continue to be both 'Colts Strong,'and 'Chuck Strong', play safe and smart on the football field, and GO COLTS!!!!!                        

 

Colts @ Ravens AFC Wild Card Playoff Game Injury Reports:

 

http://www.colts.com/team/injury-report.html

 

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/injury-report.html

 

Colts @ Ravens AFC Wild Card Pregame Playoff Reports:

 

http://www.colts.com/news/article-1/Colts-Ravens-Playoff-Game-Report/466b8dfa-2537-4a7d-90c9-d004f310c24d

 

http://www.colts.com/news/article-1/COLTS-RAVENS-PREVIEW/260c5bce-12e1-467c-beb0-ce4b3a5f6740

 

 

Colts @ Ravens AFC Wild Card Playoff NFL Gamecenters:

 

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2013010600/2012/POST18/colts@ravens#menu=gameinfo@tab=preview

 

http://www.colts.com/team/game/2012/postseason18/

[BrentMc11]

OK.....Colts PLAYOFF Game Day Thread.......

 

60 minutes of football gentlemen!  We are as healthy as we have been all year.....one game at a time just like all year.  Stay home Defense....do not let Ray Rice run wild.....we can beat this Raven team!!!!!  Go             !!!!  As usual...a big thanks to LOS for a nice preview!!!!

[T Y Goodbye]

Its almost time to shine..its something we all hoped for, but few thought we could make it here...We can do this...60 minutes of hard nosed Colts football...I can't wait!!

 

I'm expecting a big day from TY today...on receptions, punt returns, and I'm predicting an end around or two..just to keep the D honest..I just have this feeling that we are not only going to win, but not squeak out a victory...Rice can be contained on the ground..its the short passes out of the backfield that worry me.

 

GO COLTS!!..PLAY HARD, FAST, AND SMART!!!

[PrincetonTiger]

Go Colts Go

[coltsnumberone]

Go Colts!  We CAN beat the Ravens on their home turf!  And, if we do, we get to play the Broncos next weekend!  WE

CAN DO THIS!   

[mack]

LETS PLUCK THOSE RAVENS!!

[ruksak]

Read the Thread title again. Can this really be? 

 

They say we're the worst 11-5 team in history. 

 

After today, they will say we're the worst 12-5 team in history. Can't wait to see what "they" say next. 

[GoDeep]

Let's do this!

[ruksak]

T-minus 60 minutes. 

[PrincetonTiger]

Read the Thread title again. Can this really be? 

 

They say we're the worst 11-5 team in history. 

 

After today, they will say we're the worst 12-5 team in history. Can't wait to see what "they" say next. 

agreed

[ruksak]

OMG Arians is in the hospital............you've got to be kidding me

[JlynRN]

Woohooo game day is here !!!  Let's go Colts !!!!!!!!!      

[JlynRN]

Wow just heard the news, Arians is in the hospital  They said he's fine but wow.  Clyde Christianson (sp) will be calling plays.  

[ColtStrong]

I'm freakin pumped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PrincetonTiger]

win this for BA

[PrincetonTiger]

everything is running slow

[PrincetonTiger]

Here We Go

[21isSuperman]

BA in the hospital.  Man, this team cannot catch a break.  All the best, BA!  Rest up, man!  Boys, we need to win this for BA.  He still has more coaching to do this season for Indy

[PrincetonTiger]

15 minutes til Kickoff

[ruksak]

Awesome that our website is on the verge of crashing during a playoff game. 

 

Hey guys........I'm gonna be watching the game across the street at my buddies house so I won't be on during the game. 

 

Here's to a victory and a trip to Denver. I want this Denver/Indy match-up SOOOOO bad. Poetic justice and karma has a date set for us I hope, and that date is 1 week from right now. 

 

[JonathanCinco18]

What's up with the website? Very slow for some reason..

[Coltswarriors]

Go Colts!!!!!!

[Poster X]

Go Colts... quote Gandalf never more.

[PrincetonTiger]

Awesome that our website is on the verge of crashing during a playoff game. 

 

Hey guys........I'm gonna be watching the game across the street at my buddies house so I won't be on during the game. 

 

Here's to a victory and a trip to Denver. I want this Denver/Indy match-up SOOOOO bad. Poetic justice and karma has a date set for us I hope, and that date is 1 week from right now. 

 

have fun

[21isSuperman]

Man, Ray Lewis coming out of that tunnel even fires me up and gets me ready to strap a helmet on

[Poster X]

Ray Lewis needs dancing lessons... and it would have been better if he ate the grass.

[Poster X]

Odds are Coach Caldwell has his gameface on. He only has one.

[BrentMc11]

I hope this speeds up......Satele gets the start.....not happy already....

[PrincetonTiger]

60 minutes to victory

[21isSuperman]

Colts receiving to start.  I'd prefer to receive in the 2nd half, but there's no reason why we can't start the game off with a TD drive like we did against Houston

[manning04]

Here we go... not sure what more i can say i am already pacing my living room 

[PrincetonTiger]

Go Andrew Go

[BrentMc11]

I hope this speeds up......Satele gets the start.....not happy already....

Only nine members on a game day playoff thread........GO  :colts: !!!!!

 

Special teams....0-1.....good high punt my Patty Mac!

[21isSuperman]

Good gain on the end around

[Poster X]

Good start. That run by Avery fooled me, but not the drop by Fleener.

[colts_mp]

better throw better than that Andrew!

[poaponies]

so is it me or does this thread seem to slow

today

[ConBro]

We need Big Play Vontae to step up here.

[Malakai432]

[21isSuperman]

Good start with the end around, but we have stalled since then.  Come on D!