The real MVP of the game...

[Detectacon]

This is not an, "I told you so thread." However, you cannot overlook the person who I feel is ultimately our MVP this game. That person is the new OC, Rob Chudzinski. In five days time he got this team to win against the best defense in the league. The fast start was a huge help and his play calls were mostly well designed. I was an advocate of firing Pep Hamilton and yes it's still too early to call Chud our savior. I also don't want to take anything away from the players and how they executed. But...I have something I haven't had for several weeks.....Hope!

[csmopar]

This is not an, "I told you so thread." However, you cannot overlook the person who I feel is ultimately our MVP this game. That person is the new OC, Rob Chudzinski. In five days time he got this team to win against the best defense in the league. The fast start was a huge help and his play calls were mostly well designed. I was an advocate of firing Pep Hamilton and yes it's still too early to call Chud our savior. I also don't want to take anything away from the players and how they executed. But...I have something I haven't had for several weeks.....Hope!

That or....Griff Whalen/Doyle as both were huge for us today

[Detectacon]

That or....Griff Whalen/Doyle as both were huge for us today

Definitely cannot take anything away from the players. They executed. I will say that it is Chud's job to get them to execute though. 

[JustAColtsFan]

Whalen caught 3 critical first down passes. Hands down game MVP! Glad to see the young man do good.

[ColtsBlueFL]

Luck is the unsung hero.  Did you see the relentless pounding he took over and over and over again?  He stood in there and delivered those passes under heavy duress.  Some hits wre borderline late for elite QB's; IMO. He will be all shades of purple, Indigo, and dark green tomorrow, unfortunately. But he has the W for it, and that' will get him through to next week.

[BOTT]

The difference in offense with Chud calling the plays is both hilarious and sad.

[fatboy]

Bradshaw had a great fourth quarter block, and his TD was dandy. Vinnie and a huge 55 yarder with leg to spare was huge; a miss would have given Denver great field position. A real team win today.

[Superman]

Luck is the unsung hero. Did you see the relentless pounding he took over and over and over again? He will be all shades of purple, Indigo, and dark green tomorrow, unfortunately. But he has the W for it, and that' will get him through to next week.

Good time for a bye.

[MB-ColtsFan]

Good time for a bye.

Truth!!

Adams and Anderson say "thank you, schedule maker."

Maybe T.Y as well?

[Narcosys]

I think the fact that Denver could not game plan against Chuds tendencies is what helped up win the game.  That and Andrew finally throwing good passes to his receivers.  First time ive seen him lead his receivers and not overthrow them for a full game since his career began.

[ALucksNeckBeard]

Langford was huge for us today. He was putting pressure on Peyton all day.

[Superman]

Truth!!

Adams and Anderson say "thank you, schedule maker."

Maybe T.Y as well?

I think Anderson is done. Pagano said he has a significant knee injury. Adams could use the week off. And several others, I'm sure. Lots of guys got hurt in this game, it seemed.

[JPFolks]

Whalen caught 3 critical first down passes. Hands down game MVP! Glad to see the young man do good.

Luck threw him the ball each time and all the other times with no turnovers and while getting literally CRUSHED over and over and over... rushing for key yards over and over and kicking butt.   Luck by a millions miles was MVP.  

 

As for Chud, I was among those calling for not only him, but more specifically for TE crossing routes and check downs to Bradshaw which would give breathing room for some bombs to Hilton.  Guess what? It worked.  And for weeks I put it in writing here (and all over the web) because it seemed so obvious.  I also called the win as long as Luck didn't turn it over.  So Chud did the obvious that was needed (if I figured it out, it shouldn't have been that hard to identify).  

 

Luck was, is and likely will continue to be our MVP in every win we manage when he's in the game, just as I felt Hasselbeck was our MVP in his two wins.  Keep in mind folks, however, that Denver is not really as good as their stats and record.  Either that, or we'll win the Super Bowl this year as soon as we can get past New England which is always the case.  (Although I sort of suspect the best team in the league right now might be Cincy).  

[NewEra]

Good play calling. Good execution by the offense. The way we spread the ball around and got everyone involved was awesome. Some of the plays were just perfect timing. I can't say enough about how awesome it was to see our OC have answers for their defense.

[krunk]

I think Anderson is done. Pagano said he has a significant knee injury. Adams could use the week off. And several others, I'm sure. Lots of guys got hurt in this game, it seemed.

It was listed somewhere else I saw as a knee sprain. Hopefully it is just that.

[lennymoore24]

I think no doubt that Chud was the MVP.  The play calling was like and day. I noticed when Denver was calling the typical A gap blitz, Chud always had someone for Luck to get the ball out to.  With Pep, there was nothing.  Deer in headlights.  Chud's play calling was brilliant.  It was so nice to see SOMEONE OPEN.  Seriously, it drove me crazy that Luck rarely had someone open.  And everyone blamed the receivers.  But i put it on the formations and routes.  Chud ran more crossing, option routes, and stacks to get players open.  Luck looked so much more decisive and knowing where to go with the ball.  I cannot wait to see what he does with two weeks to tweak ore.

 

I am once again very optimistic about this team.  Pep was really holding the team back.  We still have some holes, but every team does.  I expect the Colts to be serious contenders for the Super Bowl. We have shown we can play with any team.

[ThaCaliColt]

Was like night and day if you ask me- play calling with strategy and purpose

[bap1331]

This is not an, "I told you so thread." However, you cannot overlook the person who I feel is ultimately our MVP this game. That person is the new OC, Rob Chudzinski. In five days time he got this team to win against the best defense in the league. The fast start was a huge help and his play calls were mostly well designed. I was an advocate of firing Pep Hamilton and yes it's still too early to call Chud our savior. I also don't want to take anything away from the players and how they executed. But...I have something I haven't had for several weeks.....Hope!

 

sorry man but i gotta give it to Griff Whalen. This guy is so sick and tired of being overlooked. He worked his butt off to get to this point. He takes full advantage of his opportunities.

[Cleburne]

Just glad we got the win, time for some R & R.

[chad72]

I think the fact that Denver could not game plan against Chuds tendencies is what helped up win the game.  That and Andrew finally throwing good passes to his receivers.  First time ive seen him lead his receivers and not overthrow them for a full game since his career began.

 

I don't know what it is. More than any other game, Luck seems laser focused while playing vs the Peyton led Broncos more than he is vs the Patriots. Deep down, I feel that the Colts players may feel that if there is one game that they must win for their employer Irsay during the regular season, it is vs Peyton. It almost has a personal feeling to me. Our D plays better, our O is laser focused, our mistakes are down etc.

 

Plus, Pagano learnt his lesson from that fake punt crap he pulled in the Patriots game. 4th & 1 midfield, he wasn't going to try anything stupid, just punt it, he said. KISS principle.

 

All around, our best game vs one of the better teams in the AFC. It is like that Chargers owning the Colts, the Colts own the Broncos.

[jseg18]

I think Anderson is done. Pagano said he has a significant knee injury. Adams could use the week off. And several others, I'm sure. Lots of guys got hurt in this game, it seemed.

I didn't see who took over for Anderson. I hope it's Wynn. Who else might be able to play the 5?

[MB-ColtsFan]

I think the most telling item to me was the screen. We haven't been able to execute a screen in...years? Seriously. Could it be that much of a change this week that they executed one of them with such ease? (Yeah, the second one was thrown into the turf, but the first one was beautiful). That was the turnaround of the offense this week in a nutshell.

I would give the game ball to Chud & Luck

[Coltsman1788]

Luck is my MVP for not turning the ball over and for the toughness on display today. 

[Coltsman1788]

sorry man but i gotta give it to Griff Whalen. This guy is so sick and tired of being overlooked. He worked his butt off to get to this point. He takes full advantage of his opportunities.

Yes definite props to Griff.  That guy just keeps on grinding.  Looking forward to seeing him get more involved in the mix.  Shout out to Jack Doyle as well...another overlooked hard working reliable target.

[oldunclemark]

Andrew Luck was the MVP..He made plays when they weren't there...

Our offensive coordinator wasnt our problem...we played 3 undefeated teams in 4 weeks

[chrisfarley]

The difference in offense with Chud calling the plays is both hilarious and sad.

well, it's sad if it was a grigson hire and he remained as an ego keep.

[BOTT]

Andrew Luck was the MVP..He made plays when they weren't there...Our offensive coordinator wasnt our problem...we played 3 undefeated teams in 4 weeks

He was a huge problem. The offense had sucked all year.

[2006Coltsbestever]

Andrew gets my MVP today. He managed the game brilliantly. No Fumbles, No Picks, 252 Yards, 2 TD's, no INT's, and made big throw after big throw. After the game got tied 17-17, he didn't panic. All he did was drive us down 80 Yards for the go ahead score. After Denver tied it again 24-24, all he did was drive us down again for the go ahead FG. He also ran the ball with authority. I brought this up last night, that he should run more and he did. Beautiful QBing all-around. I have been waiting to say this for about a month but = we have a QB now don't we haters? To all the haters out there, you all can suck it! So can the media people at ESPN like Skip. I usually keep it classy but you trash our QB I have to put my 2 cents in. Nobody gave us a chance in hell today and Andrew played like a HOFamer today!

[kycoltsfan]

I noticed a big difference having Bradshaw back there as someone who could actually help block the pass rush.  it was nice having Bradshaw back and really contributing.  

[Stephen]

Andrew Luck was the MVP..He made plays when they weren't there...

Our offensive coordinator wasnt our problem...we played 3 undefeated teams in 4 weeks

He was a big problem and why we had so many slow starts.

[2006Coltsbestever]

It's MVP of the game not year. Regarding this game it was Andrew.

[Carlos Danger]

Great game against a scary good defense... Most points they've given up all year.

Kudos to Chud. The WRs were open all day for the first time all season and against a great secondary, at that. We got a lot of players (Whalen, Doyle, Bradshaw) involved in a big way.

Luck played a great game despite being pummeled into the ground on every other play.

Whalen has proven that he deserves more snaps than AJ and Dorsett would have probably been starting over Johnson at this point, too had he not been injured.

Doyle's play, dating to last season, has made it clear to me that we can afford to let one of our TE go this off-season. I'm not sure of his contract details, but he's worth keeping around.

[Robin]

I didn't see who took over for Anderson. I hope it's Wynn. Who else might be able to play the 5?

I think it was Kerr

[JPFolks]

Doyle's play, dating to last season, has made it clear to me that we can afford to let one of our TE go this off-season. I'm not sure of his contract details, but he's worth keeping around.

I hope we keep all 3. 

[2006Coltsbestever]

Was like night and day if you ask me- play calling with strategy and purpose

Back to the old Andrew. I think a lot of it was he looked healthy today. He was running and looked fired up instead of getting up slow and looking down.

[jaybird95]

It's amazing what happens when you don't even have great personnel, but personnel that isn't actively hurting the team. Pep would have been a better coach sitting on the bench for four quarters.

[GoColts8818]

They weren't the MVPs but two guys who need a tip of the cap are Hilton who was reported as out as late as this morning and then played well on a bum foot and the other is Parry, it was his pressure that forced the INT by Butler. 

 

I will also say I can't remember the last time the Colts got the ball back with 6:22 left and just didn't give the ball back.  I know they got some penalties that helped that last drive but that was still a really good drive.  I also can't remember the last time we had a situation where we could run out the clock and we gave the ball to the running three straight plays when the other team knew he was getting it and got a first down.  Gore got some really hard yards there. 

 

I'd say Gore is the runner up to MVP but I think the MVPs were Langford for the defense and Luck for the offense.  Luck looked to carry over whatever they found at the end of the Panthers game. It got away from him a little bit in the third quarter but man did he rebound with a monster drive for a TD when the game was tied.  Luck also took a beating but just kept making plays and didn't make the big mistake that has haunted him this season. 

[Detectacon]

Andrew Luck was the MVP..He made plays when they weren't there...

Our offensive coordinator wasnt our problem...we played 3 undefeated teams in 4 weeks

Pep was definitely a big problem. The slow starts were a HUGE issue. The play calling was a HUGE issue. Getting a quick start and keeping them guessing is what led us to such a fast start and caused the Denver D to give up their first, first quarter TD all year. 

[Jdubu]

I think the fact that Denver could not game plan against Chuds tendencies is what helped up win the game. That and Andrew finally throwing good passes to his receivers. First time ive seen him lead his receivers and not overthrow them for a full game since his career began.

Excellent point about Luck leading or throwing his guy open, I can't recall the last time I've seen it from Luck. I think there are some plays or formations that need to go because I kept seeing the single WR and TE's with rb in line and saying I hate this formation and watched it get stuffed for a loss or 1 yard gain at best. Getting a 2 week timeframe to remodel the formations and practice them will help us evaluate Chud and his ability to be a very good OC. Luck making these leading throws as opposed to hitting guys coming out of curls and these run, stop turn around catches, these latter throws had been awful to see Luck miss. I hope the leading passes are a new wrinkle that is added into the new offense.

[Buck Showalter]

Several players were out there choppin wood...