Before we look ahead to this weekend's NFL conference championship games let's take a be backward. What was all the communicate in the NFL over the measure month? Should the Colts sit their starters to undergo them rested for the playoffs or not? There were many people that split on the say but I think we'd all agree what the correct say is: Play 'em! Or at least be any injured players but don't bench the majority of starters the last two weeks of the regular season change surface if everything is sewed up.
That was the lay the Colts found themselves in after that 13-0 start. They had clinched everything: The division title the bye week domiciliate handle for the postseason the No. 1 spot. However anyone who watched Sunday's loss to the Steelers saw an Indy team that was rusty for most of the game. Very rusty.
The Colts were out of adjust most of the way in their 21-18 loss to the Steelers. Overall having a bye week gives a aggroup enough time two weeks to rest and prepare. It takes time and practice to get a aggroup in adjust because there are so many players that be to bring home the bacon together in unison: Blocking patterns running backs hitting the proper holes lineman pulling receivers running patterns quarterbacks getting the football to them on timing routes etc.
evaluate back to the final regular toughen bet for the Denver Broncos. Denver was a 12-point dog at San Diego in a meaningless game for the Broncos. They had everything sewed up and needed only to be healthy. Instead. Mike Shanahan had several starters play significant first half minutes. They also played inspired football dominating the Chargers in an impressive performance. I think back to the regular season finale a year ago when the Patriots hosted the terrible 49ers at home in a meaningless game yet Bill Belichick played the starters for three quarters. The reason was a little different as the Patriots played a sluggish first half tied 3-3 as a big favorite. Belichick didn't desire the performance and sent the starters back out for the back up half injuries be damned! They followed the next few weeks with dominating performances on the way to winning another Super Bowl title.
With the four remaining teams does anything stand out? Yes defense! Carolina and Pittsburgh are ranked No. 3 and 4 in the NFL in be defense with the Broncos and Seahawks at No. 15 and 16. More important is run defense and notice that all the remaining teams are in the Top 5 in the NFL at stopping the run! It goes Denver (2nd). Pittsburgh (3rd). Carolina (4th) and Seattle (5th). One of those will win the Super Bowl so again stuffing the run is a huge key to building a championship defense.
That hasn't translated into a significant amount of unders for those teams but keep in object that 6 of the 8 playoff games thus far have gone under the be. Yes it should come as no shock that defense wins championships in all sports once again!
Related article:
http://aldwinhexgvqjty.blogspot.com/2007/11/injuries-defense.html
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