Mister Faded Glory | www.misterfadedglory.com

Normally I’d turn my nose up at the NFL and its PR Network’s attempt to turn Thursday nights into football nights; therefore depriving us of one extra game on Sundays.

Normally.

But with the Colts winning their eighth game in a row, at hated Jacksonville, securing a playoff berth and hammering the proverbial nail into Meathead Jack’s coffin – I’m OK with Thursday nights. Here it is, Sunday morning, and I have nothing to sweat. Today, football is a virtual respite within the morass of Christmas buildup; featuring lights and wrapping and cards and mailing and expenses and crowded grocery stores and all the stuff you swore when you were 22 you wouldn’t ever touch with a 15-foot fake tree.

Doubly satisfying is the Colts making me eat my words – this team actually is playing better with every game; even going into the 2006 playoffs, no one was certain of that. The offensive line is still a huge question mark – and though Dominic Rhodes is a welcome addition to the team, the running attack is totally stalled. The Colts’ inability to gain a 3rd and 1 to ice the game showed up not only in Jacksonville, but has at other points during the year. That needs to change.

The defense also misses Gary Brackett more than I thought possible, though totals against the Jags were somewhat inflated. Going into Jax, a team with nothing to play for except furthering their cheap-shot hatred of the Colts, but celebrating the survival of their friend Richard Collier – well, I wasn’t sure the Colts would win. Of course they did, but they couldn’t run, they gave up monstrous yardage totals to their nemesis, and we’re still a little concerned.

Of course, this brings my stream-of-consciousness post to Peyton Manning, whom I’ve been hard on for years; before 2005 claiming the Colts won in spite of Peyton, not because of. This is no longer the case. Manning sublimated his aerial game perfectly in 2005, 2006 and 2007 – and now, realizes his enormous passing totals are out of necessity, not ideal. He played like a surgeon on Thursday, and the Colts’ clinch was one of their most satisfying of all time. This team has faced real adversity – injuries, a difficult schedule, and more. Manning and Dungy, greeting one another after the game, repeated the Colts’ mantra: “Never any doubt.”

That’s a satisfying place to be, as a fan – even cheering on a team that’s not whole at all. Never any doubt, still. When the Colts lose, that’s the surprise. Going into the playoffs, it’s relaxing, rewarding, and we’re lucky.

Now let’s go win.

Postscript: Happy Holidays to all of you who celebrate Xmas or Chanukah only out of necessity. Blah.