I will see visions in my sleep.
First, Dwayne Bowe dropping the Chargers’ onside kick during San Diego’s furious rally to beat the Chiefs. One had a sense the Chargers’ rotten luck, or bad karma – last-second losses to the Broncos, Panthers, Steelers and Colts – finally was turning, and lo and behold, the Chargers rallied to beat the Chiefs.
Secondly, Anthony Gonzalez dropping a sure first down on 2nd-and-6 with 2:35 left, after the Colts’ battered O-Line sucked it up and emerged from the shadow of their own goalpost with a solid Addai run.
Third, the very next play – the Colts with an empty backfield, shotgun set, and the Chargers easily sending blitz and getting to Manning. Say what you will about the run game – Addai and Rhodes were outstanding in blitz pickup all night; not having one in the backfield, max-protecting to ice the game was a crucial mistake.
Fourth, the ridiculous phantom holding call on third-and-8, Darren Sproles stopped short of the sticks, but to no matter. On replays, NBC’s Al Michaels and John Madden were careful all night not to decry or lambaste bad calls, and they furrowed their brows here. This call – moreso than the last blitz of flags – ruined the game.
And Darren Sproles. It doesn’t bother me that he had a great game – he’s been a solid 3rd-down back for years, and was very good at K-State. It bothers me that he beats the Colts like rented mules.
And finally, I’ll see Mike Fucking Scifres dropping punts inside the 1-yard-line like tossing beanbags. Sick.
I’m really struggling with this loss. I hate the Chargers, hate that the Colts apparently are labeled chokers by the media, hate the entire NFL world right now. I’m very proud of this team. It was flawed. Losses always sting. I guess we’ll have to leave it at that.
