So the Colts swept the Titans again for 2016. Andrew Luck has never lost to the Titans. Prognosticators were predicting that the Titans would finally break their Horseshoe jinx. Marcus Mariota was playing at Pro Bowl level. DeMarco Murry was ripping the lines up for big yardage just like old times. The defensive front was putting pressure on the quarterback. A playoff run seemed possible for Tennessee. The Colts, well, it’s a game to game thing, defense still had no pass rush and couldn’t stop the run. Offensively Luck is having a comeback season, but the offensive line is still…well… a work in progress. Frank Gore at 33 years old is giving it all he’s got and it’s Luck’s secret weapon. Donte Moncrief’s back and gives No. 12 a real weapon opposite T. Y. Hilton. In fact, several key players are back after being on the IR for much of the early season. Both teams chewed up the Packers but then everybody is chewing up the Packers. The talking heads seemed exuberant in their praise of Mariota and the Titans and most were confident that they would end the Jinx of the Colts. It didn’t happen. Much to the dismay of commentators the Colts jumped to a 21 to zip lead. The top play was a flea flicker from Gore who took a direct snap laterals to Luck who thew it back to Gore who ran 49 yards to the two, setting up a 2 yard Luck to Moncrief TD. Then in the second quarter, on a stalled drive Adam Vinatieri came out for a 42 yard field goal attempt. He holds the record with 44 straight field goals. Number 45 is in the bag, right? Well no. The ball went left. That ended the Colts’ explosion. They scored a field goal in the fourth quarter. Mariota hit for two touchdown passes with a field goal to stay a touchdown back. The Big Blue D was able to handle Murry and contain Mariota with five sacks. So for a change they get credit for preserving the win.
So what was going on with the Horseshoe? Well, the 2006 Colt Super Bowl Champs were at the game to be honored at half time. I’m thinking they inspired the team to play with pride and intensity. Really! Peyton Manning was a guest analyst in the broadcast booth in the first half. The team was playing it’s best for No 18.
So Andrew and the gang are at .500 with a five and five record and are in sole possession of second place in the AFC South. The Titans fall to five and six and are in third. Two weeks ago after the debacle at Kansas we, myself included, were pronouncing the Colts DOA and the season done. Now the Big Blue seems to have a chance for a run at the playoffs. In the NFL, you are only as good as your last game. The Horseshoe plays the Steelers this Thursday, Thanksgiving Night. The Colts always have a hard time with the Steelers. Luck has never beaten the Steelers. The last couple of years Pittsburgh has laid down some very serious smack on Indianapolis. Big Ben has had several career days against the Indy defense. If the Colts can beat Pittsburgh even by just squeezing by, I will jump on the bandwagon. But that’s a big “if”! However, the Colts are playing somewhat better as a team — whether or not they can keep it up remains to be seen. But stranger things have happened. The Cubs won the Series, right?
Oldest Player in College Football History
Last Saturday Joe Thomas Sr. made college football history. The 55-year-old South Carolinian became the oldest player to appear in a college football game. Thomas, a running back on the South Carolina State football team, got to carry the ball for a three yard gain against Savannah State on Senior Day Thomas had run on the scout team for the Bulldogs, but in four years he was never been on the roster for a real game. Two weeks ago the NCAA gave the Bulldogs permission to put the geriatric runningback in for a play. It was a success. Thomas has a son, Joe Jr. who plays linebacker for the the Green Bay Packers. Joe Jr. is an SC State grad class of 2013. The original plan was for father and son to play together as teammates but Joe Sr. was injured in a car wreck and had to delay his college debut. Joe Thomas Sr. never gave up on his dream. All the best to him.
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