The Indianapolis Colts...

[renter]

Is this the season they go undefeated, including playoffs and the Super Bowl? At this time, I believe so.

[TroubleMan]

1. Win the Superbowl...probably. Go undefeated.....probably not.

It's too hard for a team to go undefeated these days. Even the bad teams are still pretty good and can have their moments.

The Colts do look very good though.

[Twillig]

2. I hope so.

Only for the shadenfreude of knowing those Dolphin schmucks can't celebrate any longer.

[Goblinmonger]

3. You and me both

I hate those smug assholes.

Did you see the Boston Legal bit on shadenfreude?

[akarnitz]

13. '72 Dolphins were overrated

And they admit it. Most of them say the '73 team was better.

I can't stand the way the '72 Dolphins get together for champagne, every year, when the last undefeated team goes down. Very classy.

I'd like a time machine so's we could see the '72 Fins play the '62 Packers, '84 Niners and the '85 Bears. The Fins would end up 17-3. IMHO.

edited to get to the effin' point!
I'm pulling for the Colts to go undefeated just to see the sobriety on Csonka's kisser!

[ProfessorGAC]

30. You Got My Vote

Every time those idiots pop those champagne corks, i want to puke. Everyone who was a fan in those days knows that they hit a down period in the NFL cycle. Two years later they had NO hope of beating the Steelers, Cowboys, Raiders, or Redskins. None! That team was a good team with extremely fortunate timing.

The Professor

[Tafiti]

4. No fucking way.

Their schedule is too tough. Do they have a shot at the Super Bowl? Of course. But not at going undefeated.

Here's their remaining schedule:

@ New England (MNF)
Houston
@ Cincinnati
Pittsburgh (MNF)
Tennessee
@ Jacksonville
San Diego
@ Seattle
Arizona

Running the table against all of these teams is unrealistic, IMO.

[friesianrider]

5. I agree...

They are a definite Super Bowl quality team I think, but to go undefeated all season isn't something that I think is realistic given their difficult remaining schedule, as you noted.

[nickgutierrez]

25. They'll lose to Cinci, I think

Not because I think Cincinnati is the better team - they're good enough, and home field should help, but I just don't think the Colts can go 16-0. 14-2 seems likely, with a loss in the three game bunch between Jacksonville and Seattle.

[Awsi Dooger]

6. It's at least 40/1 against them going undefeated

That might be on the low side, mathematically. You're talking about a 12 game parlay right now. Fans tend to have no idea how quickly the odds soar when you have that many opportunities for failure. For instance, let's say the Colts have a 75% chance to win each of those games individually. That would equate to about an 8 or 9 point favorite in each game. In that case, it's more than 30.5 to 1 against the Colts winning all 12 games.

Plus, several of those games the Colts are small favorite to perhaps a small underdog, i.e. at New England on Monday night. Other games like home to Pittsburgh or at Cincinnati they will be small favorites. And, of course, the playoff games particularly the AFC championship game and Super Bowl won't be lopsided odds. Those low odds more than compensate for a game like at home vs. the Texans, where Indy will be a 20 point favorite or slightly more.

I see this all the time in Las Vegas. Sportsbooks love to put up one-way props because fans have no clue regarding probability. Let's say a Nevada sportsbook up odds of 10/1 tomorrow on the Colts going unbeaten thru the Super Bowl. You would have dozens of gullible fans running to the window and making the bet, with the sportsbook manager and supervisors trying to restrain chuckles in the back room.

Those Dolphins pulled off a special feat. Teams like the '85 Bears and '62 Packers are doomed to obscurity as the generations who remember them pass, but as long as the '72 Dolphins are unmatched in perfection, the legend will grow in exponential proportion.

[Awsi Dooger]

11. Down to about 22/1 now

That may be slightly on the high side. I never expected Indy to be giving 4 at New England so my future projected pointspreads (and therefore win probability) may be understating the Colts. Very impressive team and as a '72 Dolphin season ticket holder I'm admittedly nervous.

[akarnitz]

14. A ? for you, Awsi

The '72 Dolphins faced an amazingly low strength of schedule(I know it was under .500)in the regular season. Did they play a team that finished over .500? Also, how does that strength of schedule match up to other champs, pre or post '72? You seem like the kind of person who'd know.

[Awsi Dooger]

23. Strength of schedule is not something you can accurately back fit

Or predict ahead of time. I'm not a strength of schedule guy, especially in the NFL. The talent levels are so incredibly even and have been for decades. The best and worst teams in the league vary by maybe 14 points in the typical year. That is obscenely low. As someone who lives in Las Vegas and works in a sports statistical office, I can tell you point blank not one respected local oddsmaker, handicapper or analyst uses strength of schedule as a decisive factor in the NFL. In college strength of schedule is sometimes legit consideration. The teams can vary by 50+ points and some conferences are remarkably lopsided. You can look back at some unbeaten college teams that didn't sniff the national championship, like some early Penn St teams under Paterno. They had no claim at the title because the foes comparatively sucked.

The '72 Dolphins opened the season at Kansas City as a 4 point underdog. It was instant revenge for the Chiefs after the '71 Christmas Day home playoff loss in double OT. Kansas City was opening a new stadium. Almost every pundit was picking the Chiefs, some by big margin. Now, if someone wants to look back decades later and evaluate Kansas City's overall record and claim that wasn't a difficult game for Miami to play, it's completely ignoring the reality of game day. Miami won easily and didn't allow a TD until time expired.

A few weeks later the Dolphins were also underdog, by 3.5 points at Minnesota. The Vikings were welcoming back Fran Tarkenton at QB and it was an incredibly physical game, Miami's toughest of the season. It took a 50+ Yepremian FG in the middle of the 4th quarter and a Griese to Mandich TD pass in the final two minutes to pull it out 16-14.

The '72 Dolphins defeated 5 Hall of Fame quarterbacks -- Dawson, Tarkenton, Unitas, Namath and Bradshaw. I've read that is unprecedented, before or since. Granted, Unitas was at the end of his career and Dawson close to it. But those games were on the road, against all five Hall of Famers plus they also beat Namath at home. The AFC title game assignment at Pittsburgh was the most challenging and unfair test any of the legendary teams every faced in the playoffs.

I don't get the knocks on the '72 Dolphins. Not astute, IMO. They played 12 consecutive games with a backup QB after Griese broke his ankle against San Diego. Despite that, the stats are phenomenal, leading the league in both offense and defense. The offensive line was surreal, especially interior in Langer, Little and Keuchenberg. That gave Miami trump card capability against virtually any team in any era. Hardly a coincidence Griese only needed to attempt a handful of passes in both Super Bowl wins.

I agree with you on one thing, expressed in another post earlier in this thread. The '73 team was the same squad a year older and superior in many respects. More dominant in the playoffs, largely because Griese was healthy all year so the offense was in sync. Miami lost a very tough road game at Oakland 12-7 in week two and then gave away a game against a shitty Baltimore team on the road at the end of the year when nothing was at stake. For years Dolphin players said '73 was better, but once teams like Pittsburgh and San Francisco came around and stole the headlines, then oldtime Miami players and fans defaulted to the distinguishing aspect that survives subjectivity, that '72 donut in the loss column.

I can easily make a counter argument: if Csonka, Kiick and Warfield hadn't been snatched from the Dolphins by the WFL in their prime, more titles would have followed and the Steeler dynasty would not have existed, at least not as we know it. Miami's offensive line nullified the intimidation factor of the Steel Curtain. No one matched up against Pittsburgh like Miami did. The two smart and terrific safeties, Dick Anderson and Jake Scott, routinely outsmarted Bradshaw.

[enigami]

7. You're drinking the Kool-aid

Colts are good, but they have had a cream puff schedule so far. On the other hand, I think Houston has a great shot at staying perfect. 0-16 baby!!

[Dulcinea]

26. Houston beat Cleveland a couple of weeks ago. eom

[enigami]

36. Yes and dashed my hopes for a perfect season

look at the date of my original message. Back then there was hope

[renter]

8. Tonight's game...

My guess, the Colts win by five.

[Arkana]

9. My bet for Super Bowl Champs this year

is Pittsburgh, despite the fact that I'm a New England fan. My Pats are NOT playing as well as they should be, and if Roethlisberger can come back and stay healthy then the Steelers will cruise. They are the ONLY other team that can beat Indianapolis, apart from New England.

[timber84]

18. Hey I like the way you think.

:yourock:

[kanrok]

10. Damn, they look unbeatable

Great defense and a state of the art offense. Doesn't look like anyone can beat them.

[opiate69]

12. Yeah, they look tough, but..

who has the top-ranked offense in the league??

http://www.nfl.com/stats/teamsort/NFL/OFF-TOTAL/2005/regular?sort_col_1=4

[Robeson]

15. No. See their schedule on post #4. The Dolphins had a weak.....

...schedule in 72. While the Dolphins are much ballyhooed, their opponents had a .396 winning percentage. It was an easy schedule. That's the one thing that may never be repeated again, i.e., no one may ever have that easy of a schedule again.

The Colts are very good, and with home field advantage, could make it to the Super Bowl. But that is a tough remaining schedule they have, to think they could be undefeated.

[Zech Marquis]

16. it's more important for the Colts to win the Super Bowl

than to go undefeated. BUt beating the Patrios last night will certainly help them out too! :-)

[soleft]

17. A Colts Giants superbowl would be very interesting

for Archie anyway

[erpowers]

19. Their Year

I think it is definitely their year to win the Super Bowl. With New England hurting and the Colts doing a great job I do not see who will beat them in the Super Bowl. Though I am not sure they will go undefeated I would not be surprised if they did go undefeated. Which team can beat them? It seems to me at this point that only the Steelers have a chance at beating them. However it seems that the Colts can beat them.

[kick-ass-bob]

20. Undefeated? No. Way. In. Hell.

13-3 or 14-2 maybe.

Each game after week 14 will basically be meaningless for them and won't be playing their best/hardest.

San Diego, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Seattle all have legitimate shots at beating them.
They haven't exactly played the best teams so far. Those all show up in the second half of the season.

They definitely have a excellent chance of winning the Super Bowl though.

[KamaAina]

21. Someone please beat them. Pleeeeeeze?

Not so much on behalf of the '72 Dolphins, but on behalf of Baltimore (remember them?). How galling to those of us who grew up there to watch our team on top while the present-day Ravens take a whack at the Leinart/Bush Bowl.

Especially this year, with the Saints' Benson poised to pull an Irsay in the middle of some dark moonless night, it's important that NFL thievery NOT be rewarded!

[freestyle]

22. Well, the Ravens are a theft also.

I'm over the Colts leaving. We turned around and did the same thing to Cleveland and the Ravens won the Superbowl. I think that little karmic episode is over. I was actually quite disgusted at the waste of public money to build the football stadium. There are few worse uses of public funds, and economic impact is minor.

[timber84]

24. We'll do our best!

[Dulcinea]

27. Big Ben should be back by the time the Steelers play them.

And the Bus, too. We'll give it our best shot!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

28. Caw! Caw!

seahawks

[northzax]

29. no to undefeated

but to the superbowl? after they only have three outdoor games left on the schedule, and they'll have home field (dome) to the SuperBowl (dome) I think they lose Christmas Eve in Seattle, it'll be cold and rainy, and they'll be resting everyone, having clinched home field in the playoffs.

[Awsi Dooger]

31. Peyton is too good

I didn't think Cincy had enough defense to beat Indy but so far this is a clinic, 35 points and 272 yards passing on the road with several minutes left before halftime. This would cut the odds on Indy going unbeaten down to maybe 15/1 against, but the way this team plays offense that may be too high.

Dolphin fans like myself have every reason to be worried, but this Colt team is so skilled it's hard to dislike them. Just one fluke lazy loss, guys, then you can sweep including the Bowl.

Next week Pittsburgh travels to Indy on Monday night with Roethlisberger not having played in three weeks due to injury.

[bigwillq]

32. They won't go undefeated (nt)

[nolabels]

33. Them old Dolphins hope...........

In ways I kind of wish they would go undefeated, at least so they could shut them old Dolphins guys pie-hole if nothing else :nopity:

[DaveinMD]

37. The lack of class

exhibited by those old Dolphins is shameful.

[MrSlayer]

34. No.

But they do look good. Could they be that perennial team that goes 15-1 or 14-2 and loses in the playoffs? Yes. Could they easily go on to win the Bowl? Yes. I just don't see undefeated in the cards.

[safi0]

35. I think its certainly possible

Their six games remaining are against Arizona, Tennessee, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, San Diego and Seattle.

They'll beat Tennesse and Arizona without a problem. If Ben doesn't play I'd say they have a 90% chance of beating Pittsburgh, if he does play I'd take that down to 70%. They get San Diego at home, that'll probably be an important game for the Chargers but you'd still have to consider the Colts favorites in that game. The division rivals Jacksonville, the Jags played the Colts great last time and this time get them in Jax, the Colts will definetely struggle in this game. But IMO the bigges pitfall is Christmas eve vs Seattle. Assuming Indy goes into that game 14-0 the only way that game would matter is if Denver wins their next 4. On the other hand Seattle will probably be playing for a bye or even home field throughout the playoffs, oh and did I mention their playing in Seattle.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

38. The further into their schedule, the harder to remain undefeated.

Each game will be more and more of a dogfight, with any team they're playing determined to be the one to end the streak.

In addition, once they lock in a bye week and home field advantage, the "edge" may diminish. Look to see more conservative play calling and even resting key players as the last few games play out.

Remember, this is a team, and coach, who haven't yet won the conference championship, since moving to Indy.

I'm looking forward to seeing how things shape up in the last month of regular season play. MKJ

[WilliamPitt]

39. Who's left on their schedule?

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

40. Indy's last six games.

12 Mon, Nov 28 Pittsburgh
13 Sun, Dec 4 Tennessee
14 Sun, Dec 11 at Jacksonville
15 Sun, Dec 18 San Diego
16 Sat, Dec 24 at Seattle
17 Sun, Jan 1 Arizona

All with winning records except TN and AZ. MKJ

[tjwash]

41. Don't worry they'll drop two in a row...

...against the Chargers, and against the Seahawks. Two reasons:

Cincy showed that the Colts D is not quite up to snuff when it comes to playing teams with high powered offenses. They are good against the scrubs and the hobbled of the league, but it is the same old same old shootout type defense against the upper echelon.

And of course,as well the Colts will have already clinched the division, and home field advantage by the time they get to that point in the schedule, and will probably be playing very sparingly with their starters in those last few games.

[sniffa]

42. they won't go undefeated

no one does save the doLphins. there's aLways at Least one game they either don't have it (or the pLayers - end of the season usuaLLy has Less starters in for a team that has secured their pLayoff seed) for that game, and the other team going against an undefeated team, brings everything they have; for some, it's their superbowL.

as for a superbowL, i have a hard time beLieving it before i see it. i think they have a great shot at representing the AFC but i feeL they'LL get their hat handed to them in one game in the pLayoffs - division, champ, sb.

they have the ingredients, but i don't feeL they have the experience to run the tabLe (season or pLayoffs).

i'm thinking they go 14-2, and a Loss either in the AFC championsip game or in the super bowL.