Fact is that Colts team was probably the worst in recent memory. And people have bad games. The Meadowlands isn't exactly a legendarily tough place to play for visting opponents. Manning did carve up the Chiefs at Arrowhead in the playoffs.
I have to disagree with you third, though not fully. Yes, I believe Indy's coaching staff is stupid. A QB should not be the offensive coordinator, no matter who he is. If I'm a head coach not Brady, not Manning, and not Chad calls all of their own plays from the huddle on. However, it's not because the CS just handed the reigns to Peyton. It's because Peyton took them. That's his own fault. And you may not agree, but I don't think Manning is as good a cerebral QB as Chad. I compare Chad to Peyton in the same way as one could compare an entrepeneur to a nerd. Peyton Manning is a nerd. He understands the game very well, and is very smart about what to do to win. However Chad is an entrepeneur. He knows the game pretty well, but he also has a grasp of how to take advantage of a situation. Both a nerd and an entrepeneur can be successful, but in different ways. A nerd takes the task he is given, and just "makes it work." An entrepeneur takes a situation, uses experience and whatever knowledge he has, combines it with a little luck, and tries to make gold from straw. When faced with a game breaking decision, Peyton will always go with his own arm. He doesn't trust his own guys or coaching staff to make the right plays/calls. On the other hand, Chad takes the plays he's given, calls the play in the huddle, and calls off at the line if he sees an advantage someone on his team has. All you need to do is look at the running game of the Jets to understand that Chad knows he can't do it all himself. No matter how many times we get stuffed at the LOS, Chad will hand the ball off again if he knows it is working to make the opposing D commit to defending the run, therefore setting up the pass. Add that to pure leadership skills. You never see Chad rip his teammates. Even when he isn't personally at fault for a loss, he carries it on his own shoulders. Meanwhile, Peyton is busy pointing fingers at his defense. How do gain any respect in the locker room for a guy who is ready to throw his teammates under the bus? (As a related aside, watching the post-game yesterday, you could hear it in the veterans speeches that they fully understand the difference in the coaching staff from the last few years. You could see them just itching to return Herm's favor and throw him under the bus for dumping on them the past few years.) I'm still not totally convinced on Chad. He has to play with that same confidence in a very hostile environment this weekend. He has to play smart, calculated football, and keep his trust in his teammates and coaching staff to not make mistakes. Can he do it? Yes. Will he? I don't know. But if I have to put all my faith in one QB this postseason, and I can't have Brees or Brady, I'm taking Chad. BTW: The closest thing to Chad with Peyton's arm in the NFL is Tom Brady.
It?s a great story for this guy! I thoroughly enjoyed him finishing the season. Personally, I wasn?t sure what kind of performance Chad P. would?ve had this season. Again, what a brilliant example to young people looking to get involved in football or anything in life the value of hard work, about toughness and tenacity, about the importance of not quitting. It?s refreshing that someone in the limelight can be so candid about their life (problems) and not try to hide behind all the bullshit. Keep "Grinding", if anyone can, you can Chad. Peace out.
